My 14 month old son is a picky eater and I don't know what to do! He eats a lot of cottage cheese but no other protein to speak of. He sometimes will eat a few veggies and fruit but other times all he wants is baby food. Should he still be eating baby food? He loves toast, bagels, crackers, etc.. but I'm concerned he's not getting enough of the other foods to keep him healthy. Any advice would be very much appreciated!
If he likes fruit & still likes baby food.....try making a smoothie with some protein powder. GET A GOOD isolate WHEY (which is the easiest to digest. Make trying new foods FUN!
No boiled or scrambled eggs?? No other cheese? What about peanut or almond butter? You can buy good organic peanut butter w/ no trans fats.
Wow! This brings back memories!
My daughter was just like that!! She is now 21 and in excellent health, and a vegetarian!
She would get on kicks and eat one thing for a week, 3 meals a day! I spoke to the Dr about it and he said to let her eat what she wants as long as it is NOT unhealthy. She ate spaghetti for a week once! lol
She grew fine, is highly intelligent and thin.
As Moms, we worry way too much I guess.
Good luck!
It actually sounds like he is eating better than most 14 month olds. There are some out there that will ONLY eat nuggets, mac and cheese, and hot dogs. :) (Don't let that happen either) My philosophy on it is kids will eat what you give them when they are hungry. Baby food still sounds okay at this age. Maybe try purreeing food for him that you think he should have, it might have something to do with texture, and then gradually serve him more solid (ex intstead of puree chopped) To get him used to it. Good luck
When you get him up in the morning, give him breakfast....Scrambled eggs or oatmeal would be best. Don't fill him up with liquids. Many moms make this mistake. When he's done give him a cup of milk. This will fill his belly more than juice. Next time he's hungry, & make sure he's hungry not just wanting a snack, fix him some lunch. I don't care what time it is, don't give him snacks until he eats his meals. Yes, I raised 6 kids with this principle & have & still do babysit loooooooots of kids with the same rules. I don't have picky eaters because I don't allow it. They don't go home & complain either because I've asked. Now is the time to teach him to eat everything. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean he won't. Try Vienna sausages & chicken sticks because these practically melt in the mouth. If he doesn't like feeding himself yet you may have to for a while, but soon he'll be enjoying everything you give him. Don't give up & don't give in!
My kids weren't big on protein either at this age, so I added black beans or other beans to their veggies. They both loved that and mixed in with veggies, they would just eat them up. I didn't do baby good at this late in the game, but all kids are different. Like the others have said, try a grinder to get the food you are eating to the right consistency for him.
My older son goes through phases where he doesn't want to eat meat, then not vegetables, then back to meat. I just sit him down with whatever he is protesting this week first and let him have what he wants after he's done with the first course. You may not believe it, but after a few tries your little guy will get the hint - even at this little age.
Hi R.,
I agree with the others about letting him eat what you are eating, in a mashed or pureed form. I wouldn't buy "little kid meals" as they tend to be high in salt and preservatives and they are expensive. I read somewhere that its the parents' job to put the food on the plate and the kid's job to eat it, whether it's the first time or the tenth. Sometimes it takes 15 times of seeing a new food before a little one will try it! Try to act as if you don't care whether he eats or not. This way food won't become a battle ground. Hope this helps. Also growth slows down between one and two years so he doesn't need as much.
I have three boys. It seems to me that the more you puree things the more he'll want baby food. Give him soft foods. My youngest was and still is a very picky eater. My dr. said he will eat when he's hungry. Not to worry as long as he still gains weight. My son ate alot of chicken nuggets, noodle soup, scrambled eggs, pancakes, waffles etc. There are endless soft foods that are healthy and some not so. You can also try just giving him one food at a time. I still do that with all of my kids just so they eat the main course. for example if we have burgers and fries they get there burger and have to eat it before they get any fries. Hope this helps. Good Luck
H.
