Comments on: Our Toddler Eats His Vegetables http://frugalbabe.com/2009/06/10/our-toddler-eats-his-vegetables/ A rich life without a lot of money Fri, 25 May 2012 09:15:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: lt http://frugalbabe.com/2009/06/10/our-toddler-eats-his-vegetables/#comment-27768 lt Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:27:01 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=951#comment-27768 i was raised like you were and i'm raising my daughter (20 mo. old) the same way. she's a good eater and not picky. i almost always make two course meals at lunch and dinner. my strategy is this: she's allowed to eat whatever she wants from the table, as much as she wants. i don't cook anything special, and i don't bring anything else from the kitchen. he doesn't want to eat zucchini dish that day? fine, eat the rice. she usually gives in the next meal. of course this isn't written on stone. more than a few times, she didn't want anything that's on the table. i gave in and gave her yogurt, which she loves. we eat plain yogurt every day, anyway. i was raised like you were and i’m raising my daughter (20 mo. old) the same way. she’s a good eater and not picky. i almost always make two course meals at lunch and dinner. my strategy is this: she’s allowed to eat whatever she wants from the table, as much as she wants. i don’t cook anything special, and i don’t bring anything else from the kitchen. he doesn’t want to eat zucchini dish that day? fine, eat the rice. she usually gives in the next meal. of course this isn’t written on stone. more than a few times, she didn’t want anything that’s on the table. i gave in and gave her yogurt, which she loves. we eat plain yogurt every day, anyway.

]]> By: UPS477 http://frugalbabe.com/2009/06/10/our-toddler-eats-his-vegetables/#comment-27538 UPS477 Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:48:01 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=951#comment-27538 When growing up we had to eat what was put in front of us no matter what or it was our breakfast the next morning and so on until we ate it. My mom did one night each week make something she knew each one of us kids did enjoy & would eat. That was a pain also as my brother enjoyed homemade pizza with peppers on it and I could not pick them off. With my kids I stuck to the same basic rule but with some give in it. One night a week I would make each kids special meal but if one did not like something like peppers or along that line they could pick it off or out as long as they ate the rest of the meal. My youngest son did not like meats unless it was slow cooked for hours & fell of the bones so I had to use a slow cooker for 80% of my meals to get him to eat. The doctor also told me that as long as he chewed the meat and spit out the pulp he got all the nutriton he needed that way. There was no need to make him digest the pulp he hated so much. This helped us out so much with him! When growing up we had to eat what was put in front of us no matter what or it was our breakfast the next morning and so on until we ate it. My mom did one night each week make something she knew each one of us kids did enjoy & would eat. That was a pain also as my brother enjoyed homemade pizza with peppers on it and I could not pick them off.
With my kids I stuck to the same basic rule but with some give in it. One night a week I would make each kids special meal but if one did not like something like peppers or along that line they could pick it off or out as long as they ate the rest of the meal. My youngest son did not like meats unless it was slow cooked for hours & fell of the bones so I had to use a slow cooker for 80% of my meals to get him to eat. The doctor also told me that as long as he chewed the meat and spit out the pulp he got all the nutriton he needed that way. There was no need to make him digest the pulp he hated so much. This helped us out so much with him!

]]> By: L@spillingbuckets http://frugalbabe.com/2009/06/10/our-toddler-eats-his-vegetables/#comment-27526 L@spillingbuckets Thu, 11 Jun 2009 23:32:52 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=951#comment-27526 My parents raised me the way you are raising your son, and I plan to raise my own children the same way. As infants we had to eat what they gave us, although there was some canned baby food. When we were older we had to try at least 3 full bites of whatever it was, and if we REALLY didn't like one portion of the meal we could leave that portion and eat the rest, but no additions could be made and we always had to finish at least 1/2 of all everything regardless. Honestly, there weren't too many things I disliked (still true today) and I can only recall actively resisting one thing - spinach - which today I love. I will still try 2-3 bites of new foods before making a decision on them. Good job raising your child without pre-made, fast, unhealthy food. It does take effort to eat well but it's totally worth it. My parents raised me the way you are raising your son, and I plan to raise my own children the same way.

As infants we had to eat what they gave us, although there was some canned baby food. When we were older we had to try at least 3 full bites of whatever it was, and if we REALLY didn’t like one portion of the meal we could leave that portion and eat the rest, but no additions could be made and we always had to finish at least 1/2 of all everything regardless.

