PROJECT 52:3
He used to eat so well. Everything we offered was consumed.
NOT ANY MORE!
Now it’s a wrestle. A struggle. And he usually wins.
This is his protest face.
It’s frustrating to think I spent so much time when he was first eating solids to introduce a variety of foods and now he is so picky. The kid hasn’t eaten a vegetable in weeks. To be honest it kind of stresses me out. Is he getting the nutrients he needs? Will he start eating more of a variety again? We also wrestle with the decision to give him something else we he refuses what we have made him. We feed him what we eat. We always have. Should we offer something else if he refuses to eat what is before him? Or do we not? I’d love any advice you may have on this issue. Let me just say, parenting is difficult. I don’t know what I would do without the wisdom and advice from others. Love community!
Are you participating in Project 52 this year? I’d love to hear about it and see your images if you are. And it’s not too late to start. It’s a great way to document your life and 2012.
(http://www NULL.linkwithin NULL.com/)
jess - im not expert…just another mother. but dont give up, he will come around,he is just trying to find his place right now in the family…..he is bigger than his sister so maybe trying to find out if he is bigger than mom and dad. also have you tried to “sneak”in veggies to his food. might make you feel a little better. one thing we do is puree carrotts and mix it into the mac and cheese. puree califlower into mash potatos. fruit and veggies milkshakes or popsicles. good luck. and i love this picture
Laurel - a long story to get to answer your question above . . . I read this book (great by the way) by Alfie Kohn called “Unconditional Parenting” which is guiding our parenting. It talks about not seeing the forest for the trees – so my ultimate goal is to love my child unconditionally and I have to decide whether each time that my children and I don’t see eye to eye – if it’s worth fighting over and if it’s worth sacrificing our relationship. This is really good for me because in a previous job working in in-patient pyschiatry with kids with special needs you learn to follow behaviors plans (made by the psychiatrist) and hold my ground. Well, I’m trying to get out of that and not enter into so many power struggles with Pax.
so all this to say . . . when it comes to eating. Yeah, Pax probably hasn’t eaten a veggie in a week as well. I give him a multivitamin and extra vitamin D. I offer him a variety of foods – but I also let him choose foods out of a short list (hummus, turkey or peanut butter for example). As an adult, if I want this instead of that – then that’s what I eat. and I get hungry in between “regular” meals times – so I apply those same thoughts to Pax. He might want A instead of B and he wants to eat at random times – so although I offer him food at breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack times and always put him in his booster at those times – he may or may not eat then. But again, ultimately I don’t want to fight with him over food – as long as he is getting in a little bit of variety and I’m offering him only healthy choices . . . then I figure he’ll turn out okay!
I think too it makes a big difference what you are offering and giving. I think we are similar in that – Pax has had chocolate maybe twice in his life and doesn’t know what juice is – so although he may not eat a huge variety – everything he is eating is a “whole food” and good for him.
sorry for the book . . . 🙂
Julia - Great advice from Laurel and Jess.
One thing I do almost daily is give my girls a smoothie. They love them! Mine usually consists of strawberries, blueberries, and banana. I add about 1/3 cup OJ and fill the magic bullet cup (about 10 oz total) the rest of the way with 1% milk. I’m sure you could add some pureed veggies without much notice.
I give Josephine a vitamin, Lillian is still nursing.
Big picture…I wouldn’t stress. Just keep offering healthy foods. It might help to google something like caloric intake for “x” year old. Just to get an idea of what the serving sizes/suggestions are for his age. Sometimes I’m so focused on pushing fruits and veggies I forget they need things like carbs, protein, and dairy:)
Hang in there! You’re a great Mom!
Renee - Thanks Laurel for writing “the book”. I love getting advice for sure. Glad to hear my kid is not the only one going through this. I may have to check out that book.
Renee - oohhhh. Smoothies!!! Great idea! Thanks for sharing Jess!
Renee - Thanks Julia for your encouragement. It is so easy to feel overwhelmed in parenting. Eli is all about the carbs these days. So no problem there. But i guess he needs them with all the running around he is doing!!! Thanks for the smoothie idea. I am for sure going to start doing that. Perhaps I can sneak some veggies in that way!