He can eat the gdrber graduate foods. I would suggest buying some of them for him. They also have snacks and other little meals he can eat. Also, if you still don't think he is getting enough nutrients they nutritional shakes made for kids ages 1-12. These shakes are in the baby food isle typically with the formula.
D.
I am 31 and have been married for almost 12 yrs. My husband and I have 3 boys ages 10,7 and 4.
Could be a texture thing...others had good ideas. Also, try tofu blended in to things.
New studies have found that when you introduce foods has nothing to do with allergies unless they already run in the family. So, unless your parents or in-laws are allergic to nuts, try peanut butter or almond butter.
Since he likes crackers and toast, you might make a spread for them. Ham salad, dried beef cheese ball, etc.. Maybe make some cracker sandwiches with cut outs from lunch meat or pepperonis. Meat isn't the only protien either. Try little egg sandwiches on toast or mini bagels. Good luck!
Well, I guess it is how you started him out with food. I used my blender and what we were having is what the babies got from about 9 months on.
Baby food meats are very dry and extremely bland. You almost have to mix the vegetables in to make them moist enough to eat.
Fruits are never a problem because they are sweet.
Cut back on the cottage cheese.
Blend the meats with the vegetables on the chop up and put it in front of him. I think most of your problem now is with texture of the food.
P. R
Have you tried using a baby food grinder to grind up table food for him?
You might be able to introduce him to more kinds this way.
The consistency is coarser than strained food but is worth a try for variety.
You can put almost anything in it, and it is great to take anywhere!
Hi R.,
It looks like you have gotten some good advice so far. Just make sure whatever he is eating is healthy stuff, for instance, whole grain crackers, toast etc. What is you pureed a white veggie, like caulifower and mixed it in with the cottage cheese? Jerry Seinfeld's wife wrote a whole book on sneaking stuff into foods; I think on one level it's dishonest, but if that's what you have to do......
also I presume you are modeling a good diet for him by eating lots of fruit and veggies yourself. Keep offering what you have--my kids were of the opinion that if Mom or Dad was eating it, they wanted it!
Good luck!
K. Z.
Don't rush it. Eventually he'll want to eat more protien. If not then you will just have to give him a protien suppliment. I'm a mother of five boys and they are all picky with their food. Let time take it's course and see what happens.
Have you tried beans? or edamame? Great sources of protein. Just cut them up. My youngest is now 13 months and tends to throw certain foods on the throw when she doesn't like them. What I try to do is not offer milk or those things she likes first so that when I place "healthier" foods in front of her she will eat them. Then I will give her her milk etc. I also love the following website that has great ideas for homemade foods. Purreeing veges etc into other foods helps as well....just a little more work.
http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/
Best of luck!
Sounds as though I may be one of the few here but I agree with the philosophy that they'll eat what you give them when they're hungry. You're the mommy - you're the "boss" - lay down the rules & STICK TO IT. In our house, we do our best to give our kids a good healthy meal and they eat what we give them. We're not forcing them to eat liver and onions! =) My daughter can be a stubborn eater at 5 but she knows that's all she'll get. If she doesn't eat her lunch and she's hungry later, I get the lunch food back out! I recently read it takes a person about 5 times eating any given food to determine if you like it or not. I give my kids milk, water, or 100% juice - watered down (about 30% juice, 70% water)Don't give in! Stand your ground!
R.,
I would try to make some of the food myself and smash it up. For instance, cook a sweet potato (microwave or on the stove with water). Instead of putting it in the blender, mash it up really good but still chunky with some real butter. The chunky style might serve as a transition and the butter will help with protein.
If you are concerned about protein, I used to put cooked chicken in the blender with some juice or broth until it was pretty smooth. Sarah loved this. Eventually I tried bigger pieces and she ate them when she was ready. (It will keep in the frig for 3 days, then you have to freeze it. We used ice cube trays to freeze the food and stored it in zip lock bags.)
Keep trying different things. You'll find something that works and he'll eat when he is hungry.
