A couple of weeks ago at J's 4 year well child check-up, the pediatrician was asking about his eating habits. She was asking him about the things he liked to eat and if he ate anything healthy.
Doctor: Do you like vegetables? Do you eat any vegetables?
J: Popcorn.
Needless to say, this did not go over well with the doctor. She chuckled but told him he would need to start eating his veggies to grow big and strong.
Honestly, trying to get my kids to eat the things they like is a battle, let alone trying to get them to eat something they don't like.
Here's the deal. My kids are picky eaters. Like super picky. They only eat about ten things. Nine of which are starches. (Oh to be young again...)
The stuff they like, I mean really like, you only have about a 50% chance of them eating it. Most of their food sits on their plates. Or on my floor.
Seriously, I think they can surivive on about 80 calories a day. I should split a Triscuit, give it to the boys and call it a day.
Now, they do like fruit. Not all fruit (because that would be way to easy.) But they do like a lot of fruit. So, we try and give them fruit at every meal. We will occasionally put a vegetable in front of them but the results are never pretty.
For example, I placed a green bean in front of Baby L (2) the other day. He shrieked and promptly threw it on the floor. You'd think I wanted him to eat a raw octopus or something.
And yesterday, Hubby tried to get J (4) to eat mashed potatoes. Mashed potatoes that had a little cream cheese in them, I might add.
Hubby: J, want a bite of potatoes? *Takes out money from wallet.* I'll give you this dollar to buy toys with if you take a bite of potato.
J: *Screams. Cries.* Noooooo! *Runs upstairs to his room and slams the door. Still crying.*
Cheese and biscuits! I guess if we'd have asked him to try a green veggie he would have gone upstairs and packed a bag.
The pediatrician suggested I put noodles on his plate (which he likes) and a few veggies (which he doesn't). She suggested that if he wants more noodles, then he has to eat his veggies first.
Um, good idea in theory...
Or my crazy Dad suggested that I do what he did when I was little. He put green beans baby food on my peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
Yeah. And you wonder why I have issues.
So, it's a challenge. I want my kids to eat healthy but they aren't into that.
Don't get me wrong. I will keep trying. I will keep introducing veggies and try to be creative about it. But it is a real battle - a veggie battle.
Maybe it will be easier when they get older. (Denial. It is so pleasant here! Come and join me!)
Anyone else have this problem? Any suggestions for getting kids to eat veggies?
Oh my gosh yes!!! I have exactly this same problem. I cannot for the life of me get my kids to eat most things that might be good for them. Thankfully they do like apples, bananas, and oranges. But veggies... the only thing they will eat is canned green beans (salt added) so I don't know if they really get any benefit. I have tried the whole "add it to the plate and don't let them have more of what they like..." it ends up in a screaming match and me forcing food in their face. Great way to make them love the veggies!!! I did hear a great suggestion that I have yet to implement. Puree the heck out of a bunch of veggies and add it to spaghetti sauce or pizza sauce. I think we may start eating pizza more, but I need a better blender!!! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteKat, great idea about adding pureed veggies to pizza or spaghetti sauce. That one I may be able to get away with doing!
DeleteThanks for stopping by!
Aaah yes...the veggie battle. I'm familiar with that one, too. We (we, as in my husband, I knew would be short-lived) used to brag about how well my kids ate...those days are o-v-e-r. We have a 4yr old, too, and I'll tell what I've found to be the few things that work for us:
ReplyDelete1) Stir fry: He likes the salty soy sauce - with noodles - and who cares as long as those veggies are goin in.
2) Slather it in cheese or butter - again, who cares? You can work on backing off the cholesterol-fest as they get older. The important thing is that those veggies are goin down the hatch.
3) Smoothies: You can throw the kitchen sink in those bad boys and as long as you put enough fruit, they'll never know. I make smoothies and then with the left-overs I make ice-pops. The kids love 'em. I've thrown spinach and even avacado in. It's a tad on the nar-nar side (narly) for my tastes but as long as...well you get the drift.
Good luck! And I feel your pain, sister!!
Carol, thanks for the good ideas! I will have to try the smoothie idea. My kids love yogurt so this one might work for us.
DeleteThanks for visiting and for the 'sneaky' veggie ideas! :)
OMG! I could have written this. During his last visit, my four-year-old told the pediatrician that he eats his vegetables. The doctor then asked him what he had for lunch and he proud answered, "A toasted peanut butter and jelly sandwich!" I wanted to crawl under the exam table.
ReplyDeleteWe've tried everything. Bribery. Threats. Dousing them in ketchup. I try to sneak them into sauces when I have time. I like the smoothie idea. I'll have to try it.
Good luck!
Solidarity, mama! Solidarity! It can be quite the battle, can it not? Hang in there! Going to try some of these ideas myself!
DeleteThanks for visiting! :)
Oh yes oh yes oh yes... I am war with my kids ALL the time over veggies! But as they get older, you can threaten them with so much more and not feel as bad. Seriously! I have a six and nine year old. If they don't gag down at least three bites of veggies, then they can't eat ANYTHING else for the rest of their lives. They are old enough to survive longer without food and they also have a new moral ground that I get to walk on. All kinds of consequences can ensue... the battle is tougher because they are stronger and wiser, but I am armed with peace that they won't die if they don't eat! And if they don't "understand" it all, I call that BOLOGNA. They are old enough to get anything at this point. Well, almost anything...
ReplyDeleteChris, yes to this! When they get older, I think they may respond better to bribery. (Hey, I'm not above it!) But right now, it's so hard when they are little, especially Baby L at age 2. If he doesn't want to eat something, it promptly goes on the floor!
DeleteNice to "see" you again! :)
Laughing over your comment over splitting the Triscuit and calling it a day--I feel the same way. And seriously, does he know what he's missing with those potatoes?! If he's passing, I'll take them! Thanks for linking this up with #findingthefunny :)
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