Can I get some advice? My oldest child, who is 9, is such a picky eater. She won’t eat simple things like hot dogs, eggs, pepperoni pizza, sausage, etc… slot of the time she says she doesn’t like it before she eats something. I can’t get her to try new things. I could not tell her what something is in the hope she will try, and that doesn’t work. I am not going to make her special food just because she is picky. We have told her she can’t say she doesn’t like unless she has tried it. She sees me and the rest of the family eat it — any advice on how to get her to try new things.
I had a one bite rule…she found out she like alot more things
It helps my step son if we relate it to something he does like or change it a bit. Idk the kid likes sandwiches. We used to put like hamburger helper in between bread and he would eat it.
I was raised if you dont eat it you get nothing else . No desert . I know some people may frown on this rule now and days but I learned to cover things I didn’t like with mustard and eat it. I still do it to this day
My son was diagnosed with ARFID. Your daughter sounds a lot like my son who is 10 and 54lbs. It took years of feeding therapy and having to go to an eating disorder clinic to get this diagnosis. It’s a struggle and from my experience its a lot of trial and error and patience. Not saying that is what she has,but researching it might help with ways to get her to try new things. Try one bite or as the therapist did touch to lips and then bite. He is far from cured and may never be.
My 9 year old is a picky eater. She is just now starting to try new things. But even if it’s something she says tastes good we can’t get her to actually eat it. She will come around. We do the one bite she has to swollow it not just chew and spit out. She also has something to drink if she doesn’t like it and needs to wash it down. I also found if we push it she will just shut down. We found out she couldn’t really see or hear when she was 4. We were told that she could possibly be a picky eater because her other senses were hightened. Do the one bite rule. She has to chew and give her the option to spit it out but only if she actually tries it.
My 10 year old stepson is like that. I tried being strict but this boy will starve himself till he gets sick before he will eat something he doesn’t like. And he will whine and complain the whole time. He is the pickiest eater in the world.
Tell her she meeds to take a no thank you bite. Take her to the store and ask her to puck out 1 new thing she would lime to try. A sticker chart for every time she tries something new, and she can think of the reward when she gets to 10 items.
Maybe its more about texture than taste for her. Ask her how it feels more so than how it taste.
Lol I made up a rule my picky guy had to like 2 new foods a year and every vacation he had to try something new if his choice lol we were in Mexico this year his choice was churros. Lol I know but he tried it. This year was raw carrots and cucumbers. Last year was ham. I have 3 that eat everything. One that doesn’t. Small steps.
I’ve been a picky eater my whole life. I have texture issues. My mom used to make me eat food and make such a big deal over it. I know their generations were forced to eat stuff. I won’t make my kids eat or try anything they don’t want to. It’s caused too many food issues for me. Now if it’s a disorder or something like that, I would be concerned. But really give her some vitamins to supplement. Maybe also let her make the food. My kids will eat stuff if they make it compared to if I make it.i don’t think it’s worth the battle. Everyone had different likes and dislikes when it comes to food. Even if they have never tried it
Try letting her help make something she likes. Have her taste stuff before it is mixed and cooked . Like chicken nuggets. Flour, different seasonings, eggs, milk , oil, talk about raw chicken would taste. Let her help cook and enjoy . Explain how foods taste different when cooked different and she always needs to try one bite
I had 6 kids so we always told them. It cant always be your favorite that wouldnt be fair. So you dont have to like it but you do have to eat it just take a little bit.
My nephews best friend was like that for years we found out later that he has a lot of problems with textures. He’ll eat anything now
My rule was and has always been you can’t say you don’t like a food until you’ve tried it 10 times. Make something’s she likes and something new. Put a small spoon of that with her food. Tell her she has to try the food she’s avoiding before getting seconds/extras of the others. Make a smaller than usual portion size.
It could be a texture thing. I can’t eat certain things due to the way it feels in my mouth. Like jello, pudding or yogurt. I can’t stand the way they feel when I eat it. It have nothing to do with taste. If it’s to mushy I will not eat it. It feels gross
My kid is picky he will tell me he don’t like something I tell him to eat it or go hungry we’ll here lately his 5 yr old brother will tell him to try it is good and when he does he likes it but his big brother has to tell him to try it first
Get her some Childrens Multivitamins as she goes through this phase.
So I was picky (which actually was the beginnings of a pretty serious eating disorder), my mom cooked and she would always make sure there was something on the table she knew I wpuld eat, even if it was just rolls or green beans. And if I chose not to eat, there was nothing else. “it’s a long time until breakfast, so I suggest you find something to fill you up before bed” some night I went to bed hungry. But that was my choice. And by 9 you’re plenty old enough.
