Chook Me!

How can I get my 3 year old son to eat more food?

My son is 3 years old and always wants to eat but hardly ever eats what I give him. He will ask for certain things and sometimes he may eat it. When I give him lunch or dinner, he just sits there and plays with his fingers and picks at it and never touches it. I have tried giving him several colors, textures, and different types of food to make him eat. I have even tried giving him foods he likes and he usually eats. But, that is like cheetos, fries, hot dogs, fruits, etc. He hardly ever eats any meats or noodles. He hates ravioli's, chicken noodle soup, spaghetti, tacos, casseroles, and other basic lunch and dinner foods. I have been taking care of my sister's kids during the day and I feed them all the same thing. They will make "happy plates" and he will still be sitting in his chair, looking around, with food on his plate that may hardly be touched. I usually leave him there until he eats some or most of it and then he can go play. Please help me out on what I can do! I have limited his drink during the day down to 3 cups. He has milk in the morning and dilluted juice the next 2 times. When I say dilluted, I mean half water and half juice. He is a very active child and doesn't need all of that sugar. But, it does sound right, now that I think about it. He eats good breakfast and drinks milk and by lunch, he hardly eats. He must be full! I just feel so stressed out and upset at the same time b/c I feel like he is not getting all of the right nutrition. I even give him vitamins and night so I know he is getting some nutrition. He had his tonsils and adnoids removed 2 years ago, along with adding tubes in his ears.

Public Comments

1. He may have a problem with some textures. Many of the foods you described have the same texture. It could also be a stage, many kids go through a stage when they are picky eaters. One thing that may be causing the trouble is the amount of juice or milk he drinks. Our doctor suggested limiting the milk to one glass a day and same for the juice. Both give them extra calories that will fill them up and make them poor eaters. He suggested using water instead of juice at all meals.
2. Give him real food.. Cheetos, fries and hotdog is not food it's junk.
3. my 22 month old son went threw the same thing all he wanted to eat was chicken nuggets. The weight specialist i had to take him to said it was normal but that it takes 5 times of introducing a toddler to a food be for they will eat it and to make them sit in a chair for at least 30 min be for you let them up and to make sure you sit with them when you can they will eat better. i tried this and my son will now eat veggies and fruits and back pork chops and chicken nuggets but that is the extent of the meats he will eat. there is till few foods he will eat but he has started eating a lot more than he would. and he defiantly eats better when i sit at the table with him. i also started putting a bowl with snacks in it on my coffee table in the morning and letting him eat it all day long and he has started gaining weight and trying new foods. hope this helps you ans good luck
4. Get his adenoids and tonsils checked. Our boy ate hardly anything because his were swollen meaning he wasnt getting enough oxygen - thus making him exausted whenever he ate. We had them removed (a last resort, I assure you) and now he eats all the time. He is still fussy, but he also tries new foods all the time - not that he always like them though. He has also stopped snoring and only wakes up during the night if he kicks off his blankets or has a bad dream - again because he has a clearer airway