Older toddlers who still dont eat well!!

Megan is almost 3 1/2 and she still eats NOTHING! Everyone told me she would grow out of it but that hasnt happened yet. It is SO STRESSFUL! I still make her the same macaronni almost every single night for dinner. She STILL wont eat meat. She has grown to hate spinach now which she used to eat. For lunch its either grilled cheese or a peanut butter sandwich. She doesnt even "love" pizza. What kid doesnt love pizza?!?!?

I truly dont know what to do anymore. I have tried just letting it go. Putting on her plate what I make for dinner and if she doesnt eat it, let her get hungry. But I swear, she literally doesnt get hungry. I have spoken to the Ped about it..she says she is gaining so she is fine. I dont see how that could be true..I mean she could be gaining from only eating junk ya know? Not that she eats junk, just trying to make a point.

She takes a vitamin every morning but I dont know what else to do. Is anyone elses older kids like this too? I am hoping when she goes to school in September, things will start to change..because I know right now, dealing with a child with an eating problem is gonna KILL ME! Its so stressful!!!! Anyone else????

Re: Older toddlers who still dont eat well!!

DD will be 2 in 2 weeks and we have the same problem. She won't eat any veggies and only bananas for fruit. Dinner every night is a struggle--she will only eat spagehetti and meatballs, pizza and, on occasion, chicken nuggets and fishsticks. that's it.

The doctor told me the same thing in that she is gaining so not to worry about it. I have really had to learn how to manage my frustration.

I just keep trying by giving her what we are eating each night. If she doesn't eat, she either gets nothing or some dry cereal.

Re: Older toddlers who still dont eat well!!

I have had the same problem and honestly I think my DS eats even less than what you described. He will sometimes go days without eating and only eats a handful of foods. Rarely tries new things but likes a lot of snack foods and fruits (goldfish, animal crackers, etc. ) The funny thing is sometimes we bring him places and he eats lots of fruit and goldfish and people say what do you mean he doesn't eat....but then bring him to a kid party and al lthe kids eat pizza and chiups and my DS won't even sit down. He does not have eating habits of sitting down to eat or using spoon, fork, etc. He knows how to use them but rarely eats food requiring them.

We ended up bringing him to a specialist and he will soon begin eating therapy....not sure how it will go as he has not started yet but they said it was not normal that he was not eating and the lack of foods, it's like he doesn't get hungry. We are pursuing this with a devleopmental pediatrician as well to ensure there is no medical problem as well....in all toher aspects DS is fine, he's al ittle behind on speech but they evaluated him on that as well, sometimes it can be tied otgether, but seemed ok......good luck, it can be very frustrating and hard...

Re: Older toddlers who still dont eat well!!

My DS was very picky and we finally have made progress now that he is 5 years old. I've become a little more strict and he eats what I make or he doesn't eat. Usually he turns up his nose and then gives in and tries it out of sheer hunger and learns he likes it.

I stopped buying chicken nuggest and typical toddler foods. Without them in the house, there is no choice but to eat what I serve.

Same with my DD, whose 3. She puts up more of a fight, but now they know, if they don't eat, they go to bed hungry.