My daughter will not eat steak anless it’s crumbed with mayo on the side to dip she won’t eat eggs unless it’s scrambled she won’t eat hot dogs without cheese on it
9 is too old to be picky. Dont wanna eat what I make then starve is my response. I dont give in unless I know the food is gross.
My 8 yr old is the same. Shes been like this since she started solids as a baby. She gets a little better each year, but its been a struggle for sure.
My daughter is 2.5 and being a toddler is super picky We have a rule that she HAS to take one bite and try something before she can get up. If she doesn’t like it that’s fine but… “you don’t know if you don’t like it if you don’t try it”. I always put everything we have on her plate. She might not touch it the first handful of times but we have found by giving her the option, and letting her see us eat it, she will eventually try it. She shocked us on vacation in August by eating half of her Nana’s plain chicken sandwich because she will not eat chicken…not even chicken nuggets lol
With my 2 year old we have a rule of the “no thank you bite.” He must take 1-2 bites before he says he doesnt like it. He must also try it everytime we have it for dinner.
I would also ask why she doesnt like it.
We have a 3 bite rule - my kids have to take 3 big bites before they can tell me they dont like something a refuse to try it . I have a super picky 10 yr old
Eat what mama makes or don’t eat at all…a few nights of starvation will change that
I have texture issuesand have always been a picky eater. Try a sectioned plate. Having things visually not touching helps. The mixture of textures is a big one. I’m grown have grown children we did try it once if you don’t like it you never have to eat it again. Good luck. As parents we want to make sure they have nutrition but it’s not a battle you want too fight just make sure there balanced nutrition
My son was & still sort of is super picky. He’s 8. He’s just starting to try new foods. To get him to eat meat, I told him it was chicken (he likes chicken). We have a rule at the table that he has to at least try the food. If he doesn’t like it I can make him something else. It’s worked so far, after the first bite he realizes he likes it and doesn’t make a fuss about it after.
I never had a choice growing up. She either eats what you make her or she doesnt eat. Giving her too many options creates the problem.
My mom used to make me cook my own meals if I wouldn’t eat what she made. Im a picky eater and have problems with textures. I get gaggy sometimes. She just gave up and told me to cook what I was going to eat cause she wasn’t cooking another meal. So I learned how to cook, with her help at ripe young age of 7. May not of been the best route but I learned to cook and my belly was full.
There is always something on table they will all eat. But i make there plates with all of it. So they need to atleadt try it then if they don’t like it they dont have to eat anymore. They can have more of what they do like. I just ask that they try everthing. Only problem i have now is my son will vomit on q if he even looks at something he doesn’t like. So this doesn’t work for him. Older 2 kids do great with this. Even my son that has ASD. He just won’t eat it but he will try it. Then he gets more of the stuff he does like. Good luck. I’ve always done this so it isn’t that big of a deal. I also let them help plan meals and let them help cook sometimes that helps. Then we change up what’s in it when they do.
My 9yr old is the same. Ive noticed though if she is really hungry she will try new foods. And I always make sure there is at least a side she likes so she can at least eat that if she didnt like what she tried or won’t try it. But she doesnt get anything made special.
My son used to be super picky and male himself gag and throw up but he grew out of it around 4 years old
My 10 year old has just started not being picky. Now she tries anything I give her. If she really doesnt like it, she doesn’t have to eat it. We go with a “2 no thank you bites” system. One bite to try it, another bite to make sure you don’t like it. Thank a “thank you Mommy but I don’t like it.”
Growing up we either ate what was in front of us or we got a PB&J
My kids are 11,10, 10, 6, and 8 months. You eat what I make or nothing. It seems harsh but their pediatrician has told me that they will eat when they are hungry. If they don’t eat water and bed. It’s that simple you are the mom. Certain things I turned into a game
I had to make my picky ones sit at the table till they would finally put at least 2 bites in and that was nearly every meal for my daughter, she is grown now and still picky just not as picky and they aren’t allowed to say they don’t like it workout trying it first.
I cant help…I’m one of those moms that fix multiple dinners (nothing time intensive) because my son is picky. I was a picky eater as a kid and was made to sit at the table until I ate…sometimes hours…so I understand how he feels.
Eat what’s on the table or go to bed with nothing. Your not a short order cook. You can’t afford to make 2 different dinners. That’s how I was raised.
Have the 9 year old pick what he/she wants for dinner then cook it themself. Shop together, any problems? Hey you picked it. I have to assume you are a small family. I came from 7 so we ate what was on the table .
