Food

I feel like such a terrible mom right now.. my little one has always been on the pickier side of eating, but had a willingness to try new foods. Now everything is a fight, and he hardly eats any variety. He loves pasta/ mac and cheese, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, pb&j, pizza, etc. the typical “toddler foods”. He will eat some fresh produce (berries, bananas, avocado), but that’s super limited too.. vegetables? Absolutely not. He will leave them untouched, or just push them off his plate. I don’t make him a special meal, he eats what we eat (or is offered what we eat). I try to have a “safe food” on his plate though, hoping he’ll try the new food offered.. it rarely works. Some days though, I just make the mac and cheese or nuggets because I want him to eat, or I’m tired of fighting.. I have a horrible relationship with food, and I’m trying to not create that with him.. but idk what to do. For lunch today, he’s got mac and cheese, avocado, and some peaches (which are usually a refusal) and I’m just feeling extra guilty that he’s eating this “processed” stuff. Is this just a phase? Will he eventually try the things I’m putting on his plate (proteins, vegetables, fruit, whatever), or am I failing him?? I don’t want him to have a bad relationship with food, but I also don’t want to cater to his every whim.. where’s the balance? 😩 no one mentions that a huge part of parenting is making food choices, and I’m just tired and overwhelmed that I’m going to ruin him at 2 years old. Help..? 😩😩

Show your support

Are you upset he isn’t eating everything ? Maybe reevaluate your child and maybe you need to change some expectations! It sounds like he is eating fine and getting the nutrition he needs. The best you can do is try to give him the healthiest of what he likes. Keep adding new foods that’s great! Some dinners we’ll have all carbs 😂😭 as long as the whole day he is eating that’s great!

This sounds like normal toddler behavior and you are doing all the right things. I have a bad relationship with food too and I think part of that is because we label them as good or bad. And our anxieties sometimes get so overwhelming we can’t see the forest through the trees. He’s getting what he needs and as long as the doctor isn’t worried and he’s gaining as he should,‘I wouldn’t worry. His lunch is fine. Try making it from scratch (meal prep) and freeze if it helps. You can also try throwing in some peas or other veg. Mine always ate whatever we gave him and now he’s going through that picky stage too. I just offer a variety of things for him to try. I do find that if I use the shape cutters he’s more likely to eat things or at least try them. Maybe try that. Or have him help you make lunch? I promise this is normal and ok.

Yes to what everyone has said. Keep offering new items. I will put extra on my daughters plate, so I can “steal” some from her. I try to convey to her that it’s valuable and I want it, and sometimes that makes her think she wants it too 🤣

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