mess, mess, mess - wasting so much food

do others have this problem? i'm sure you must - that at least 1/2 of what you prepare for them ends up on the floor or in their high chair. All the mess (and WASTE) makes me crazy.

I try to cook as we go, but then it takes like an hour per meal and the kids have been sort of unpredictable about how much they eat.

any tips? or just live with the mess and waste ?

 

I make their meals ahead of time, but only put small portions on the tray at a time. When there is too much, the hands and arms start flying and so does the food! :icon_eek:

 

QUOTE(becky5 @ Jan 26 2008, 08:40 PM) [snapback]591209[/snapback]
only put small portions on the tray at a time. When there is too much, the hands and arms start flying and so does the food! :icon_eek:


Ditto! :good: I only put a few pieces of food on the tray, that way if they start throwing it's only wasting a few bits.

 

thanks. I don't know what it is, but since they were babies, i really don't enjoy feeding them - other than breakfast (least messy, easiest to prepare).

 

It's normal and common phase. When my kids got a bit older, I started to teaching them to help pick up food when they were done. Now they understand if they throw food on the floor they have to help us pick it up. It doesn't stop them completely, but it helps. Another method is to teach them to hand it to you or put in the cup area of the tray (rather than on the floor).

However, I can tell you that the wasting of food just gets worse. Most toddlers get pickier and pickier, yet you still have to try to get them to eat a wide variety of foods. Some days I feel like I've compeletly wasted my time and energy and $. Like the past few days since we've all had colds.

 

My girls still waste food. I have to say though my dog is really happy!!!!

 

If it's any consolation, my little boy is almost 2. He just recently started handing us his plate when he's finished & saying "all done". You have to be right there though, or it ends up on the floor. Still better than shoving it down by his legs or throwing it on the floor!!

 

Give them less at a time or even 1 bite until they are done.

 

YESSSSS we go through this too!! It makes me :wacko:!! They do it mostly at dinner, which is odd. We start off with small amounts of chicken or turkey dogs, once they start tossing that, I take it all away and move on to peas, when they start throwing those I take them away and move on to melon...etc. Like pp's said, I only put a small amount on at a time, unless they are using a plate. They seem to throw less when I put it all in a divided plate.

 

Oh the waste would horrify some!! I feel ya!!

 

This only happens with us if they have too much on their tray. So, we just put a few pieces of whatever they are eating on the tray at a time. That seems to have solved the issue for us! I hate to see so much waste.

Good luck!