Kids wasting food! Ugh!

[TSDaycare]

So what do you others do with the kids who constantly waste food- I have a few who don't want to eat their fruit, veggies, etc. Now I have a almost 2 yr old who I believe his brothers eating habits are wearing off on him-both older brothers dont eat fruits and veggies whatsoever and whine the entire meal that I make them eat....little one wont eat them anymore either....he is the type who ate everything, no matter what it was....I don't get paid enough for these children to be wasting their food You cant make a 2 year old sit at the table until he finishing like the older ones, he doesn't get the concept at this age...

[momatheart]

I would put a small servings on their plate. Tell them you want them to try a bite. If they like it fine if not well at least you offered it to them. I believe you have to offer it.
Then I would offer the fruit that is left over as snack. Eventually they will try it or go without. Maybe serve fresh veggies with some dip(Ranch dressing). This can also be served as a snack in the afternoon if left over.

I tell my kids I do NOT want to hear if you do NOT like it. We do not say eww or I don't like this. Just leave it on your plate. (sometimes I say I want you to try a small bite if they haven't tried it for awhile or if it is new)

Maybe just serve veggies first, then fruit then the main. I am not sure if you have to serve it all at once or not.

[momatheart]

I would put a small servings on their plate. Tell them you want them to try a bite. If they like it fine if not well at least you offered it to them. I believe you have to offer it.
Then I would offer the fruit that is left over as snack. Eventually they will try it or go without. Maybe serve fresh veggies with some dip(Ranch dressing). This can also be served as a snack in the afternoon if left over.

I tell my kids I do NOT want to hear if you do NOT like it. We do not say eww or I don't like this. Just leave it on your plate. (sometimes I say I want you to try a small bite if they haven't tried it for awhile or if it is new)

Maybe just serve veggies first, then fruit then the main. I am not sure if you have to serve it all at once or not.

what I mean by left over fruit is fruit that was not on their plate during the meal.

[Cat Herder]

I see the meals I provide for daycare as a "disposable" investment.

I offer it and what is left is disposed of.

The parents have already paid for it, so I can't let it bother me on a moral level. YKWIM?

[littlemissmuffet]

I'd try smaller portions.
I do not believe in making a child eat. I do request that they at least try, but it is up to them in the end. If the child doesn't eat, they get a glass of milk and they wait until the next meal/snack is served.

[jen]

what I mean by left over fruit is fruit that was not on their plate during the meal.

What kind of fruit are you referring to? If it is canned, and it was never on their plate, stick it in tupperware and pop it in the fridge.

If you are talking about fresh fruit, only cut up a little bit at a time. You can always cut more!

[momatheart]

Both kinds of fruit.

[jen]

Both kinds of fruit.

Oops, I quoted the wrong post! I meant to ask the OP what kind of fruit she ended up tossing!!! Sorry!

[Zoe]

This has been my biggest pet peeve this week! I've been giving smaller portions. My food program lady told me that I just have to have the correct amount "available" even if it's not on their plate. After I get a sense of how much they eat, I can anticipate this with their portions. I can't afford to waste this much food. I don't get paid enough until I get more kids. I "bribe" them in reminding them that they need to eat if they want the special snack after nap time. It works for me.

Those that choose not to eat get crackers for a snack as well as the opportunity to finish what they didn't eat for lunch.

[SandeeAR]

I have three eating table food now. The two babies do great, eat pretty much anything I put in front of them. The two and half y/o, has decided she won't eat lunch. She usually eats everything at breakfast, but recently has gotten unbelievable picky at lunch. She now no longer even eats mac and chesse, which she has always loved. I only put about a tsp of each thing on her plate, except the meat (which she will usually eat). I tell her when she eats everything on the plate, she can have seconds and dessert. But not until she eats everything on the plate.

[blueclouds29]

Although i only have toddlers under 2, i now just started putting the meat or veggies out on their plate first. They try/taste/ eat that then they can have the next food and the fruit is always last.
I've been doing this cause they would just eat the fruit first and not even touch the meat/ veggies. so now i split them up. It seems to work out great!!

[kathiemarie]

I find if I sit and eat with them they do much better eating fruit/veggies. I just nibble because the way the eat makes me want to gag sometimes...but that is a different post.::

[SandeeAR]

Although i only have toddlers under 2, i now just started putting the meat or veggies out on their plate first. They try/taste/ eat that then they can have the next food and the fruit is always last.
I've been doing this cause they would just eat the fruit first and not even touch the meat/ veggies. so now i split them up. It seems to work out great!!

I do this too. It does seem to help!

[Little People]

I put veggies and meat on the plates first and I let them know we have fruit and if they eat most of their veggies and meat they get fruit.

Right now I don't have any picky eaters except my after school girl.

[Hunni Bee]

I have a very-picky eater...She's four years old, and weighs 26 pounds...she's tiny. She does have a lot of allergies, but she only eats certain meats, certain fruits and junk. No veggies at all. Ever. Today she cried for 20 minutes...we had pizza, spinach and fruit. I knew she wasnt going to eat the spinach, but I gave her a tiny bit so wouldnt have to hear "why doesnt _____ have any spinach?" She ate her pizza and nothing else, and then asked for another piece. I expected her to eat her fruit and told her so, if she wanted another piece of pizza...cried forever. Later she threw her entire snack untouched in the garbage...