The threads on here tonight and a conversation at work have me thinking about feeding and whether my kid is an anomaly. For dinner, he eats whatever we do. We don't eat much that is particularly unusual. (Tonight we had chicken tacos, last night pork chops). He likes almost all veggies and fruits and will eat chicken in any form. He will eat most meats and almost all pastas. Just curious about what is typical here as far as eating and pickiness.
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I think you'll find it varies widely depending on not only the child, but also their age. DD is 2.5 and is a good eater. We've been lucky. I definitely notice some differences as she's aged though. Up until she was about 2 she would eat literally anything we gave her, but now there are some things she doesn't like. She's not a big meat fan, which is really fine by us. We always just make sure if we have meat with a meal that she still has a little on her plate, and that there's another form of protein on there as well. She eats most fruits and veggies without complaint, so we're lucky there too.
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At 15 months DD happily eats whatever I cook. She loves to eat and eats a ton of food. She doesn't talk much, so no complaining yet.
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@LemonJack: true, they definitely go through phases. My son is almost 4 and while he has had some pickier moments, overall he has consistently eaten most of what we've given him. Hope my youngest also isn't too picky! He's only 13 months and so far loves most things.
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My oldest does! So at least one of the two eats what I make
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DS is 14 months and eats whatever we do. His favorites are mushroom risotto, tikka masala and salmon. I'm really hoping he will keep his adventurous palate but I know pickiness happens!
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DD, almost 4, usually eats what we eat but protested tonight when I said it was fish and cabbage. She had a point. She got leftover roast chicken and baby carrots. Pickiness has definitely increased with age. DD used to eat anything and my 18mo still does.
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My 2.5 year old eats almost everything. My 4.5 year old hates almost everything. But we really only eat dinner together occasionally on the weekend, so I'm preparing their meal separately anyway...to me there's not a big difference between heating leftovers for them or quickly prepping something kid friendly like a bean quesadilla. DH gets home around the time I've finished bedtime. I want to eat with him, and I want our dinner hot & fresh. So my kids often get our dinner leftovers for their dinner the next day. Often I deconstruct it a bit...separating beans/meat/veggies from chili for my picky DD, substituting an easier to eat pasta like rotini for spaghetti for my little one, wiping some of the curry off of chicken, etc.
I don't formally cook lunch - I sometimes eat leftovers, otherwise we all just eat various types of sandwiches/soups/salads/charcuterie style plates (2.5 year old loves salad!), and I'm happy to make pjb an option.
ETA: the super picky 4.5 yrvold ate everything as a young toddler. Even pretty spicy Thai/Indian food.
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My oldest LO ate whatever we served until about 3.5-4 or so. My second LO ate whatever we served until around 2-2.5. Now they both eat their required bites (1 bite for each year of age) and often say they aren't a fan. We also provide several sides with each meal. My youngest is 15 mos and is pretty picky although not consistent, so we give her whatever we eat and sometimes she gets a good sized meal, sometimes not.
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@PinkElephant: that's what I'm afraid of! Guess I'll just enjoy this phase for now
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Yes, he's always just eaten what we are eating. Mostly he only complains when it is leftovers, lol!
The only exception is if we are having something spices. He will either get an alternative or if possible take out a portion before adding the heat.
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They get no other choice so yes, they eat whatever we're having.
We find that even at restaurants they eat way better if we just give them the same food we're having than ordering something of the kids menu. -
No chance. She barely eats anyway - every bite is a battle - but she wouldn't eat a thing if I expected her to eat what we do. I always make her some oven baked beige crap to supplement every meal (except pasta but, even then, she requires her own smooth sauce).
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She does pretty well I think!
I de construct many dinners for her she is not a big sauce can!
Ex: stir fry, I will take chickenchicken, veggies sand rice out before I add sauce -
We offer her what we're having but I have no interest in food becoming a power struggle that we battle over. I offer healthy choices but she controls what she actually eats. So sometimes she eats a deconstructed version of what we're having (so, plain pasta rather than pasta w veggies mixed in-- we use a lot of fresh herbs and she rejects anything w flecks of green, haha). Sometimes we make her something quick and easy if she doesn't want what we offer, like pbj or frozen chicken nuggets or yogurt, etc. she's always been on the small side so we always offer her other choices (when your lo literally falls off the growth chart at one point, you always feel scared about her growth!). We model healthy eating habits and offer diverse options but at the end of the day I just care that she eats some mix of food groups. She's definitely gotten pickier as she's gotten older, but in general she's just gotten more opinionated (like w her clothes too) so it's developmentally appropriate imo
I became a vegetarian myself when I was 4 years old and no one else in my family was, so lettinng her have some autonomy is something I feel pretty strongly about.
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We usually eat later than the kids do since my husband isn't home until almost 7 pm most nights. I will usually make two separate meals for LO;'s and for us but it often means heating up leftovers for the kids from our dinner the night before. My 4 yo is very picky but the 2 yo is pretty easy going and will usually eat part of my dinner too! I wish we could all eat at the same time but it just isn't possible unless it's the weekend.
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DS1 eats almost nothing. We try to have at least 1 side or something that we know he will eat, and will make him a different entree if necessary. He doesn't eat chicken, so we end up doing this pretty often, unfortunately. He's 4 and has sensory issues.