The no thank you bites are great ideas. Also try to find out if it could be a spicy/texture thing. Some foods can be hidden with others like making smoothies for snacks you can hide kale, avocados, spinach, and carrots in them and you won’t have to worry about the lack of veggies
My daughter is very picky. I have been having the same problem, but she will at least try a bite, but usually she still doesn’t like it. It’s usually just the two of us, so I will cook what I want for myself and then microwave her some chicken nuggets and then she gets whatever sides I make to go with her chicken nuggets. My daughter has a thing about foods being spicy. Even a little bit of pepper she finds is to spicy.
Offer something she likes a lot (like a strawberry) every time she eats 4 bites of something. Stretch it out after awhile. Or develope a sticker chart for each positive meal she has and after every 5 meals give her a reward. Then stretch out the number of positive meals as she makes progress
I think you should take in account that she is a picky eater and just make her a different meal. I am an extremely picky eater and that’s what my parents did. I think it’s just upsetting to tell a child they can’t leave the table.
So why not when you go food shopping have her pick out the food items she likes and then go from there. If you don’t want to make two meals than why not have all of you eat the foods she likes ?
Let her go hungry. We made our kids eat their breakfast at lunch,and even kept it till supper. They eventually learned to eat what was on the table.
My 14 yo is super picky too. I make whatever I want for dinner and if he doesn’t like it, there are stand-by options he can make himself. He usually has cereal or pb toast or pretzels and nutella or something similar. We generally have fruit, which he also likes, so he’ll have that as well. He never complains, just makes whatever he wants if he doesn’t care for what everyone else is having.
Eat it or do without. How I was raised n how I raised mine… and I’m a picky eater myself
Dont buy food trust me she wont starve
Omg hun I’m having the same issue with my son and he is ALSO 9!!! All he eats it pizza fries Burger King nuggets that’s recent tho lol and croissant from Dunkin only!and cereal coco puffs or fruity pebbles u aren’t alone my son exactly same thing as your daughter saying he don’t like it when he hasn’t tried it yet lol …
9 is old enough to understand that you eat what you are given. I’m sorry but at some point you have to stop catering to your kids, maybe start having her help make dinner, get her opinion on things, does it need more salt or is the pasta cooked also a good age I think to start teaching her how to cook and about kitchen safety.
My son was extremely picky when he was little. His pre-k teacher told me she did what was called a “no thank you bite” he has to take 1 bite of everything on his plate and if he didn’t like it he would say no thank you and his only other option was a 1/2 peanut butter sandwich. 9 times out of 10 he ended up eating what he was served.
How many of you saying make her eat what you cook eat something you don’t like. None ! That’s how many ! Feed that baby what she wants !
I make my child try everything, but I will NOT force her to eat something she doesn’t like. We don’t eat things we don’t like as adults, why should a child be forced to?
In my house, its eat whats on your plate or go to bed with nothing. Im not gonna let them start a bad habit of making me go through and make 5 different things before they decide they want it. Nope!
It’s really simple…she eats what she’s served or she doesn’t eat
Hell when we were growing up if we didn’t eat out food it was put away and reserved to us for our next meal, over and over, until we finally ate it
I have alway put on my kids plate a thing they will eat and something new . You cant force them to eat and ive found it only ends up being stressful for everyone. Just fed them as balance diet as possible at the time. They wil change has they grow. Good luck
My mom asked me to take just one bite. Now that’s what I do in unfamiliar situations. A lot of times children are scared to try. She taught how to discreetly spit in a napkin also if I didn’t like it.
STOP IT!
stop with the posts not related to the page…
I never had to eat anything I didn’t like. Do you eat things you don’t like? You may not understand how sickening some foods look and smell. Many common things I have never tasted and many things I looked at differently as I got older. My mom made me something different if I didn’t like it and I did same for kids and grandkids. It isn’t that hard. It doesn’t have to be a big meal or junk food. I am still alive and doing fine without having even tasted many things😁
We have a one bite rule. You have to eat one bite, if you don’t like it fine. All four of my kids went through this stage and eventually grew out of it. My son is still like that sometimes, we go through alot of cereal. My advice, if it isn’t affecting her health or weight then throw in a multivitamin and just keep trying. You have to pick your battles and at my house, this wasn’t a big enough deal to stress about.
We have a 3 bite rule. The first bite, they have in their head they don’t like it. Second bite, they begin to taste it. Third bite, they’ve really had a chance to taste it and usually stopped being stubborn and really know wether they like it or not.
