Should I cook seperate meals for my 3 yr old?

Question

My son used to eat whatever we ate but latley he has gotten a lot more picky. I know I should cater to him because it would just make him worse but I worry about him not eating enough. At dinner time if he doesn't like what were eating he won't eat it. But he doesn't complain he just dooesn't eat and then would go to bed. I don't like putting him to bed on an empty stomach..SHould I cook a seperate meal for him?

Answer 1

hmmm... my daughter is nearly three and she has become quite the picky eater too! What I do is make her a plate and leave it there. I try to get her to eat something so she doesn't wake up starving at 2am. If I have to I will put her to bed on an empty stomach and at least I know she'll eat her breakfast!

Answer 2

I would not make separate meals for him.  You don't want to reward him for being picky.

If he used to eat everything, he will again.  Make normal meals, and offer them to him in the usual way.  If he's hungry,  he'll eat.  If he's not, it won't hurt him to go to bed with an empty stomach.

(Occassionally, if you are  making something for yourself and hubby that he has never liked, you could offer him a simple meal of his own; yogurt or dry cereal or a sandwich, but don't make a habit of it, and be sure to avoid the standard kiddy-junk that many kids would live on, given the chance. (Chicken nuggets, mac&cheese, PBJs, etc.)

Answer 3

I think more you allow your baby to choose, the pickier they get.This is what i have read, heard from experienced mom's. Make something you know he likes and you all like too. Let him eat it or skip a meal. Just put every meal in front of him and don't force .Don't worry too much about it.

My baby is 23 months old. She's the pickiest eater one could have. She eats on an average 1-2 meals a day only. I have fretted about it too too too much. I think it almost gave me colic. LOL !! Now i have trained ( to be honest training still in progress) myself to relax if she doesn't want to eat lunch or her dinner or breakfast.

Answer 4

I made a rule that my son can eat the dinner we are having, or have a bowl of plain Cheerios and milk.  That way he is eating something, at least, but he doesn't take control of the whole dinner.  Good luck.

Answer 5

I would not start making separate meals now. You will be getting into a nasty habit if you do. There's got to be something in your meals that he will eat. If he doesn't like the main course, but he likes veggies or potatoes for example, give him more of what he likes. Always be sure you make something in your meals that you know he will eat. But, still try giving him the other things as well. Just don't put that much of it on his plate because then he will think he has to eat it. Also, don't give him too many snacks in between meals, then he will be hungry enough to eat at meal times.

Answer 6

no don't  start doing that because then you will have to keep doing it as he gets older if he doesn't like what your cooking. my daughter started getting like that recently so I let her help me cook not actually at the stove but pouring things into bowls helping me wash veggies things like that and it got her excited about dinner so she wanted to eat it because she helped prepare it. or you can do like web said and give him cereal but don't cook him something else

Answer 7

my 4 1/2 nephew lives with me and he likes biscuits and jelly or peanut butter and blackberry jelly sandwich

Answer 8

My youngest is about to turn 5 this week and can be very picky to.  What I do is make several things that will complete a meal that I know  both of my kids will eat something I made.  For example, tonight I plan on making brocoli, rice or mashed potatoes, corn, and bake some skinless, boneless chicken breast.  My youngest will eat the chicken and my oldest will eat the mashed potatoes or rice and the brocoli.  I hate to see that my kids won't eat it all, but these things go good together and I know both will eat something out of the dinner I made.  Of course, you can have those nights when you don't feel like cooking a full meal and those can be the nights you can cater to his likes.    

Answer 9

Do NOT make separate meals!  You will be setting him up for a lifetime of being catered to!

The kid will NOT starve!!  Haven't you ever gone days w/o a meal?  

What is wrong with going to bed on an empty stomach?  Seriously.  Kids needf to eat healthy over a week's worth of time; not necessarily over each day.