https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 16 Apr 2026 04:51:33 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-prepare-a-seperate-meal-for-your-fussy-lo#post-1474838 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 15:50:10 +0000 rattles 1474838@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If we're all eating together, I don't make her anything special. If she's eating before us, I make sure to make something I know she likes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-prepare-a-seperate-meal-for-your-fussy-lo#post-1474716 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 15:27:56 +0000 Lindsay05 1474716@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have tried the whole "eat this or you get nothing" routine and it backfired. LO had a super crappy sleep! So that's why I try to make meals she likes and if she doesn't eat it, we pump her full of snacks later. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-prepare-a-seperate-meal-for-your-fussy-lo#post-1472352 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 10:17:35 +0000 mjane 1472352@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@scg00387: It totally does! Thank you. Mine is so little but already very opinionated about food--and like yours, pretty... uh... whimsical about her preferences. One day chicken must be inhaled in case it escapes before she can finish and the next day the same chicken is rat poison and she is calling CPS on me for serving it. Dunno. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-prepare-a-seperate-meal-for-your-fussy-lo#post-1472323 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 10:12:16 +0000 immabeetoo 1472323@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mjane: I make our meals just like normal, even if I know he probably won't like one thing or another. I rotate veggie and fruit offerings for him; some he loves and some he doesn't. I just make sure there is one thing he likes at each meal; yeterday his guarantees were a banana at breakfast (he also ate the eggs and potatoes), blueberries and cheese at lunch (he skipped the peas and ate a little of the sandwich), and yogurt at dinner (he also gobbled the pizza, carrots, and cherries). It has really highlighted to me how unpredictable he is though- three times he will refuse a pasta dish and the fourth gobble it. Not touch carrots for weeks then love them. Not sure if that answered your question! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-prepare-a-seperate-meal-for-your-fussy-lo#post-1472259 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 10:02:02 +0000 NovBaby1112 1472259@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>no, we give her what we are eating for dinner and she usually eats it, but if not, I will offer her a yogurt or something that I know she will eat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-prepare-a-seperate-meal-for-your-fussy-lo#post-1472243 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 09:59:47 +0000 mjane 1472243@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@scg00387: thanks! I will definitely read it--downloading to my kindle :)</p> <p>I guess I'll know more when I read the book, but do you offer literally everything, or do you offer mostly foods you know he's likely to eat? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-prepare-a-seperate-meal-for-your-fussy-lo#post-1472237 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 09:59:09 +0000 mediagirl 1472237@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: we have done this since she started eating meals with us. We did purees and when we moved to more solid foods, we just gave her bits of what we were eating. As she got bigger, her pieces got bigger and now she gets a small serving of everything we have on our plates. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-prepare-a-seperate-meal-for-your-fussy-lo#post-1472174 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 09:45:37 +0000 LuLu Mom 1472174@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sometimes, but I'm a firm believer in her eating what the family eats. Usually it's only if it's too spicy or a weird texture. If she's super against it (or throwing dinner on the floor) I might give her some other form of protein but that's it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-prepare-a-seperate-meal-for-your-fussy-lo#post-1472132 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 09:37:47 +0000 swurlygurl 1472132@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@scg00387: I also grew up as a picky eater and had a very limited diet. That's why making sure L eats just about anything we give her is very important to me </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-prepare-a-seperate-meal-for-your-fussy-lo#post-1472128 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 09:36:37 +0000 swurlygurl 1472128@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well I've never seen a baby so hungry and eat SO much, so I do have to give her dinner as SOON as we get home. She starts screaming for food as soon as we get in the garage :/<br /> But, that just means she gets last night's dinner. I always put some aside for her every night because I know I don't have time to cook for her in the evening.<br /> With regards to that, I am accommodating her fussiness, but not fussiness in regards to types food. I've never made her something special. If she doesn't want to eat, then fine - I know she's getting plenty throughout the day/week.<br /> I've been blessed with an incredibly willing eater though - I have no idea what I would do with a picky eater :/ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-prepare-a-seperate-meal-for-your-fussy-lo#post-1472040 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 09:10:36 +0000 Weagle 1472040@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>She gets what we get, though I will often add easy fruits/veggies as a side for a little extra. If she eats, great. If she doesn't, breakfast will come soon enough. