Any Ideas: Not Eating

[laundrymom]

My advice.
Start serving lunch type items for snacks too. What snack foods do they crave?
Definately don't serve those for a month. Serve small, lunch menu items for snack. And stop stressing.
Offer. Offer. Offer. When it's not food time, it's simply not food time.
For snack, give the PROPER SIZE SERVING of something.
Here it's two meal components.
Typically I serve milk &banana or milk and dry cereal. Or milk and apple slices. But I measure every serving. A small child doesn't need a whole banana and 8 oz milk at snack.
They get recommended serving sizes for their ages at every meal. At lunch they may eat as much as they want of veg, protein, fruit. (In that order. I offer seconds on veg. If they eat that I offer protein. If they eat that they may have fruit. If they are still hungry I will re offer veg. But I don't allow them to fill up on bread or grain.
It might sound mean but my kids eat everything I put in front of them. Every day.

[KayB]

My attitude is "not my problem". Serve snack and lunch and leave it up to them what they want to eat. It's not your problem. At the same time hopefully you are feeding them healthful things at each sitting so they are getting a balanced diet no matter when they choose to eat. Today my DCK ate a whole muffin, barely ate lunch but then drank a healthy fruit smoothie with protein and fish oil mixed in. He gets to choose when and how much he wants to eat, and I choose what to serve.

This is EXACTLY how I feel. But my helper does not want them to "starve".

[KayB]

I can not get RID of the snack here. I am to give them an afternoon snack. Again, it is ALL healthy snacks.

[KayB]

Can you move the snack food drawer or cupboard? Then after opening it enough times and saying all gone, maybe they'll stop. Otherwise, just stay consistent. They'll learn after awhile.

We do keep saying no to them. We don't give in to their whining at all.

[daycare]

This is EXACTLY how I feel. But my helper does not want them to "starve".

they are not going to starve.

children need to eat every 2.5-3 hours. their stomachs are the size of their fist, not ours. It can't carry a lot of food and can't for very long, so they need to eat small healthy meals several times a day.

I really think that if you lay out a menu and stick to it, you can resolve it.

Don't make a big deal out of the food. Serve lunch at lunch, snack at snack, don't make a power struggle out of it. Kids will only eat when they are hungry.

If they ate great, if not, then they will have to wait until the next meal.

I have had my fair share of eating battles over the years and the best thing you can do is not let it get to a battle. keep it simple, we serve, they eat it or not.

[hope]

I wouldn't over think this. A child will get hungry. A child needs nutrition. It's that simple. Offer healthy meals and snacks (fresh fruits and veggies). If the child doesn't want to eat the meal they need to sit till everyone is done. Ignore their tantrum. When they ask for a snack and it's not snack time tell the to go play. I don't doll up meals into cute creations or beg a child to eat. What I do do is start them young with healthy eating habits. I puree lots of veggies into my sauces and meatballs and such but I dont hide the fact I do. It is to get as much nutrition as possible into each serving and to teach the child's pallet to recognize what good healthy food is. Have you tried smoothies? I find that even the most stubborm child can not resist a smoothie.

[spinnymarie]

I can not get RID of the snack here. I am to give them an afternoon snack. Again, it is ALL healthy snacks.

I believe she meant 'snack food'. For example, I serve multi-grain crackers for one snack. If that was all the kids wanted or were eating or were standing at the cabinet begging for, I would no longer serve it, ever.

[daycare]

I wouldn't over think this. A child will get hungry. A child needs nutrition. It's that simple. Offer healthy meals and snacks (fresh fruits and veggies). If the child doesn't want to eat the meal they need to sit till everyone is done. Ignore their tantrum. When they ask for a snack and it's not snack time tell the to go play. I don't doll up meals into cute creations or beg a child to eat. What I do do is start them young with healthy eating habits. I puree lots of veggies into my sauces and meatballs and such but I dont hide the fact I do. It is to get as much nutrition as possible into each serving and to teach the child's pallet to recognize what good healthy food is. Have you tried smoothies? I find that even the most stubborm child can not resist a smoothie.

I agree, it seems like maybe you are just over thinking it a bit, trust me when I tell you I am Queen of this.

I agree with what hope is saying, but I don't allow kids to stay at the table if they tantrum, it's very unsettling to have to sit and eat hearing that in your face/space.

If a child throws a tantrum and it's breakfast they can go to the crying spot. I teach the kids, you don't have to like it, you don't even have to try it, but you may not scream, use your words and tell me, no thank you.

If it were lunch and they throw a screaming tantrum then I will tell them I think you are too tired to eat, time for your nap and they are removed to lay down. I often get a no, I am not tired yet and so they eat.

Just curious, if your snacks are healthy just like the other meals, then why are they holding out for them or asking for them? If they are healthy, then start serving them for their lunch instead.

[mamamanda]

I believe she meant 'snack food'. For example, I serve multi-grain crackers for one snack. If that was all the kids wanted or were eating or were standing at the cabinet begging for, I would no longer serve it, ever.

Yes, I think a lot of people consider any type of crackers, goldfish, teddy grahams, fruit snacks, etc to be healthy snacks. I battle that in my family a LOT. Yes, chocolate pudding has calcium in it, but it is not a healthy snack. Kwim? If the kids are waiting on crackers, then I think she was saying get rid of the crackers & serve fresh fruits & veggies instead. I had a struggle with kids waiting for snacks myself. I started trying to incorporate more mini meals into snack time. Apple slices dipped in peanut butter is a favorite around here. Half of an organic turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread is another. That way I don't feel like they're just getting snack foods regardless of when they eat.

[daycare]

I have never once served a cracker of any kind in my childcare. I think they are 100% junk and kids will get them at home. I want them to get food at my place that they won't usually get at home.

[AmyLeigh]

I believe she meant 'snack food'. For example, I serve multi-grain crackers for one snack. If that was all the kids wanted or were eating or were standing at the cabinet begging for, I would no longer serve it, ever.

I just recently did this. My two oldest dcks started asking for crackers the second they walk in the door. So, oops, Amy doesn't have crackers anymore. You are more than welcome to have...(a better choice along the lines of what mamamanda mentioned).

Worked like a charm. No more requests for crackers. Now they just ask what we are having for snack.

[KayB]

I agree, it seems like maybe you are just over thinking it a bit, trust me when I tell you I am Queen of this.

I agree with what hope is saying, but I don't allow kids to stay at the table if they tantrum, it's very unsettling to have to sit and eat hearing that in your face/space.

If a child throws a tantrum and it's breakfast they can go to the crying spot. I teach the kids, you don't have to like it, you don't even have to try it, but you may not scream, use your words and tell me, no thank you.

If it were lunch and they throw a screaming tantrum then I will tell them I think you are too tired to eat, time for your nap and they are removed to lay down. I often get a no, I am not tired yet and so they eat.

Just curious, if your snacks are healthy just like the other meals, then why are they holding out for them or asking for them? If they are healthy, then start serving them for their lunch instead.

Exactly!! They are weird kids !

[KayB]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions! I have been doing this for well over 20 years and it has been a long time since I have had this problem and needed a refresher on how to handle it!

[Unregistered]

I'm eliminating crackers from my menu. i have been gravitating to fruit/veggies with nuts/ham/yogurt.