when will it end...?!

sleepymummy · #1 (**permalink**) 26-05-08, 23:57

Hi, I've just joined this forum and may i say how good it feels to know that there are other people out there who also wish they had bought shares in Birds Eye! I just wondered if anyone had any pearls of wisdom. my eldest is 5 and is getting worse. he eats a good breakfast, mediocre lunch and i rotate sausage, chicken and fish fingers each night all served up with BE Waffles or skinny fries or garlic bread. my middle one used to eat well but now copies no.1 and i'm terrified that no.3 - just turned 1 - will follow suit. i know exactly where i went wrong but how do i try and convince him to even try anything new. he makes such a song and dance about it no.2 copies and i'm sure no.3 will soon......

ladybug · #2 (**permalink**) 27-05-08, 00:03

eeek!

go away for the weekend with some health food junkies and see if it rubs off

sorry - not much help i'm afraid!!

sleepymummy · #3 (**permalink**) 27-05-08, 00:06

well there's an option, wonder if it would work?!! know of any such w/e's?

isabellasmum · #4 (**permalink**) 27-05-08, 00:18

As a complete outsider it's so easy to say stop buying waffles/fries etc and if they are hungry they will eat whatever else you offer.

Since I only have experience of a toddler who can be stubborn but eats well generally I'm not sure I'm the best equipped to help but wanted to send you a ((hug))

Do they eat potatoes, rice or pasta?

noababy · #5 (**permalink**) 27-05-08, 06:05

I also would just not buy it. If it's not in the house they can't have it. If you do that though, make sure you also have NO junk food in the house or they will go for that and make you crazy.

Have you tried getting him involved in the cooking? Helping you cut up veggies and stuff? It makes the food taste sooo much better to them!

sleepymummy · #6 (**permalink**) 27-05-08, 14:03

he loves to cook but won't try anything he does cook. i know all the 'well just don't buy it' arguments and i would love to say i've tried it but when you're on your own every tea time with three children, it's easier said than done to be brave about it isn't it?! he does have quite a balanced diet it's just very limited. he won't eat pasta, rice or potatoes although he has recently tried pesto and pasta. he managed 3 pieces of penne. quite an achievement i can tell you!

sleepymummy · #7 (**permalink**) 27-05-08, 14:18

also, on the junk food theme, we don't have much. waffles yes, fish fingers yes, but they don't like sweets, rarely get chocolate, biscuits are a digestive or a fruit/cereal bar, coco pops and the like are banned and we only eat wholemeal bread.....maybe i'm being too hard on myself. he is wanting to be more fussy, saying he doesn't like something when i know he does but i do draw the line there and use the 'well that's all there is' or offer him a healthier alternative but he would rather starve than eat cottage pie. i'm trying to get the boys excited about their sister's development, which they are, but really say, look at this, Hannah is eating an apple, isn't she a big girl? they are genuinley pleased for her but won't eat one themselves....

lucky · #8 (**permalink**) 27-05-08, 17:09

Have you tried making your own chicken nuggets/ fish fingers etc maybe that would help them branch out a bit. I know its not easy. Jack can be very fussy and I like to think tht one day i will be strong enough to say whats on offer is all there is but not sure when that time is really, think he's too young at present but would like to get him eating better before it influences Oli.

sleepymummy · #9 (**permalink**) 27-05-08, 18:01

i advise that you do just that! I failed! there is 27 months between my boys and william was about 15 months when he started to notice that edward was eating different food. i was pregnant with hannah by that point and we moved house so i'm afraid i did what was easiest. what a mistake. it was like car crash tv in slow motion! i am determined not to make the same mistakes with hahhan but its easier said than done isn't it?! i have made my own nuggets etc and they ate them but its time now. i but some really good quality breaded chicken breast fillets from a local firm which they love, i only do birds eye on fish fingers!

noababy · #10 (**permalink**) 27-05-08, 22:22

It's also an age where it can be a power struggle thing. if you think about it, the only thing kids can really control is what goes into their mouths.

How about offering 2 options that are acceptable to you straight off, so her can chose. Say would you like this chicken or this fish , or even just put both in front of him and say YOU can chose which one you want to eat now.