Honestly, there weren’t too many things I disliked (still true today) and I can only recall actively resisting one thing – spinach – which today I love. I will still try 2-3 bites of new foods before making a decision on them.

Good job raising your child without pre-made, fast, unhealthy food. It does take effort to eat well but it’s totally worth it.

]]> By: fairydust http://frugalbabe.com/2009/06/10/our-toddler-eats-his-vegetables/#comment-27513 fairydust Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:37:05 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=951#comment-27513 I think it's easier when they are small - they have no preconceived notions about anything. My son ate everything we offered him when he was little. Then he developed an opinion based on looks. Suddenly nothing green was to be in his food at all. There went most veggies I was cooking. Then green was okay but not brown, so suddenly no mushrooms or onions in anything. I don't think it was taste - he's just opinionated. For awhile no cold sandwiches of any kind. Then no hot sandwiches. Sounds weird, but every person is different and tastes manifest in so many ways :) I'm just glad he eats and recognizes that junk/fast food is not good for him. I think it’s easier when they are small – they have no preconceived notions about anything. My son ate everything we offered him when he was little. Then he developed an opinion based on looks. Suddenly nothing green was to be in his food at all. There went most veggies I was cooking. Then green was okay but not brown, so suddenly no mushrooms or onions in anything. I don’t think it was taste – he’s just opinionated. For awhile no cold sandwiches of any kind. Then no hot sandwiches. Sounds weird, but every person is different and tastes manifest in so many ways :) I’m just glad he eats and recognizes that junk/fast food is not good for him.

]]> By: Jane http://frugalbabe.com/2009/06/10/our-toddler-eats-his-vegetables/#comment-27511 Jane Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:33:36 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=951#comment-27511 I'm no expert, but I am guessing that breastfeeding prepares the baby for the tastes of the family foods -curry for example. I am sure some of those spicy flavors get into the breast milk and make future foods all the more familiar. My mother had the same take it or leave it philosophy with one exception- Cheerios. My brother made himself a bowl of Cheerieos every day for years instead of eating our dinner. Today he eats *everything* and is one of the healthiest people I know. Stay the course! There are a lot of lessons here and healthy eating is the least of them. I’m no expert, but I am guessing that breastfeeding prepares the baby for the tastes of the family foods -curry for example. I am sure some of those spicy flavors get into the breast milk and make future foods all the more familiar. My mother had the same take it or leave it philosophy with one exception- Cheerios. My brother made himself a bowl of Cheerieos every day for years instead of eating our dinner. Today he eats *everything* and is one of the healthiest people I know. Stay the course! There are a lot of lessons here and healthy eating is the least of them.

]]> By: autumnesf http://frugalbabe.com/2009/06/10/our-toddler-eats-his-vegetables/#comment-27506 autumnesf Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:12:40 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=951#comment-27506 Like one other commenter, I had 2 that I raised that way...and a third that broke me. Tell me a kid will eat when they get hungry enough...and I'll show you a kid that the state would have taken away from me for refusing to eat for 3 days and dropping so much weight that she was considered failure to thrive. Its not always so easy. Not ALL kids will eat it even if they hate it....some kids would rather starve. I didn't want my daughter taken away by the state. I still don't. We still require bites of new foods (not trying them with a bad attitude you understand, just with unease). The gag reflex is not a put on. I often wonder if we have some sensory issues that have not been diagnosed. Be careful on judging those that will feed one child a different food. They may not really have a choice. Have a ped threaten you over a kids weight and see what you would do. Like one other commenter, I had 2 that I raised that way…and a third that broke me. Tell me a kid will eat when they get hungry enough…and I’ll show you a kid that the state would have taken away from me for refusing to eat for 3 days and dropping so much weight that she was considered failure to thrive. Its not always so easy. Not ALL kids will eat it even if they hate it….some kids would rather starve.

I didn’t want my daughter taken away by the state. I still don’t.

We still require bites of new foods (not trying them with a bad attitude you understand, just with unease). The gag reflex is not a put on. I often wonder if we have some sensory issues that have not been diagnosed.

Be careful on judging those that will feed one child a different food. They may not really have a choice. Have a ped threaten you over a kids weight and see what you would do.

