Chook Me!

my 4 yr old wont eat anything but mac n cheese/chicken nuggets!?

help. I cant get my 4 yr old to eat anything i cook! if i do the *fine, if you dont eat what i cook then you go to bed hungry* then he would truly starve. i am so sick of him wanting nothing but macaroni and cheese an chicken nuggets! i try other alternatives but unless its cheese over noodles...he wont even try it.he USED to love vegetables like carrots and broccoli. now he wont touch them. tonight i just made green bean casserole and stuffing.he wont even try it. how do i deal with this?? i want him to learn to eat other things that are actually good for him! occassionally hell eat a pb and j sandwhich. but only two or 3 small bites then he asks for mac..

Public Comments

1. Stop offering mac & cheese and chicken nuggets, don't even make it an option anymore. He won't starve... eventually he will get hungry enough to eat whatever you put in front of him. If he asks for Mac & cheese and nuggets, tell him that there will be no more until he starts trying other food. Then once he starts eating regular meals, you can use nuggets and mac as a reward.
2. my second one was really picky and he still is. Its mostly yougurt, chicken nugets, pizza, cerials etc for him.. I supplement him with pediasure and hes in a helathy weight and his blood levels are fine. Other than that I just keep offering him some of the stuff we eat every night and he needs to at least lick the food I offer him. That way its wont actually be in his mouth and gag him, but he gets the taste of it. He actually ate some potatoes after taking a lick of them lol. Just try different fruits etc, grapes, banans, apple slices ( you can dunk those in yougurt etc ). I also look for the healthiest options for the things I know he will eat like whole wheat crackers and dye and sugarfree yougurts etc. Most cerial is high in vitamins and nutrition too. Usually when they go to school and see all the other kids eat they will start eating better too. My now 7 y old was also super picky but when he started pre-k and ate in the cafeteria, he started to eat much better. he wont still eat everything I make all the time but hes pretty good
3. He won't starve. He will miss a few meals, and that is all. Let him know in advance that mac and cheese is off the menu. If he only eats two bites, that' fine. If he asks for a snack, offer fruit. If he refuses it, fine. In a few days he will be eating a better diet. All the best.
4. If it is as much of a problem as you say than just force him to eat other food items. Shove them down his throat if you have to.
5. find stuff that is healthy and he can enjoy. Try to put healthy things in his mac and cheese like tuna fish and peas or other stuff. I would also try to cook veg. then turn them into a paste with a food processor and hid it in spaghetti or other foods.
6. Ricky's Mommy's advice was great until the part about using crap food as a reward. Just stop buying the junk, take it off the menu. Keep serving real food, cheerfully and without coaxing or comment. Really, take the macaroni and nuggets and throw them out. It is your ticket to happier mealtimes, guaranteed. ' It does not need to be harsh -- you might take him to the market and let him pick stuff, slice it up in interesting shapes, etcetera. And if he wants to pig out on, say, blueberries, let him go nuts. Offer choices: tomato wedges or broccoli or carrot and celery sticks? Be nice about getting rid of the junk.