Food Program Destroying My Good Eaters

[sharlan]

I have two kids that have always been the most fantastic eaters. Prior to the food program, I gave them their main food item (waffle or cereal, meat and bread items) first. After they ate most of that, they got their veggie, then fruit, then milk.

Now, after 6 weeks, neither one will eat anything besides their fruit and milk. It doesn't matter what I make, they won't eat it.

My one drank her milk and ate her applesauce, refusing to eat her waffle after 30 mins. I had her get down from the table after she dropped her fork for the 4th time. She has been asking for yogurt or a banana for the past 45 mins. I keep telling her no, you didn't eat your breakfast, you're not getting a snack, go play toys. She starts playing with something and comes back and asks for food. I'm sure she's hungry.

My other one looked at her breakfast like it was poison and pushed it away, eating nothing. She keeps going to the fridge and pantry, hitting the doors. That's her way of telling me she's hungry.

I know it's against the food program's regulations, but I'm tempted to feed them the way I used to. I put two plates in front of each child, setting one out of their reach and just giving them what I want them to eat first.

My horrible eater ate everything so he could get back to the computer.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

If the way you were doing it was working for you and they were getting all their components in, I would go back to doing it that way. When the food program comes to observe, do it their way then. I just can't imagine doing it in a way that the children WEREN'T eating and were miserable.

[coolconfidentme]

I have a few like that, but I serve it anyway. You can always opt to not do the food program & not be reimbursed.

[blandino]

If the way you were doing it was working for you and they were getting all their components in, I would go back to doing it that way. When the food program comes to observe, do it their way then. I just can't imagine doing it in a way that the children WEREN'T eating and were miserable.

Agreed !

[My3cents]

I have two kids that have always been the most fantastic eaters. Prior to the food program, I gave them their main food item (waffle or cereal, meat and bread items) first. After they ate most of that, they got their veggie, then fruit, then milk.

Now, after 6 weeks, neither one will eat anything besides their fruit and milk. It doesn't matter what I make, they won't eat it.

My one drank her milk and ate her applesauce, refusing to eat her waffle after 30 mins. I had her get down from the table after she dropped her fork for the 4th time. She has been asking for yogurt or a banana for the past 45 mins. I keep telling her no, you didn't eat your breakfast, you're not getting a snack, go play toys. She starts playing with something and comes back and asks for food. I'm sure she's hungry.

My other one looked at her breakfast like it was poison and pushed it away, eating nothing. She keeps going to the fridge and pantry, hitting the doors. That's her way of telling me she's hungry.

I know it's against the food program's regulations, but I'm tempted to feed them the way I used to. I put two plates in front of each child, setting one out of their reach and just giving them what I want them to eat first.

My horrible eater ate everything so he could get back to the computer.

How is what your doing now so different then before?

[sharlan]

What I've always done is give the kids one or two items on their plate at a time. I always gave them their meat/protein first, then their bread/noodle/grain second, then they got their veggie, and fruit and milk last.

These two girls have always been my best eaters. They've always eaten everything, willing to try new foods. Now, one won't try anything new and will only eat limited fruits. She refuses foods that she's always eaten. The second one will only eat fruit and drink her milk.

If I pair fruit with anything, they won't touch it. For example, we have apples with string cheese. They've always eaten string cheese, but won't touch it now. I generally have a protein and fruit or veggie with most snacks. They will only eat crackers or fruit for snacks. Even yogurt is a fight.

Most meats that they've always eaten is a no go.

Do you think it's cheating the food program to give them all of their components, but only one at a time?

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

What I've always done is give the kids one or two items on their plate at a time. I always gave them their meat/protein first, then their bread/noodle/grain second, then they got their veggie, and fruit and milk last.

These two girls have always been my best eaters. They've always eaten everything, willing to try new foods. Now, one won't try anything new and will only eat limited fruits. She refuses foods that she's always eaten. The second one will only eat fruit and drink her milk.

If I pair fruit with anything, they won't touch it. For example, we have apples with string cheese. They've always eaten string cheese, but won't touch it now. I generally have a protein and fruit or veggie with most snacks. They will only eat crackers or fruit for snacks. Even yogurt is a fight.

Most meats that they've always eaten is a no go.

Do you think it's cheating the food program to give them all of their components, but only one at a time?

Nope!

[Blackcat31]

Do you think it's cheating the food program to give them all of their components, but only one at a time?

I only have to have the required components AVAILABLE but not necessarily on their plates. I can serve the components in any order I choose to.

I think that would be the best way for you to do it..it worked for you before so why change it up now...

[Play Care]

I only have to have the required components AVAILABLE but not necessarily on their plates. I can serve the components in any order I choose to.

I think that would be the best way for you to do it..it worked for you before so why change it up now...

I agree. I usually serve the veggies first because my group wouldn't eat them otherwise... I don't see how this is "wrong?" I'm usually still preparing the other components so its not as if I'm refusing anyone food :confused:

Now, if the food program people were here observing I would tell Tommy "it's almost finished cooking!" Rather than "not until you eat a green bean!"

[butterfly]

I would check with your local office. Here, we have to have all the components on the table or on their plates. They would not allow me to only serve one component at a time. You could do it family style though and help them serve certain components first - since they would have access to everything...

[sharlan]

I'm going back to my old way then. It's probably going to be a fight because they've gotten used to eating only fruit.

All of the components will be available, on the table, just not on their individual plates.

[MissAnn]

I'm going back to my old way then. It's probably going to be a fight because they've gotten used to eating only fruit.

All of the components will be available, on the table, just not on their individual plates.

I'd be thrilled that they are eating fruit. I'd love to quit serving bread altogether. It's strange that meat is not a breakfast component.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I'd be thrilled that they are eating fruit. I'd love to quit serving bread altogether. It's strange that meat is not a breakfast component.

I completely agree with the bread and meat thoughts!

[JoseyJo]

You could call your food program and ask specifically- but here in KS they "prefer" that we eat family style or give all components at the same time. But they don't require it. As long as all food groups are "available"- they define this as having enough for seconds of everything for every child.

Right now with our current group we serve a smallish serving of each component as "firsts". They must try (even a tiny bite) of each component to get seconds of any food. They can get thirds if they eat everything on their plate. There is no pressure to eat any food though- you can eat or not eat what you want. When you are done you can be excused, even if you didn't eat anything, but you have to wait for the next meal for more food. We have some who go hungry a couple of times a month because they don't like the food, and we have one almost 4yo dcb who never gets seconds because he won't eat any fruit or vegetable. I have specifically talked to our food program about him and they said the way we do it is good, no seconds on meat/grain if you don't eat any fruits/veges.

[itlw8]

nothing says you can not sit everyone at the table before you serve all the food. serve the meat... then go get the veggies and start serving them as they eat. then slowly serve the fruit. They do need to learn they can eat more than one food at a time but so what if you are slow serving.

besides you rep is not there everyday. I do not think in the regs it says all food has to be on the plate before the child starts eating.