https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 12 Jun 2026 14:59:36 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/making-my-35-year-old-eat-dinner-is-ridiculous#post-2573001 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 07:36:19 +0000 littlebug 2573001@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSRS: We do the same thing. The only thing we add is that if he's asking for a snack or something we're not having, he has to eat so many bites of his actual dinner before he can whatever it is he's asking for. So if he wants applesauce, he has to eat 5 bites of chicken or finish the veggies on his plate. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/making-my-35-year-old-eat-dinner-is-ridiculous#post-2572948 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 06:56:46 +0000 caterw 2572948@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD loves to help make meals and will almost always eat what she has made (except eggs...). I also set a timer, and when it goes off, dinner is over and there are no snacks if she hasn't finished her meal. Fruit gets served last because she is a little fruit bat and would eat only that if I let her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/making-my-35-year-old-eat-dinner-is-ridiculous#post-2572906 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 02:47:03 +0000 OhCaptain 2572906@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are in the same boat, I swear my 4yo gets pickier by the day. He LOVES fruit, and will eat it in massive quantities. It's gotten to the point where I have to not give fruit as part of his meal or snack because he will eat only that, claim to be full and then ask to be excused, only to be hungry 10 mins later.<br /> My usual tactic is to make him chew and swallow one bite of everything and he has to stay at the table while everyone else is eating. If he's hungry again his food from the previous meal will be available.<br /> That used to work swimmingly: I don't know if he truly doesn't like things any more or if this is just a way of asserting control, but he is down to only eating<br /> 10-15 things reliably. And he used to be the best eater....sigh </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/making-my-35-year-old-eat-dinner-is-ridiculous#post-2572888 Wed, 22 Jun 2016 23:42:50 +0000 red_seattle 2572888@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSRS: same method we use. Plus, we try not to make battles over meals.</p> <p>it sounds like your kid is asserting independence. If you take the fun out of it (become really nonchalant, stand your ground but make it really not personal or frustrating if she chooses not to eat), your girl may come around. We just say "you don't have to eat it if you don't want to. But this is what we're having for dinner. If you don't like it, that's fine with us." DS is a fantastic, non-picky eater-- but we've had to use this technique lots of times anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/making-my-35-year-old-eat-dinner-is-ridiculous#post-2572794 Wed, 22 Jun 2016 20:44:39 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 2572794@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If pur 3.5 year old doesn't want to try something we don't push it, but we also don't offer other options that aren't part of the main meal. We only substitute veggies. Like, he doesn't like salad so we don't fight with him on salad nights and just give him peas. (We made him try salad probably 10 times before giving up). Some meals we make more "kid-friendly", like adding some butter to his greenbeans, which I cooked longer just because he likes them that way.<br /> Our other strategies are 1)giving smaller portions of the most liked foods &amp; not allowing seconds until he's taken a bite of everything on his plate. 2)no thirds unless he's eaten everything on his plate. We say "if you're hungry enough for more pork, you're hungry enough to finish your rice." 3)allowing him to refuse any foods without us making a fuss. If he doesn't want to eat, that's fine with us &amp; he knows there won't be any other foods after dinner (we pretty much head straight to bath after dinner). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/making-my-35-year-old-eat-dinner-is-ridiculous#post-2572633 Wed, 22 Jun 2016 18:24:05 +0000 MrsRcCar 2572633@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with @MrsSRS: !! can you get her involved in preparing dinner? Or the table. Nolan doesn't eat well but enjoys helping me "cook" I don't have to fight so hard on nights he "cooks" with me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/making-my-35-year-old-eat-dinner-is-ridiculous#post-2572625 Wed, 22 Jun 2016 18:11:33 +0000 sorrycharlie 2572625@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsRcCar: yup! For the most part. Sometimes DH isn't home from work yet, but generally yes.</p> <p>@MrsSRS: I seriously smell a crack-down coming. I'm so tired of the whining! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/making-my-35-year-old-eat-dinner-is-ridiculous#post-2572621 Wed, 22 Jun 2016 18:08:16 +0000 MrsRcCar 2572621@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you guys eat all together as a family and eat the same thing? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/making-my-35-year-old-eat-dinner-is-ridiculous#post-2572619 Wed, 22 Jun 2016 18:07:32 +0000 MrsSRS 2572619@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We go full Ellyn Satter. My job is to choose what, when, and where. Your job is to choose whether or how much. You don't have to eat but you do have to pleasantly keep us company at the table. And if you are hungry before bed you may have your dinner plate. It sounds strict, but it actually ends in really pleasant, cheerful meal times, I promise. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/making-my-35-year-old-eat-dinner-is-ridiculous#post-2572610 Wed, 22 Jun 2016 18:02:13 +0000 sorrycharlie 2572610@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>She declares that she doesn't like it, every night. No matter if she used to love it, it's something new, or what. The only things she'll eat without fail are Annie's Mac n cheese....and broccoli. </p> <p>I make a main meal and a veggie every night and if she at least tries a bite I'm happy. If I know it's something she will claim she doesn't like, I make a side to go with it that she'll eat. But geez!</p> <p>I've started bribery..bad, I know, but if she'll realize she likes things I guess then whatever. She has a good behavior chart and she gets a sticker each night for bedtime routine with no whining (and during day if something warrants it). I've started offering a sticker if she clears her plate.</p> <p>Any other tricks? Do you hide veggies or just hope for the best? </p>