I am getting so sick of this

Ok, so here goes.

We sit down for a meal (doesn't matter which one) and about 10 minutes into it...they say they aren't hungry. I tell them that they won't get anymore food if they don't eat their dinner...20 minutes later they are asking for something else. They either tell me that they don't like what I made for them or they just don't want it. I don't have the time to figure out what they want at every meal, nor the funds....and they still do it even when I ask them what they want to eat. And the other issue is just as frustrating...they whine for food before I start making it like they are starving...so when they don't eat I get even more mad.

 

Have my girls been hanging out at your house? :lol:

That exact same thing has been going on here. Plus getting down from their chairs and/or standing up on the chair and giggling hysterically.(We just ditched the highchairs.) It's so exasperating. I don't have any advice other than to stay firm about not feeding them something else. If my girls don't eat their meal it gets saved in the refridgerator and that is what they get if they want something before the next mealtime. It hasn't seemed to curb the behavior yet though :blush: But I don't know what else to do. I hope someone else has some ideas!

 

with it being 4pm I just got over this exact situation. I asked if they wanted grilled cheese..my picky eater said yes. I made it he had no bites of the grilled cheese and maybe 2 french fries...now he's asking for something else and it's 424pm so we are going through the crying/whining for something else. I keep offering the grilled cheese and french fries with no luck. His brother had a cupcake as a treat after he ate and also a banana (which my picky eater loves) and he still won't eat even a bite more of his dinner to get the banana...so he gets nothing..I'm trying to stand firm but I feel horrible b/c clearly he is hungry for something but doesn't want what I made even though it's what he asked for....we deal with this every day and I am so tired of it.

 

We stopped giving our 2 snacks as they wernt eating their dinner and just fiddling with it. It has worked a treat they now are really hungry at lunch and dinner so are even eating things they didnt like before. If you tell them if you dont eat your dinner you wont get anything else stick to it. If they see you giving in they will just keep playing you untill they get what they want!! My 2 try to do it with me a lot! x

 

QUOTE
And the other issue is just as frustrating...they whine for food before I start making it like they are starving...so when they don't eat I get even more mad.


Mine already do this. Yes, it is very, very frustating. Sorry no help, just understanding.

 

I absolutely DETEST meal time. Dinner is by far the worst. Ugh. They whine, they fuss, the goof off, they stand up, they fall off the chair, they fight, etc. They just argue with everything. They are OK at breakfast and lunch. I have no idea why dinner brings this out in them them but I dread it EVERY NIGHT.

One of my boys (Will) is constantly asking for food, which I have to refuse since I'm NOT a short order cook. They get breakfast, lunch, dinner, and two snacks. I also limit choices. I may allow them to choose at breakfast (toast or cereal, for example) or what type of lunch sandwhich (PBJ or turkey, for example) but dinner is just one option. I encourage (perhaps force) at least 3 bites of whatever it is they are complaining about (ususally the "meat" part of the meal). I call these "no thank you bites". If they don't eat anything, then that's it. This, though, has only happened once.

I also have to set a timer at dinner because otherwise with all the whining and arguing we'd be sitting there forever. So, if they aren't finished in 20 minutes, that's it.

 

May I recommend a great book ??? Child of mine: feeding with love and good sense.... it really puts feeding into perspective and at different ages and stages. It really makes you feel like you have the power back. I think it would really be worth the read. check it out at the library and guaranteed you will want to own it....

 

I had the same problem with mine - well kinda still do. I say when you play with it, throw it, play in it, dont want it...fine, your done but nothing else until we eat next. I take them down from their seats and thats it. If they want to finish their food then they can but nothing else. Now, easy as it sounds, my parents (which i live with at the time) like to offer snacks regardless. I've put my foot down and it seems to work, we've been eating our meals "all gone" and then getting the snack afterwards.

Good Luck, i know it's not always that easy..
Amanda