Only Wants Grilled Cheese!

[Mom to M&M]

OK, I'm exaggerating but it feels that way sometimes! DD (one year in 7 days) is still mainly on purees but finishes each meal with finger/table foods. In the morning that usually means Cheerios, although she'll also eat Gerber apple bites (those freeze dried apple pieces) or Just Blueberries here sometimes. Once in a while we can get her to take a few bites of toast or pancake but usually only 1-2 bites tops. Her favorite meal is definitely lunch - she's always ravenous for it. She used to accept chicken (pieces of baked or grilled chicken breasts or pieces of nuggets) here but lately only wants cheese or grilled cheese or Puffs. Today she had half a grilled cheese sandwich (cheddar on wheat bread)! I'm thrilled she's eating that well but wonder why she's all of a sudden rejecting chicken in all forms, meatballs (which she used to take a little of), etc. She always rejected fresh fruit and veggies by finger (purees only) and pasta - she has texture issues it seems.

Should I just keep trying and put both the cheese/stuff I know she likes on her tray as well as try one other thing (be it chicken or pasta or veggies) every meal as well? Try the new/unaccepted food first or same time as cheese? I guess first and only give the other if she won't eat the chicken, etc?

Any thoughts would be appreciated - I can't imagine she'll be on purees all that much longer and want to expand her diet. Thanks!

[JennŠ]

Had a thought while giving DD bits of grilled cheese today (     )  What about trying a thin layer of fruit/veggie puree under the cheese layer?  For that matter, different cheeses and different breads.  I used tortillas and mozzerella/chedder today.  How about really teeny bits of chicken in the sandwich?     

[tylersmommy]

Welcome to the joys of toddler eating! It's pretty common for food preferences to change almost by the minute. Food "jags" are normal, where it seems like they only want one thing all the time for days or weeks on end. At her age, your best bet is to probably go with the flow and try to sneak stuff in where you can, like Jenn said. Keep offering her other things too (I always offered them first, but I don't know if it matters), but don't make a big deal out of it if she rejects it.

During Tyler's grilled cheese phase, we threw veggie purees in there like Jenn suggested, and tofu or hummus also make good spreads.

[Mom to M&M]

Thanks guys - will try that and keep offering other stuff first as well.

[Mom to M&M]

Also, any ideas for sandwiches that DD might like in addition to grilled cheese? Can only give her so much cheese in one day, KWIM? What else might work? Happy to grill toast anything as well...

[Lilah'sMommy]

I say definitely offer other foods along with the foods she likes... dd ate broccoli yesterday for the first time in oh, probably six months!  Offered it today, and of course she wouldn't eat it.   Isn't toddler feeding fun?

[Mom to M&M]

Thanks - that's what I'm doing but no luck so far. If it's not grilled cheese, pieces of cheese, cheerios, puffs, dried apples or dried bananas she doesn't want it. Should I just keep trying with finger foods and spoon feeding purees only? Is there any point in spoon feeding her stuff like pastina or the like? I'm worried the texture may be a problem...

[JennŠ]

Grilled soy butter and banana sandwich today.  Loved it!

[Beata]

Oh yes, joys of toddler eating habits...2 things

just keep offering other foods, one meal Cate is refusing everything, the next she will devour (and I have become strict about offering her only what I make, and if she doesn't want it (throws it on the floor) the meal is over.) That being said, I always ask her what she would like (I figure eventually she will tell me, although she is only 15 months old now  ) And I usually make an effort to make her favorites for most meals, and offer new stuff ever other day or so.

second, maybe some teeth are coming in and it's too painful to eat some stuff? We go through that every few weeks, and at those times Cate will only eat soft foods, purees, yogurt, etc.  Try tenderizing chicken/meat...even if you bake it...I think Cate gets wigged out by the texture of meat sometimes.

[Mom to M&M]

Jenn - how did you make that sandwich? Think I can use regular butter instead?

Thanks also Beata - I think I might make her chicken soup this weekend - the chicken is SOOO soft then.

Should I keep her purees as the main part of her meal for now with the finger/table foods secondary since she wont' eat much? We do have her one year visit in like 2 weeks...

[JennŠ]

Buttered a piece of bread, tossed it in a pan.  Put soy butter on one half, topped with banana.  When the bottom was toasted, folded it over the 'naners.  Then cut it into nibbles.  She ate all but the crust.  Looked so yummy, I made a grilled pb for me.  She ate the rest of the banana, so mama did not get any.  I guess I would keep the purees and offer a variety of finger foods. Mine just started rejecting purees in the last 10 days or so.  Doy!!  She's MSPI!!!!  Brain cramp there for a minute!  Yup, I'd say substituting plain butter would work.  Maybe with a thin layer of fruit puree as well under the 'naners. 

[Mom to M&M]

That sounds good! She's no longer MSPI (we think) but I've never tried soy butter and might be scared too. So did you use a thin sliced banana? Did it stick to the bread and all stay together?

Thanks again Jenn. Am trying not to stress about this as I know all toddlers are such picky eaters. I might pick up a book called How to Get Your Kids to Eat... But Not Too Much today. It was recommended by a friend - maybe will have a look at Barnes and Noble.

[JennŠ]

Yup, thin slices, about 3-4.  She ate the rest/smeared them on her face.  Looked like she had a snot attack!      It all stuck together well, ozzed a bit when I cut it.  Sounds like a good book!

[Mom to M&M]

Thanks Jenn - I think I'll try that tomorrow morning - will let you know how it goes. Picked up the book and plan to start reading it when Marisa takes a nap!

[tylersmommy]

Karen-

I wouldn't stress too much about whether or not to continue offering purees. Tyler has gone through phases of preferring veggie puree over veggie finger foods, and I just go with the flow and offer whatever. I don't see anything wrong with keeping purees as the main part of her meal if that's what she wants to eat. Look at it this way...at least you know she's still getting fruits and veggies that way.

Other good toasty sandwich variations...quesadillas! Take a whole wheat tortilla, spread a thin layer of mashed or refried beans on half, put shredded cheese on that half, and lay it out on a hot nonstick skillet. Fold the plain side over the beans and cheese side so it looks like a half circle. When the bottom is light brown, give it a flip. You can even omit the beans and throw veggies in there. I'd imagine Jenn's banana sandwich idea would work as a quesadilla too. Mashed avocado is good on a toasty sandwich too.