Newbie not eating...anyone else?

[Inspired by Reggio]

Thanks ladies!!! I think the most aggravating part is watching a plate full of yummy food go to waste!

Yup - admittedly I start out with VERY tiny portion of food for the first serving with newbie children so that if they do not eat it is literally 1 bite of meat, 1 bite of grain, 1 bite of veggie and 1 bite of fruit getting tossed

As I learn more about their eating habits I can than guage serving sizes to eqaute to that - however whenever I serve something NEW to any child I always just put a 'bite' on their plate for them to try to see if their taste buds are big enough for more ... every kid yearns to be BIG so that technique works wonders with getting them to eat and want more

[sunnydays]

I've been pretty lucky so far in that all my dck's eat my food. Some don't like certain parts of the meal and fill up on other things (ie. one won't eat fish, but will eat the vegetable and grain). I serve what I serve and they eat what they want. I don't stress over it one bit. I don't even "encourage" or coax in any way...I put it in front of them and they choose whether to pick it up and try it or not. However, that said, I have started them all as babies with me, so it is much easier to get them used to my food. I think it may be more difficult to start a 3 year old who is used to eating junk food as I don't serve any! My own 3 year old is picky...I serve him what we are having and he eats or doesn't eat. One thing I do with him is that if he doesn't eat at dinner time, I will put his plate in the fridge for when he inevitably will ask for something else a couple of hours later

[Cadillac]

Does the kid drink their appetite away? I have a little girl who has to eat her meal before any drinks are served to her.

Stickers also work wonders. you can work it up. 3 bites gets a sticker, two days later four bites get a sticker, so on and so forth.

It's not healthy for kids not to be eating. But I definitely would not serve this kid anything different.

Can you work two favorite dishes into your menu each week? Then you can tell them that they only get that course if they eat their veggies or what not. Or if you are uncomfortable with that then at least they eat twice a week. =)

[Momof4]

I have a little boy who refuses to eat any combined foods, even just a sandwich. He's been here for 3 years so I've gotten used to him, but will be so happy to serve casseroles when he's off to JK this Sept. Just today when I was preparing roast beef, potatoes and broccoli for lunch the two oldest children asked me for hot dogs. Ummmm, I only serve hot dogs about twice a year, but they get crap like that all the time at home. I believe they get all their nutrition at my house! I was a busy Mom at one time with young children too but I never served all that crap!

Anyway, I'm rambling. I've told his mother that once in a while he is going to be starving at pickup time because there are going to be days where I just want to serve a casserole or crockpot dish when I'm over-busy and she completely understands. I agree with the 'I'm not a restaurant' line.

My newest baby won't eat any veggies so she's driving her Mom and me crazy, but we both serve all organic produce and non-packaged foods so we are at least working on it together.