]]> By: scantee http://frugalbabe.com/2009/06/10/our-toddler-eats-his-vegetables/#comment-27505 scantee Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:06:49 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=951#comment-27505 I do agree with you with that multiple meals should not be an option for children. It is not a parent's job to be a short order chef. That said, I believe that eating tendencies are more born than breed and this becomes especially obvious when you have more than one child. I have friends who have never offered alternate meals to any of their children and yet each of them vary greatly it what they will eat. Some of them patted themselves on the back for their parenting when their first child would eat anything only to follow the same practices with a second child who will eat nothing. That's tough. I only have one child and he is a pretty good eater. Not a huge vegetable fan but loves a wide variety of strange and some would say grown-up foods. I'm pregnant again so I'll guess we'll what the next one's preferences are like. Our strategy is to make nutritious, varied foods for us as a family and then let them take it from there and not make a big deal about it. They'll eat what they want to eat! I do agree with you with that multiple meals should not be an option for children. It is not a parent’s job to be a short order chef. That said, I believe that eating tendencies are more born than breed and this becomes especially obvious when you have more than one child. I have friends who have never offered alternate meals to any of their children and yet each of them vary greatly it what they will eat. Some of them patted themselves on the back for their parenting when their first child would eat anything only to follow the same practices with a second child who will eat nothing. That’s tough.

I only have one child and he is a pretty good eater. Not a huge vegetable fan but loves a wide variety of strange and some would say grown-up foods. I’m pregnant again so I’ll guess we’ll what the next one’s preferences are like. Our strategy is to make nutritious, varied foods for us as a family and then let them take it from there and not make a big deal about it. They’ll eat what they want to eat!

]]> By: MommyK http://frugalbabe.com/2009/06/10/our-toddler-eats-his-vegetables/#comment-27503 MommyK Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:41:20 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=951#comment-27503 I agree with your post. Unfortunately, I was raised on a handful of fruits and veggies myself and have been trying to train myself to like new foods since I've had children. It has been a difficult task. I have tried many different recipes with many different fruits and veggies, but not a whole lot has stuck in our meal rotation. My children eat a good variety of homemade, organic foods until around a year old and then they start to eat with us and their variety is more limited. I do make sure they eat fruits and veggies at every meal and for snacks, but it's still a limited variety. I've also heard that the more variety you eat when you are pregnant, that will help develop a good variety in their pallet. Another strike against my children. I do eat healthy, but not a good variety. My children are ok eaters, and I do not give them alternative meals when they don't want something. That doesn't mean they don't, on occasion, go to bed with only a few bites in their stomachs. But, we have preferences for different foods and I don't know anyone who likes everything. I think as children get older (4,5,6), we need to respect their preferences like we respect our own. Why hold higher standards for them than we do for ourselves? My 4.5 daughter has tried oranges dozens of times. She is still required to take a bite if it is served to the family. But, she doesn't like them. At some point I will not require her to try them. I've read that after 20 times they may just not like the food. But, childrens' taste buds change in half the time adults do, so introducing it again later is good, too. I will continue on my search for new recipes to give my children a variety of foods, but in the end they will just eat what they like when they are adults, too. We do have a good amount of influence on them and should try our best to influence them positively. I've thought about serving them things I don't like, but if you don't eat it, they probably won't either. I can't force them to eat something I won't. I think this is a great post for new parents just starting this stage of life, so thanks! Wish I could say I eat such a variety of foods as you do! And, I agree with your statement about politics and different views. There is middle ground that we can all live with. Although some things will never be compromised, that doesn't mean we have to stand on two side of the fence. Thanks for the reminder! I agree with your post. Unfortunately, I was raised on a handful of fruits and veggies myself and have been trying to train myself to like new foods since I’ve had children. It has been a difficult task. I have tried many different recipes with many different fruits and veggies, but not a whole lot has stuck in our meal rotation. My children eat a good variety of homemade, organic foods until around a year old and then they start to eat with us and their variety is more limited. I do make sure they eat fruits and veggies at every meal and for snacks, but it’s still a limited variety. I’ve also heard that the more variety you eat when you are pregnant, that will help develop a good variety in their pallet. Another strike against my children. I do eat healthy, but not a good variety. My children are ok eaters, and I do not give them alternative meals when they don’t want something. That doesn’t mean they don’t, on occasion, go to bed with only a few bites in their stomachs. But, we have preferences for different foods and I don’t know anyone who likes everything. I think as children get older (4,5,6), we need to respect their preferences like we respect our own. Why hold higher standards for them than we do for ourselves? My 4.5 daughter has tried oranges dozens of times. She is still required to take a bite if it is served to the family. But, she doesn’t like them. At some point I will not require her to try them. I’ve read that after 20 times they may just not like the food. But, childrens’ taste buds change in half the time adults do, so introducing it again later is good, too. I will continue on my search for new recipes to give my children a variety of foods, but in the end they will just eat what they like when they are adults, too. We do have a good amount of influence on them and should try our best to influence them positively. I’ve thought about serving them things I don’t like, but if you don’t eat it, they probably won’t either. I can’t force them to eat something I won’t. I think this is a great post for new parents just starting this stage of life, so thanks! Wish I could say I eat such a variety of foods as you do!

