For those that do not cook aything special for the kids (the kids eat what they eat...)

At what age did you start with the kids eating the same thing you are eating or they don't eat at all (or maybe cereal)? I am sick of making 3 different things each night!

Re: For those that do not cook aything special for the kids (the kids eat what they eat...)

DS is 3. the only thing he'll eat the same as us is chicken!
It does get very frusturating!
My nephews and niece will eat anything you put in front of them! My oldest nephew loves even shrimp (he's 5)!
Its not fair! LOL

Re: For those that do not cook aything special for the kids (the kids eat what they eat...)

I started @ 1 yr. He eats what we eat or he eats cereal or cheese or something. Every now and again I give in and actually **cook** something, and it almost turns into a game.

Re: For those that do not cook aything special for the kids (the kids eat what they eat...)

This really only started happening when I had Colin b/c we are all eating together. When I was working FT it was hard to eat together so Ryan ate a lot of nuggets, veggie burger, etc. So, he was 19 months when we realized he would go with the flow if we sat together.

Re: For those that do not cook aything special for the kids (the kids eat what they eat...)

When it was just DS1, he would pretty much eat what we were eating, whether it be fish, shrinp, steak, pasta, grilled chicken, pretty much anything!
Now, I feed DS2 so early that it is just easier to feed both boys together and I make DH and my dinner later. DS2 is so picky that I find myself "dumbing down" DS1's meals and I feel like he is getting pickier because of it I just was wondering at what age I can offer DS2 whatever I am making and that be it! He is 18 months now and I hate that all he will eat is cereal, chicken nuggets or pizza!

Re: For those that do not cook aything special for the kids (the kids eat what they eat...)

A little before 2 we started laying down the law. The only exception is taco/enchilada night, I don't expect her to eat that at 27 months. She is not a big meat eater, so most night she eats the starch & veggie that I cook.

Re: For those that do not cook aything special for the kids (the kids eat what they eat...)

He is 13 months, he either eats what we eat, or he just has toast and veggies. He won't be cooked another meal ever. My poor mom used to make 4 different meals a night, and I won't allow that to happen.

Re: For those that do not cook aything special for the kids (the kids eat what they eat...)

Around 2 years I said enough is enough.

Re: For those that do not cook aything special for the kids (the kids eat what they eat...)

dd is 9 months old and will eat anything that i put in front of her. being that she's so young, i generally give her the "ingredients" as opposed to the final meal (ie - beans and rice separately instead of with the spices, jalapenos, etc.), but she would probably eat everything anyway. she LOVES garlic and anything with a lot of flavor!

Re: For those that do not cook aything special for the kids (the kids eat what they eat...)

As soon as she was on table food at 8 months. Honestly, even before that, I would puree what we were eating before I added salt. My sister did the same with her son and he's also a good eater.

Re: For those that do not cook aything special for the kids (the kids eat what they eat...)

Re: For those that do not cook aything special for the kids (the kids eat what they eat...)

DD is 3.5 and I waited too long. I have to start this because meal time is becoming a real struggle.

Re: For those that do not cook aything special for the kids (the kids eat what they eat...)

It just sort of happened for us. I made all of her baby food myself so as her menu got wider I was able to start cooking within what she could eat. In the beginning I pureed her dinner in the magic bullet with broth or apple juice. Slowly I added bigger pieces and little bits she could eat with her fingers. I haven't made something different for her since she was around 15 or so months.

She likes spicy food. Loved my Chili the other day, eats like a champ at almost any meal. Tonight was tuna casserole and she ate it peas,
carrots, mushrooms, tuna, noodles and all. She even likes to eat salad.

She won't eat most vegetables unless they are well cooked or mixed in and she has a tough time with any tough cuts of meat but we don't eat much red meat at all.

She is 2.5 and eats whatever we eat except she generally eats a healthier breakfast than I do.

Re: For those that do not cook aything special for the kids (the kids eat what they eat...)

With both of my children as soon as they started table food ( which was around 9 months) they ate what we ate or they had cereal or even nothing.

Re: For those that do not cook aything special for the kids (the kids eat what they eat...)

Probably around 2 and a 1/2 years old was when I got fed up w/ heating up something separate for DD and we went cold turkey you eat what we're having or you don't eat at all. surprisingly there was only one night where she refused to eat at all. It was admittedly the longest hour and a half of my life (dinner) but then next night she broke down and ate some of it and it just got better and better from then on. Now it's amazing. I can't believe we ever had a picky eater. She's terrific. She'll taste just about anything if we ask her to. our policy is that she has to at least take one taste and if she doesn't like it she doesn't have to eat it. Now she does have to eat dinner so she's got to find something that she can eat. So in other words if I make a vegetable along with chicken and some kind of potato and she doesn't want the potatoes that's fine with me. She just eats her chicken and veg. We really only push her to eat the "protein" and "veg" involved for that night b/c that's what's healthy. Sometimes we barter, I'm not above a little bribery. You can have more mac-n-cheese if you have another string bean or bit of meatloaf, etc.

Re: For those that do not cook aything special for the kids (the kids eat what they eat...)

My son isn't exactly the norm since, until several months ago, he had a hard time eating a lot of table foods (he is over 2 now). Recently, he's been doing quite well though, and I am pretty certain he can handle chicken--he just prefers chicken nuggets.

I'm giving him a few more months to adjust, but soon he's getting what we get. Sometimes I do that now, but it mostly only works with Italian food.

So if your child is not having gagging/chewing/swallowing issues, I would start giving him what you eat at least most of the time.

Re: For those that do not cook aything special for the kids (the kids eat what they eat...)

DS started around 11 months as soon as he wanted to eat table food. Of course there are some things I dont give him (tacos, chili etc)

In the beginning I would grind the meats in the food processor and mix with a baby food veggie. He quickly disliked that so I would just cute it VERY tiny.

Now at 2 DS eats what we eat except on nights that I Dont feel its a good meal for him. For those nights I keep Gerber toddler meals around or throw some ravolis on.

Re: For those that do not cook aything special for the kids (the kids eat what they eat...)

From day one - as soon as she started solids, and was off the baby food.