How do I get a 5 year old to eat?

Question

I know this kid that is 5 years old, and he will not eat anything! Help!!

Answer 1

give 'em candy - problem solved !

:)

Answer 2

No snacks during the day, no juice and no milk. Eventually he will get hungry and eat. Don't make a big deal about it the more you push the more he will resist. It may have turned into a power struggle. Just let it go and make good healthy food available and he will eat when he gets hungry enough.  Little kids won't let themselves starve, they will eat sooner or later. Just make the food available to him at meal times and he will eat.

Heather

Answer 3

Maybe when making his meals get him to help prepare them and maybe make the same meal for yourself and you can make it together and eat it together

Answer 4

First try finding out what types of foods he does like to eat then begin mixing those foods with other foods so the kid will eat.

Answer 5

First, stop all snacks 2 hours before meals!  And when you do offer snacks, make them small and healthy.  Second, don't allow him to drink his calories.  Yes, he needs milk but is he drinking a lot of milk and not eating?  If so, cut back on the amount of milk.  No juice, soda, punch, kool aid nothing but water.  Third, don't make a battle field out of the dinner table.  Put his plate in front of him, tell him he is expected to eat his dinner or no snacks later. If he doesn't eat his meal, cover it up and put it in the fridge.  When he wants a snack later, get the dinner plate out and warm it up.   Fourth, stick to your guns!  He's going to try anything to get his way..........most kids will!  And don't offer rewards like ice cream, cookies, candy,chips and so forth!  That's just makes for more problems down the road!  Healthy eating starts early, the earlier the better.  He won't starve himself even if he is stubborn....

Answer 6

stop feeding the kid drinks with calories.  give the kid only water to drink.  when the kid gets hungry he/she will eat.  i promise.  no kool-aid, sprite, gatorade, milk, juice etc.  only water and the kid will get hungry for food.  also kids don't need as much food as you think.  don't force kids to eat.

Answer 7

it's like getting a dog to eat.put food in front of them and if they dont eat in a certain amt. of time take it away.try a few hrs. later and if they still dont eat let them go 2 bed hungry.they'll eat eventually

Answer 8

HE MUST EATSOMETHING!

Answer 9

Make mealtime fun and play the music he likes to hear.  Tell him if he tries a new food, he doesn't like he will get a sticker.  When he gets five stickers, you will let him do a special activity with you.

Answer 10

Ok, some of these people really have no clue... I have a 4yr old son, hes the same way; he doesnt seem to like to eat either. I have a few suggestions...

1. Kids do need snacks in between meals, just not a very big one, and it has to be something they like.

2. Only about 2 or 3 snacks a day, so it doesnt interrupt his meals.

3. Ask him what he wants to eat... If he makes an unreasonable request then give him a few options and let him choose.

4. Dont give too many soft drinks or sugary drinks like sodas, or concentrated juices.

5. Ask him to eat a certain amount of food, even if he doesnt 'clean' his plate, and remember not to over feed him, a childs stomach is only as big as their fist.

Answer 11

Simple, he is offered what everyone is eating-NO special menus/meals just for his palate.... if he chooses not to eat, great, he can wait until the next meal... NO dessert, NO snacks, NO juice... very simple.

I've found our toddlers are less prone to eat real meals if I've been letting them snack throughout the day. So I cut back on that and they will eat their dinners usually.

Good luck and BE FIRM!

Add: We have a 2 1/2 year old, 15 month old, and a 4 year old. Our older two will eat most anything because we've always expected them to at least TRY one bite of each item on their plates, and if they don't eat a reasonable amount of dinner-no dessert... what's more, again, I can't stress it enough-NO SNACKS! Children do not need all these sugary filling things during the day, they need nutrition, and they are less likely to get healthy foods if they are eating fruit snacks and cheez its all day and no real meals...

Just try it and see if over time it doesn't work.

Answer 12

Practice good eating habits in front of the kid, and simply cut out the junk!! Veggies before fruits. Water before sugary drinks.

Answer 13

Yeah i agree with the second answer.... just give him water and eventually he will get hungry, when that happens ask... "Timmy" what would you like to eat? If he says candy, simply say no. than give him options... Would you like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, mac and cheese, a corn dog, etc....

Answer 14

does he drink????? you could blend everything up.

Answer 15

try to learn when his last growth spurt was. If he's in-between growth spurts, he may not be very hungry.

See what intrests him. If he enjoys accomplishing things, let hm make his own meal -- or at least choose his own portions (within guidelines you set). If instead he's very distractable, don't expect him to follow a conversation while eating a meal.

let him get hungry. (are you SURE he doesn't have access to snack junk food ?)

ask his pediatrician.

Please consider letting his tummy be his guage/guide. If we eat "just because it's noon", or "because Gramma says to", or "because I have to empty the plate", etc., we are setting ourselves up for obesity later on.