question for those how have 1-2 year old

hi, i just have a random question- doesnt have to with twins. my 18 month old son is in this very picky stage where he will eat only certain things- mac and cheese, eggs, pancakes and snacks. of course theres little nutrional value in these food items so im always trying to get him to eat other foods. however sometimes he just wont budge and all he wants is goldfish crackers or something like that. from what ive heard from other moms is that this is a stage and will passs so just give in as its better they eat something than nothing. however my husband does not think thats the case and now he has mother on his side and they think im spoiling our son by letting him have snacks instead of real lunch now and then. anyone have suggestions to this or know any tricks to try get my son to eat the healthier foods?

 

My son who is two years old has been picky since he was a year old. The doctor told me to offer three options on a plate, two of them being healthy and one not so much so. Even if he or she won't eat it at first, she told me I have to reintroduce the foods at least 10-12 times. I think this is insane, because so much food is wasted that way. I can honestly say that I did not stick to her recommendation and am just happy if he eats cheese and peanut butter off the spoon. I am still waiting for the phase to pass, as this is what everyone told me. The doc assured me that they will not starve themselves. It is very frustrating though.

 

From what I have heard if you give your child food at a meal time and they don't eat it they will more than likely eat at the next meal because they are hungry. So if your son doesn't want to eat what you give him (that you know he likes) at breakfast then at lunch he should eat what you give him. But it may take a couple of times of doing it and you not giving in and giving him something else. right now he is learning that if he doesn't want to eat what you give him he will get to eat goldfish which he likes better. My kids really aren't picky so I don't know how much this really works. But if mine don't eat what I give them and I know they like it they don't get any other choice.

I can tell you though if he is picky now and you keep giving him the same thing then he probably won't out grow it (he might though you never really know). My niece only eats chefboyrdee and has been eating that for over a year and will not eat anyother type of pasta, she and her brother also only eat dino nuggets and no other type of chicken if it's not that then they won't eat (which their parents usually give in and give them to them and make it for them at dinner time when everyone else is eating some other kind of chicken).

 

All my girls get what we eat for dinner. If I make something I know they won't eat (steak) they can have a sandwich or something. If it's something I know they like and are just being stubborn and choose not to eat it, they are out of luck. They might be able to have a snack of Cherrios before bed (or try their dinner again), but usually they done until morning. Then they eat a great breakfast. I usually make something that I know they will eat (noodles, for example) as part of the meal and we only insist they eat a few bites of veggies or the meat. Then they can have as many noodles as they'd like.

 

my doctor says it is just a phase too. I now throw in some secrets to help those foods out. like i might dics up some cauliflower and saute it and then add it to the macaroni. it makes a little better. since it is diced so small they don't even know it is there. i also add some pureed carrots. it makes me feel better until they get out of the phase.

 

You can try making the things he will eat healthier (ala the Seinfeld cookbook), like add 1/2 cup of canned pumpkin or pureed squash to the pancake batter, get Annie's Cheddar Bunnies instead of goldfish, add spinach to the eggs, mix in some pureed cauliflower with the mac and cheese, you get the idea.
My girls can be picky, but are getting better. I go ahead and serve what the rest of us are eating for dinner, but I will include like a piece of wheat bread or some fruit for dessert so at least they do eat something. I don't substitute the whole meal.