Unless of course, I can tell by their reaction on the first bite they REALLY don’t like it. For instance last night, dinner was balsamic chicken and veggies over rice. It had to much of a grown up taste (I guess to explain lol) for my 6 y/o. He was willing to try it no problem. However, the first bite, it was written all over his face. Lol
Make new things for you and don’t let her have any. When she asks, tell her it’s “grown up food” and you’re not sure if she’s ready for it. Works on my daughter.
Growing up there were no choices, we had what was on the table. My son was raised that way too. When your child is hungry enough the food will be eaten.Good Luck!
3 bites worked for me . First one they convince themselves they hate it. Second ,not that bad ,third sometimes that’s not so bad. Worked on mine and my Grandkids ,good luck.
Try having her try just bite. If she likes it fine; if not fine. We do this with grands. Sometimes they smile and sometimes spit it out. As far as veggies, told them veggies will help make muscles, make them stronger. Some they like, some not. Little one would sometimes raise his arm, after eating, to see how big his arm had gotten. You might try something like that. If you like it great; if not that’s ok. I’m a Granny and still don’t like pepperoni
My youngest was the worst. Wouldnt even eat pizza. Same hamburger every day. Well being in business and having to entertain he now eats stuff I dont even eat. Same with grandson.
She is 9 and trust me she will get thru it and not starve. Serve what you serve and leave the choice to her…
Things I didnt like as a kid are my favorite foods now. I would only try them because my mom was eating them. My son now who is 5 will try them. But then again I dont really like chicken fingers and French fries. Dont cater to your children. They will learn to enjoy a bigger spectrum of food. Also put your foot down. Kids can only eat so much cereal until they get tired of that too.
Try making a meal. “This is what we’re eating.” Period. Step away from the table if you’re not eating. The end.
My dad always said you have eat one bite or you sit there till you do. He wouldn’t make us eat things we didn’t like but we always had to try it once
Wth is it with adults bring told by kids what they’ll eat. Cook dinner, be reasonable, put it down and they’ll sooner or later.
I found if I let my girls help cook it or serve themselves they try it
The old ideayour choice is this or hungry
Bonus daughter will be 9 in jan shes our picky one we also have a boy who will be 4 in dec and a 2 yr old girl. 8 yr old says she doesnt like pancakes but if i make them heart and star shaped eats them faster than i can make them. Thats what works best for her we make it fun we have contests like who can bite the silliest face into their quesadillas. Who can take the biggest bite girls vs boys whoever finishes dinner first wins. Winner usually gets to do something like pick dessert or the bedtime movie or even what we have for dinner the next night. For my 4 yr old hes more of the dont want to stop playing to eat type we got tv dinner tables and sometimes let him watch cartoons while we eat but he knows if he isnt eating we turn them off. My 2 yr old is our smallest (10-15 percentile for her age) but also our best eater. If shes not wanting to eat i will make one big plate with 2 spoons or forks and we feed eachother she loves to feed me and knows i will take one bite for each bite she takes if she doesn’t take a bite i will feed myself. I myself have always been a picky eater at my moms she tried everything even left me sitting at the table all night i would make myself sick because her eat what i made or starve rule doctor said if i got hungry enough id eat it and he was wrong. After that my step dad would keep pepperoni summer sausage crackers and cheese in the house and i was allowed to opt out one meal per day and have my home made lunchable instead. My dad would always just make sides i liked so if i didnt eat the chicken i could have broccoli and cheese and mashed potatoes or mac n cheese. He just made extra sides so i could make a meal out of it. My problem was not liking many different meats so this worked well for me. Also if my kids are doing good about eating and trying new things ill spoil them one at a time i take them shopping and let them meal plan for our day which btw went way better than expected my 4 yr old chose yogurt and fresh fruit for breakfast for lunch carnival food so i made mini corn dogs and rootbeer floats and bought a little thing of cotton candy for us to share. For dinner he wanted pulled pork mashed potatoes and apples. My 2 yr old picked flavored coffee and cinnamon rolls, lunchables and Graham crackers, biscuits and gravy with angel food cake and strawberries for desert. 8 yr old for her day breakfast skillet with sausage eggs potato and cheese, pizza quesadillas (sausage pepperoni mozzarella and feta) with nacho cheese to dip, and spaghetti for dinner with cookies for desert.
Let her be picky, jeez . 3 of us were picky eaters growing up and our mom let us eat what we wanted several times a week. Eventually we grew into the other stuff we didn’t like. Stop being so dang controlling let that human be herself, nothing wrong with being picky, everyone is picky about different things.
Dont make it into a power struggle. Eating is one thing kids can controle about their life. Making a big deal can cause eating disorders. If they get hungry enough they will eat. Provide fruit and healthy snacks