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-prepare-a-seperate-meal-for-your-fussy-lo#post-1472023 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 09:02:44 +0000 tinyperson 1472023@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@scg00387: hmmm...it's definitely been more than 3 days - more like 2 weeks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-prepare-a-seperate-meal-for-your-fussy-lo#post-1471987 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 08:45:45 +0000 immabeetoo 1471987@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mjane: please read the book fearless feeding! I loved it. It's so ingrained to cajole kids to eat more and everything, it really took practice to break the habit. The premise is that you control the when and where and what of food and they control the which and how much. </p> <p>@prettylizy: yes! He does get ketchup if he asks. @tinyperson: for us, if its teething it usually lasts three days or less and he usually drinks more almond milk to make up for it!</p> <p>This is something I thought and think a lot about bc I grew up as an extremely picky eater solely from a place of controlling something (IMO). I also have a family member who basically only eats sugar because that's all she would eat and that's all thy would give her and I think it's played into some longer health issues. So I'm trying to be deliberate and intentional (who knows if it will work but so far so good). It's baffling when he only eats a few blueberries one day and more veggies and protein than me the next, but I read somewhere to look at their weeks worth of nutrition. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-prepare-a-seperate-meal-for-your-fussy-lo#post-1471951 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 08:23:44 +0000 prettylizy 1471951@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>She eats what we eat, though she does get more condiments! Hummus and ketchup make everything better. Sometimes she gobbles it all down, others she barely picks at it. We try to take it all in stride and just go with it. One day she loves eggs, the next she won't touch them.... Toddlers! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-prepare-a-seperate-meal-for-your-fussy-lo#post-1471941 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 08:14:10 +0000 looch 1471941@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@tinyperson: I'll reply on your wall when I get to the office. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-prepare-a-seperate-meal-for-your-fussy-lo#post-1471933 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 08:08:02 +0000 tinyperson 1471933@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: Can I ask how you came to know that? My LO is 15 months old, and got her teeth quite late. She only has 6 right now (4 on top, 2 on bottom), and doesn't really chew very well. She's recently stopped wanting to eat anything that isn't a pouch, yogurt or cereal — except for the odd bit of pasta or toast. I don't know if it's teething (I think her gums are swollen, so she might be getting molars, but she doesn't let me in to check very often) or if she's just being picky, or what the deal is. We have our 15 month appointment next week, so maybe I should bring up the oral issues?</p> <p>Sorry to threadjack! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-prepare-a-seperate-meal-for-your-fussy-lo#post-1471911 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 07:47:38 +0000 London Mama 1471911@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, LO gets a separate meal. Sometimes he tries what we're eating and sometimes he doesn't. At the moment I'm not eating until after he goes to bed though, 1st trimester sickness makes me put off dinner.</p> <p>We often do separate, or part separate, meals for all three of us. We'll do one common dish, potato wedges or rice or soup, and then each one of us will have something additional. DH loves meat and I'm veggie so he usually cooks some chicken or sausages to go with the main dish, I might have a veggie protein and DS will have something else. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-prepare-a-seperate-meal-for-your-fussy-lo#post-1471909 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 07:42:34 +0000 mjane 1471909@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: My LO is the same--at 9.5 months she needs and wants her solids (sorry, she does... sometimes I wish it weren't the case but it is!) but can be pretty picky. If she refuses what's on offer, I do usually give her a little bit of something I know she'll eat. Buttt I am also not sure how long to continue this. It's possible that I'll continue it indefinitely? I'm really not sure. I need to read more about picky eating, I think, because I have a super emotional relationship to it (found a TON of foods nauseating as a child and was not forced to eat them--other food was usually provided--and grew out of it completely at puberty, and now eat literally everything). This makes it hard for me to consider things rationally but makes me really hesitant not to offer other options; we'll see.</p> <p>This study--suggesting that cajoling kids to eat backfires--is food for thought (ha ha). I guess I wonder about the difference between pressure and not offering other options? Obviously very different in some ways, but...</p> <p><a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S019566631100691X" rel="nofollow">http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S019566631100691X</a></p> <p>I also get super anxious about food stuff. I'm sure that helps the situation :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-prepare-a-seperate-meal-for-your-fussy-lo#post-1471893 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 07:22:40 +0000 looch 1471893@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, because my son has oral motor issues.</p> <p>I had thought it was a control thing with him, but it turns out he has trouble chewing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-prepare-a-seperate-meal-for-your-fussy-lo#post-1471845 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 05:23:51 +0000 Silva 1471845@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Sapphiresun: Yeah- that was generally my policy too, until about a month ago. She started getting really hungry for foods! Even if I keep offering the breast, she won't nurse and gets upset- but if I give her solids, she's happy as a clam.<br /> Guess she didn't get the memo about waiting until a year! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-prepare-a-seperate-meal-for-your-fussy-lo#post-1471782 Thu, 06 Mar 2014 01:22:40 +0000 erwoo 1471782@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used to prepare my oldest's meals separately because I would not add any sodium to his food. Everything was made from scratch and healthier than what we would feed ourselves. Now he eats whatever we eat unless it's mac n cheese which I'll make separately since I don't care for it. However, with our second, he likes tastier food so I started him on our food much earlier. Good thing we don't eat that unhealthy at home or salty either so it worked out. He's a much better eater. I wonder if it also has to do with the fact that I never forced him to finish his entire meal? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-prepare-a-seperate-meal-for-your-fussy-lo#post-1471700 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 23:51:21 +0000 yoursilverlining 1471700@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>NO. Food is an easy power tool, and I'm not playing that game. LO eats what's given, or doesn't eat. When she was younger than about 18 months I would give her a bottle of milk or formula in her sleep (dream feed I guess?) to supplement if she didn't eat much, to ensure she got enough calories and STTN but now I don't - she sleeps either way and always eats a good breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack.</p> <p>I am not going to cater to LO's food preferences, and I'm not going to let food and eating become a power point. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-prepare-a-seperate-meal-for-your-fussy-lo#post-1471687 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 23:45:43 +0000 immabeetoo 1471687@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope. I offer something I know he likes at each meal, and at dinner he gets yogurt or an applesauce/quinoa pouch so I know he's had the option to fill up. Otherwise he eats what we eat, if he doesn't eat it that's his prerogative. There doesn't seem to be any correlation between him waking up at night (rare) and what he eats. He still nurses once before bed (15 m) so that alleviates any worries for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-prepare-a-seperate-meal-for-your-fussy-lo#post-1471613 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 22:48:00 +0000 StbHisMrs 1471613@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes and no. If she won't eat what I cook I will give her something she likes (she loves breakfast) so steel cut oats, or a homemade waffle, or some greek yogurt. I'm just happy if she eats anything because that usually ensures she'll sleep. This toddler business is no joke, but my 5.5 year old step daughter still refuses to eat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-prepare-a-seperate-meal-for-your-fussy-lo#post-1471568 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 22:19:46 +0000 googly-eyes 1471568@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sort of. We eat a lot of spicy/non little kid stuff and we tend to eat at different times than she does often enough. Plus I add fruit to her meals because she likes that. It's kind of a mix. But I don't make separate stuff just to please her... Usually because I want to. She eats better than we do, to be honest! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-prepare-a-seperate-meal-for-your-fussy-lo#post-1471488 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 21:26:31 +0000 lovehoneybee 1471488@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ehhh...no? But also sort of? For the most part, he eats what we eat, whether he actually eats or not. I'm of the mind that if he's hungry enough, he'll eat, and I try to include things on his tray that I know he'll eat, just so he's not starving. I won't make a separate meal for him or anything. </p> <p>But he's been boycotting meat for a month or so. Like outright throwing it on the floor. So I've been making a lot more vegetarian meals--he's fine with grains and pasta and beans and veggies. But D and I don't eat a lot of meat anyway, so it's sort of one of those things we both just shrugged at? It's no sacrifice for us, and he still eats what we eat. But tonight he ate crock pot Santa Fe chicken, so maybe the tide's turning back...</p> <p>Anyway, we've been doing it since he started solids at around 6 months....I've just given him what we're eating. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-prepare-a-seperate-meal-for-your-fussy-lo#post-1471486 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 21:24:44 +0000 BeachMama 1471486@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If we are all eating together, which only happens 2-3 times per week, then she gets what we get. I usually try to make sure there's something on her plate I know she'll eat because she's picky and often won't eat our food. Most nights she eats on her own, so I try to make something I know she'll eat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-prepare-a-seperate-meal-for-your-fussy-lo#post-1471483 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 21:23:46 +0000 Sapphiresun 1471483@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: Personally, I subscribe to the "food before 1 is just for fun" philosophy, so for a 10 month old, if she didn't eat what's for dinner, no big deal. I only have a 7 month old, but if she's not into what I put on her tray I don't bother giving anything else, but might space her before bed feeds a little closer together. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-prepare-a-seperate-meal-for-your-fussy-lo#post-1471479 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 21:21:25 +0000 heffalump 1471479@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just make sure she likes something that I'm making. We have the same taste so it really isn't that hard. Plus, if I'm eating it she'll want to have some too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-prepare-a-seperate-meal-for-your-fussy-lo#post-1471467 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 21:13:03 +0000 Silva 1471467@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Baby Boy Mom: oh, yes, tonight I wasn't concerned because of the cold, it just got me thinking! She did inhale that pouch and the humus though, man! Thanks for the advice. I get anxious about food stuff :) </p>