DS2 eats everything, all the time. He's like a goat. Lol
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I offer them what we are eating. DD1 just likes the control factor of not eating what is offered, so like I mentioned in another bed, she regularly goes to bed having eaten zero to one bites.
DD2 mostly eats why we do but she's not a huge fan of meats or acidic things so there are some meals where she only eats one thing I've offered. But again, it's up to her to eat or not. I don't force it and she doesn't get anything else. At least she always tries what I've provided.
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I mean, hypothetically they do. They're given whatever we are eating, but they aren't great eaters, so it's hit or miss whether they will actually eat much of it. I've gotten into the bad habit of letting A have a peanut butter sandwich after dinner if she tries a few bites of dinner. Lately she's been eating what we are eating pretty well, though (finally, some meat in this child!).
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As a general rule, my kids will eat anything that isn't nailed down. DS1 has tried to play the picky card, but the only two options in my kitchen are eat it or leave it. At restaurants, we have the children eat the same types of food we eat. I do have to be a little careful with DS2, as he has chewing difficulties due to CP, but that's usually just a matter of cutting/shredding some of his food.
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@LemonJack: I agree!
DD has always been a good eater. But when she was younger she'd eat anything and everything. Now she is served what we eat and a few extra things (she gets a more balanced meal than us sometimes) like fruit or yogurt when we are just having steak and veg. She is now 3 and sometimes she doesn't like what we are having, usually the meat. I just make sure she gets her fill of the other tings on her plate or if she's really not eating anything we have I admit i'll make her an instant mac n cheese or spaghettios.. Yeah not the healthiest but eh... it's very few and far between.
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Since we started solids, she has eaten what we eat. She's always been a good eater and will eat what we put in front of her unless it's something I have never given her before. Then she knows she has to try it. If she tries it and doesn't like it, she doesn't have to eat more.
My MIL serves some things that I don't make at home because I don't like them (like pureed, cooked squash) and neither she nor I like it so I don't force her to eat it. I am very thankful that she is a good eater and will typically eat anything I put in front of her.
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We only offer DD her own food if there happens to be leftover she should finish, or for example we just really, really want to eat raw sushi or something...
I do have a 2 year old so seriously I really can't predict meal times. I think generally she eats well b/c we eat a huge variety of cuisines... I also understand if she doesn't really like something (I mean, it's not like I'm not picky at all), so we usually try to include 1-2 things we know she'll eat.
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The toddler used to eat anything but is really picky right now. The 18 month old eats almost anything, but I never know when she'll decide she hates it and flip her plate over. Lately she's got this habit of finishing her dinner, climbing into my lap and eating most of my dinner. I don't know how where she puts it but hey, it's getting her to try more new things.
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As long as I cook basic foods, then both girls will happily eat the same food as us (think roast meat, steamed veggie/raw veggies, grain). Unfortunately I really like spicy, saucy foods which are not well received from either child.
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My almost 17mo is not a good eater and seems very picky, which worries me so early. He will usually try something if he sees us eat it - puts a bite in his mouth, makes a face, and pulls it out and then that's that. He likes fruit, sloppy joes (no bread), spaghetti sauce with meat (not a fan of noodles), Cheerios, and Daiya mozzarella cheese. Everything else is hit or miss.
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We all eat the same thing. She's not picky (knock on wood!) and still pretty young so I don't think she knows to complain. Every once in a while I'll make her her own dinner if ours isn't going to be ready in time but most of the time she eats the same meal as us. She doesn't always finish everything, but I don't offer an alternative.
@snowjewelz: haha my toddler loves sushi!
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We all eat the same thing. I do not have the time to be a short order cook.
I don't give the baby steak expecting her to have a full belly because she can't chew it all that well, but she gets everything the rest of us get. -
Both LO's usually are served what I make for dinner. If I make something truly strange that I know both boys won't like (but I think is delicious), I will make them something else. My kids are not great eaters at home so there is often complaining. I always make sure there's something they like and that's usually the fruit. They are super eaters at school and I love the school menu (healthy and organic) so I don't stress about it.
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Yes, both of my kids have been eating the same thing as us since 6 months.
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Generally my children eat the same thing for dinner as we do. However, they usually don't like it so they just don't eat much for dinner. This is a recent change for us (having the kids eat the same food we are eating) and it's been met with much resistance, but neither child is going hungry and they are slowly learning to enjoy different foods.
I got so tired of making dinner for my husband and myself and then having to think of something to make for the kids that they would like. No more! -
Yep generally. Some things we eat he just doesn't enjoy (anything with beans) so I'll pull those out for him because I don't think it's fair to serve him something I know he doesn't like and expect him to eat it. If it's something like chilli that I'm fairly certain he won't like I'll get him to try but I'm ok providing a different quick option.
Last night we had stir fry and he ate it all. Night before was pork with kale and sweet potato. He didn't eat the kale. He's a pretty decent eater. Loves veggies, fruit and meat.
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No. My DS is 18 months old and sooooo picky. We've recently decided to stop catering to him and just give him what we're eating. If he doesn't want that he can have a squeezie but that's it. Both dh and I were super picky eaters as children (dh still is) so I'm not terribly surprised.
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I'm a HUGE believer in family mealtimes and our children have always eaten what we eat when we eat it. I'm also lazy so this is a win-win
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33 comments