When the kids don't eat their meal...

I am so frustrated. I am letting my temper get the best of me and I swore I would never do that in front of the kids!

I put lunch in front of them and if they don't have an interest, they start throwing it on the ground. Fine. They know it's a no no, and will stop, but shortly pick it back up again. I take their food away and tell them they're all done. They get upset and a few minutes later I bring it back That is the last time though and after that one chance it's really gone. Then I feel guilty and give them something else to make up for it. Today I just lost it and that was it. Now i feel so guilty.

How do you deal with meals where they don't eat??? Breakfast is always fine, but lunch and dinner, ugh...and I'm not talking gourmet meals here...things they do like and just decide they wont eat it...they didnt even have a good snack today This is just getting to me and it really gets my temper flaring and I dont want them to see that

 

I have gotten to where you're at and still do at times. It's so frustrating. You want them to have food in their tummies, you want them to eat, you don't want them to waste food, etc... My philosophy now is to offer them their meals, give them time to eat and when they start throwing food, I take it away! You can't force them and they aren't going to starve. Some days they wolf down all their meals, and others they do just what you described.

 

How are the eating their food and where do they sit? Are they still in high chairs and do you put the food on the tray?

I had the same types of issues with my boys at that age. As soon as I put them in booster seats at the table with plates, it stopped. At first when I switched to the booster seats, I fed them in the kitchen with their food on the tray. It was a daily battle to get them to eat. My one son would just swipe it away and food would fly everywhere.

If they are still in high chairs you might want to look into getting booster chairs. Or you can try taking the trays off the high chairs and give them a plate at the table.

 

I totally agree with this. They will not starve themselves. I would remind my kids that I am not a short order cook and if they did not want that meal, then we'll eat again at the next snack or next meal. Mine still have hit or miss days with eating...sometimes they clean their plates and want more and others they just pick at. It is frustrating :hug:

 

i only give a little at a time. i find that less and less is ending up on the floor as they get older.. as for meals, if it's something new and they don't like it (which always kills me!) then i offer peanut butter, crackers and a fruit or veggie. i can't fault them for not liking something, but i want them to eat. i figure that pb (or almond butter) has a lot of protein and fat in it, which are good things, so i never feel badly if that's all they've had for a meal (along w/some crackers--which they never refuse--and some fruit and or veggies).

gl!

 

Mine get everything on their tray at once so they don't get thinking 'if I don't eat something I don't like I will get something yummy'. At that point it's really up to them. If they throw food, we take the tray away for 30 seconds if there is still a lot on it, or we just take it away for good, if they don't finish, they just have to wait until the next snack/meal (they're always around the same time too).

 

Not read the other replies but when mine start doing that I swap utensils. At the moment Max will only eat with a medium sized proper fork! Elliot will normally eat with anything but when he plays up I make a big deal about giving him a fork or any other utensil he hasn't been using - works most times!