Listen. I have kids who don’t eat.
*takes deep breath* I have tried food on sticks, made faces, on platters, individual servings, Bento boxes, funny names, cute picks, paper cups, begging, pleading, ignoring, bribing, more ignoring, crying, speaking to professionals, weary resignedness, hiding fruit and veg, mashing fruit and veg, making icy poles, making smoothies, bargaining, sensory play, reading books about healthy eating, modelling good eating habits, providing a variety of food, gentle encouragement, reverse psychology, crying in the pantry, letting them eat in front of the tv in case it distracts them enough, serving family-style, putting the food in a trail with a treat at the end, letting them go to bed without dinner (never bothers them), serving up cold dinner for breakfast, letting them help cook, letting them help meal plan, letting them help shop, sighing in the supermarket aisles, hoping they’ll grow out of it, and we sit down at the table for dinner as a family every night.
I’m sure there’s more.
I make good food, and a lot of it. They don’t eat it. This is my life now.
Reannon says
Mate, I am there with you. I have taken my kid to multiply professionals & even a fucking hypnotist when he was 10. These days when I see him eating a cheeseburger from HJs I think it’s a win, that’s how fucking sad I am after 19 years of trying to get him to eat. I’ll sit in the pantry & cry with you xx
Stacey says
I think about you ALL THE TIME. So good to know there is someone who gets it – who really gets it – but sad you’ve felt so horrible about it for so many years. You make ME feel better but you’ve had to shoulder the burden solo x
Reannon says
I get it. And to honest, I’ve felt so lonely at times & like the biggest failure too. I’ve worried myself to tears, I’ve stressed, Ive yelled, I’ve bribed & eventually I threw my hands up in the air & I gave up. I literally stopped cooking for him & left him to his own devices. As you know, my house is fully stocked at most times so I knew he wouldn’t starve but Jesus Christ I do not know how he’s survived or not died from
Boredom because he literally eats the same 5 or so things every fucking day. KILLS ME.
Josephine says
I hear you! It’s not accurate to say my two lads (almost 9 and 6.5) never eat, but I often feel angsty at dinner – never sure what’s going to happen! A meal that was perfectly acceptable a week before is suddenly disgusting. I also get, ‘I like this, I just don’t feel like it tonight’… One will enjoy a meal, the other can’t abide it… The range of veggies they eat is tiny, and those veggies will only be consumed under very specific scenarios (cooked/not cooked/not touching any other food). Sheesh!
Coincidently, on the weekend I made your spinach and ricotta stuffed shells which will be trotted out for dinner tonight – fingers crossed!
Stacey says
oh god I hope they work! They sure are delicious. Good luck x
Tina Lacy says
I can’t say I have this probkem Evie eats most things but I hope they will eat for you one day, failing that we can swap kids for a week you can feed Evie who eats (she will tell you I need more brocolli) and I can make all the plain sandwhichs!
Stacey says
Haha I love the idea of this! I’ll make all the broccoli in the world x
Elizabeth says
Your kids will survive that is fact. My son used to be the perfect vegetarian kid lentils and rice was his favorite meal, he loved vegetables of all kinds. Then that stopped. He eats meat but then will go off meat too at various times. It is all crazy making but it does gradually change and they become adults who eat normally.
Stacey says
This is what I am hanging out for = ADULTS WHO EAT NORMALLY!
thanks Liz x
Colleen says
Oh My lordy! If this is true then I have found a kindred spirit. Mine are 18, 15, 10 & 7 and a lovely, gorgeous hard working husband who smells our plates and bowls – yes smells them! I have taken to rinsing the dishwasher after use with vinegar and bi-carb soda and doing double washes. And the picky food eating – sheesh. 3 out of the 4 kids don’t even eat sandwiches! I have tried everything – now I just give up and try and please just one of them each night.
Stacey says
It’s all we can do!
Rachelle Lemke says
Seriously my almost 11 year old son will eat waffles, pancakes with m&Ms in them, pepperoni pizza, chicken nuggets from 2 different restaurants, and tortilla chips with taco sauce.
I am going to go insane.
Check out Meal Time Works by Alisha Grogan. She had an online class to help address extreme picky eating. It’s helping a bit…. He will occasionally now try a tiny bite of non preferred food.
But I get it and I’m so sick of other people’s comments on the matter….uuuuuggggggg. ?
Stacey says
It honestly feels so overwhelming sometimes – I definitely feel better knowing I’m one of many parents dealing with this!
Nicola says
My third one didn’t eat. After having two children who demolished everything I put in front of them it really knocked me off the smug perch I can tell you! Then she was diagnosed with Coeliac disease which was a double blow as bread and wheat crackers were two of the few things she would eat. We muddled through with quite a few rows and tears (mainly mine) and but at 24 she is healthy, fit and has a degree. If I had my time over I would like to think I would be more laid back about it and not worry that it would affect her physical and cognitive developments – because those fears were unfounded.
Stacey says
Oh my goodness I don’t know what we would do without crackers and bread, especially for the youngest – that’s alllll she eats!
Original Wood Oven says
Thanks for the good idea I will try this with my son.
Stacey says
Good luck!
Diana Brandenburg says
First child would not eat……as a young mum I was melting down over it, convinced he wont make it to 5 without food, he is now 33…..next 4, older mum now, yep, it’ll be fine….kids don’t starve themselves, I chilled out and they are all fine….oddly enough they all eat vegetables ( raw and cooked ) and wander through chomping fruit ! I think the secret is to relax, it’ll be alright in the end !
Loz Jordan says
#youdonthavetoeatit
#buttheresnothingelse