Anyone else DC? (food related)

For the longest time I thought my child was a poor eater...while he wasnt picky on what he ate (there are very few things that he refuses) he just didnt like to eat, period.

As he is getting older, Im realizing that its not that he doesnt like to eat; its that he doesnt like to eat large amount at one time.

For instance: yesterday I made him a hot dog and a ham/cheese roll up for lunch. I put it on his play table, and he began to eat... He walked away, did a puzzle, played with his toys a bit and after about an hour or so (when the hot dog was COLD) I threw it away...

Well sure enough about a half an hour after it was trashed he wanted to finish it.

Rj perfers to eat several small meals...He wants me to leave out his food all day and he just "picks".

He does the same thing at daycare for breakfast. I make him pancakes lets say, and he eats it over a 2hr span

I know "they" say its better to eat several small meals/day vs. 3 lrg meals/day, but is this a little ridiculous???

I wont say he NEVER eats his whole meal...usually if we are out in a restaurant and during dinner- he tends to finish his meal, but they are plenty of times- Im heating up his left overs instead of feeding him his before bed time snack.

His portion sizes are no more than I would give in one setting, and he isnt walking around in junk...but I just find it odd to be eating on and off all day.

I will also add that Rj is on the smaller side 10th%, weight gain has always been an issue (an avg gain is 4lbs/year)- so I guess that has alot to do with why I have let it go on this long...

Should I be trying to do 3 meals/day- or just leave it as is..???

Re: Anyone else DC? (food related)

what about making breakfast pancakes and eggs and if he doesnt eat it in the desired time (30 min) it gets reintroduced and then dumped. Thereafter, when he asks for his pancakes you explain that he didnt eat it at breakfast time so there are alternatives to pancakes and eggs such as banana and cheerios etc...

adding: I think you should try to do 3 meals a day to show meal structure. Hes turning 4 this yr so I think he will do better with routine.

Message edited 1/26/2009 10:17:31 AM.

Re: Anyone else DC? (food related)

OMG! I was just going to post the SAME thing about Christopher today!

Last night, I made him a grilled cheese and cut it into quarters, he ate a little less than half and a few veggies and wanted out of his highchair. Since the dog wasn't around, I put it on the coffee table with his milk and he played, walked around, watched a movie and would go and pick, he even took a bath and came back and ate the rest! It was over 2 hours old by that point

I try to give him real meals at real times, but he seems to always gravitate to this type of eating as well.

No advice (hopefully you'll have some for me!) but

Re: Anyone else DC? (food related)

I am no expert on this but I wonder when you actually have to get "firm" on these kinds of things. I mean is it as important as bedtimes...I wonder...

Re: Anyone else DC? (food related)

my kids graze all day long too...but in larger amounts than RJ. Just this AM, they each ate a packet of oatmeal with plain oats added to it. Then they ate several spoonfuls of peanut butter.
THEN they each ate about a half a lenders bagel with cream cheese.

AND the NP told us to put instant breakfast drink in Paul's milk for extra protein and calories.

Re: Anyone else DC? (food related)

Re: Anyone else DC? (food related)

DD is like this...it's not that she hates meal time, but she prefers to have a little bit, then a little more later...she doesn't eat huge meals, but I'd say she eats about 4-5 times a day, and she'll graze on puffs or pretzels or something through the day...

Re: Anyone else DC? (food related)

Re: Anyone else DC? (food related)

Don't get me wrong...there is eating structure- he knows breakfast time, lunch time, dinner time...

We sit down to have 3 meals/day... he sits at the table, and eats until he is full.... its just a real small amount- which in turn makes him hungry again sooner...

He doesnt want snack...he wants the remains of his meal...???

Rj rarely finishes anything... IF we eat 1 full meal/day that is alot for him...

Its just that he'd rather graze....???

Re: Anyone else DC? (food related)

Re: Anyone else DC? (food related)

Re: Anyone else DC? (food related)

Posted by Mikismom

Posted by PrincessP

I am no expert on this but I wonder when you actually have to get "firm" on these kinds of things. I mean is it as important as bedtimes...I wonder...

I would not think so

miki is the same way, she eats at her own pace, IMHO, there is nothing wrong with that

Re: Anyone else DC? (food related)