The Great Dinner Showdown
Getting my little one to eat is more than just a challenge; it can be a full out war. I remember the days when I could put any homemade baby food on a spoon and in it went without a fight. I felt like such a good mom knowing my son was eating spinach, meat, broccoli and more now adays I feel like I can barely get him to eat some fruit let alone veggies.
Somedays it feels like a constant battle, one that most days I am losing. Here are a few ideas that have worked recently in our family, I say recently since like everything else with kids things change in the blink of an eye.
Timing is everything
Usually my son will start to ask for food before dinner is ready so instead of making him wait, I prepare a few snacks to tide him over. He might have apple slices, celery with peanut butter or some rice cakes.
Eat on the Move
This can be a messy option, but I find it works for us. I will put some food in small containers and let him eat while he is walking and playing around the house. I know this doesn’t work for everyone, but sometimes when you are desperate you will try anything.
What is mommy eating
For a while I found that my son would only like food taken from my plate, it turned into a fun game and I could get him to eat anything from beats to green beans.
Add a little something
I know lots of moms who swear by plum sauce, ketchup or ranch to let the kids dip their food. My son loves a brown sugar vinaigrette sauce my mother in law
puts on her carrots.
The Right to Choose
I found my son loved to choose what he was going to eat. Since he doesn’t have a lot of words I made a special cupboard for his snacks that he could choose from as well as a special spot in the fridge. He loves being able to pick for himself.
Always set a plate
Even on the nights that he absolutely will not stay in his chair and eat I make up a plate for him so he knows it will be there when he is hungry.
Try, try, try again
I find sometimes I will give my son something to eat and he hates it and then again a week later he loves – of course sometimes it works the other way around and that is when the frustration sets in, but you have to keep on trying and do not let yourself worry.