And, I agree with your statement about politics and different views. There is middle ground that we can all live with. Although some things will never be compromised, that doesn’t mean we have to stand on two side of the fence. Thanks for the reminder!

]]> By: kara http://frugalbabe.com/2009/06/10/our-toddler-eats-his-vegetables/#comment-27501 kara Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:23:19 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=951#comment-27501 I love it. I get so tired of hearing from friends of mine how their kids "just won't eat anything" - as they drive through McDonalds and buy them a kid's meal or hand them candy or whatever. One thing my mom did that I swore I'd do if I had kids is this: We were allowed to have 3 things that we didn't like and wouldn't eat - because mom felt that everyone has things they truly don't like (vs. being picky). If mom made any of those 3 things for dinner, we could substitute. Otherwise, we were expected to eat a reasonable amount of everything we were served. So on the days she made sutffed peppers, I could choose to have a pbj sandwich for dinner. But I couldn't complain later about being hungry or wanting snacks. :) I think it made life much easier on her and it drove home to us that while we were allowed to have likes and dislikes, we weren't allowed to treat her like a short order cook and we were required to eat healthy meals overall. I love it. I get so tired of hearing from friends of mine how their kids “just won’t eat anything” – as they drive through McDonalds and buy them a kid’s meal or hand them candy or whatever.

One thing my mom did that I swore I’d do if I had kids is this: We were allowed to have 3 things that we didn’t like and wouldn’t eat – because mom felt that everyone has things they truly don’t like (vs. being picky). If mom made any of those 3 things for dinner, we could substitute. Otherwise, we were expected to eat a reasonable amount of everything we were served. So on the days she made sutffed peppers, I could choose to have a pbj sandwich for dinner. But I couldn’t complain later about being hungry or wanting snacks. :)

I think it made life much easier on her and it drove home to us that while we were allowed to have likes and dislikes, we weren’t allowed to treat her like a short order cook and we were required to eat healthy meals overall.

]]> By: Melani http://frugalbabe.com/2009/06/10/our-toddler-eats-his-vegetables/#comment-27500 Melani Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:01:05 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=951#comment-27500 I have two children, raised exactly the same way and one will eat anything and one has about 4 foods she is willing to eat. We didn't offer her an alternative meal thinking she'll eventually get hungry enough. That was not the case, she ended up severely sick and the doctor finally said to feed her whatever she would eat. She's 10 now and she eats the same few things for breakfast and lunch. Dinner she must eat with us and so very rarely eats dinner. While I do agree that the things you offer make a difference, I have to also disagree that that's all there is to it. Part of it is just your child. You may be blessed with a child who enjoys all types of food but you really can't assume that your next child will just because you feed them a certain way. Everything I was really confident about with my first child ended up being the most frustrating things with my second. I have two children, raised exactly the same way and one will eat anything and one has about 4 foods she is willing to eat. We didn’t offer her an alternative meal thinking she’ll eventually get hungry enough. That was not the case, she ended up severely sick and the doctor finally said to feed her whatever she would eat. She’s 10 now and she eats the same few things for breakfast and lunch. Dinner she must eat with us and so very rarely eats dinner.

While I do agree that the things you offer make a difference, I have to also disagree that that’s all there is to it. Part of it is just your child. You may be blessed with a child who enjoys all types of food but you really can’t assume that your next child will just because you feed them a certain way. Everything I was really confident about with my first child ended up being the most frustrating things with my second.

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