My son used to be a very picky eater and would only eat spaghetti. He was adopted when he was 20 months old and it was his way of trying to control a situation and also because his verbal skills were not very good and this was also his way of protesting!

How I got around it was to take him shopping and introduce him to food - like saying "what fruit shall we get?" and he would pick either grapes or bananas - and then I would say "Well are you going to have a try at eating them then because you have chosen some great fruit" and he would invariably answer yes. Also I would get the small packets of fruit and say - "Hey do you want these while we do shopping?" and open them up and he would take a few pieces but it got him started.

I also got him involved in choosing some of the shopping and also the preparing of the food which was fun. I tried to make food friendly instead of the enemy. Also try not to pay too much attention to the child while the child is protesting because you are giving the wrong attention. Praise the child when he does good. Children love kisses and cuddles and praise and this is the good attention. It was a slow process but my son is now eating healthily and is a very strapping 5 year old who is open to to try all foods.

Keep at it and it should turn around in about 2 weeks. Best of luck and I know it is a trying time but it will be worth it.
[Edited 6/19/07 15:54pm]

I was the same way when I was a toddler... I would just NOT eat. Only Pizza, that was it. My mom freaked and ran me to the doctor and she told my mom something that I'll now pass on to you...

Leave the kid alone she won't starve..she'll eat when she's hungry.


And look at me now ... I'm a big fatty fat.

JustErin said:

My little brother was like that. only PB&J and fries. he was soooo skinny. my mom was so scared he wasn't going to live! He did. He's a chunk now.

Looks like he'll just eat when he's hungry. Maybe it's just boys.
My neice's little friend is a twig stick. she just snacks and nibbles all day and that's it. kids...there will be a day when you wish that was all he ate. When he's 17 and cleaning out your kitchen cabinets. That's what my brother did.

Sweeny79 said:

NO you are not!!



I have been told that forcing children to eat gives them eating issues as an adult and they are more likely to be obese.
Just what I have heard.

I have heard what BB described she did on a health talk show and they say that is a healthy way to get them involved without causing them to be over weight adults.

eraclito said:

Very very true.....my son now eats like the world food supply is dried up....