Picky Eater

[playfelt]

You might try not letting her leave the table. Being able to be excused to go play is often too much incentive for kids and then they realize too late they are still hungry. If they have to sit and stare at the food there is a good chance they will actually eat more of it and especially when the child next to them finishes their meal and then receives dessert - applesauce and cookie.

As far as just being picky - food jags are normal with 3 year olds but in daycare they have to eat the meal that is served. It is ok to acknowledge that you know they would rather be eating nutella or grilled cheese for the third day in a row but that variety of foods is important and that today the meal will be lasagna. Then they can eat it, stare at it, whatever. I dont' even play the three bites game. I just serve it and retreat. I have found not making eye contact with the child during the meal actually helps a lot and the kids eat a lot more if I make myself busy and not available for a confrontation. There is no battle if there is no opponent. I check emails.

[Spixie33]

You might try not letting her leave the table. Being able to be excused to go play is often too much incentive for kids and then they realize too late they are still hungry. If they have to sit and stare at the food there is a good chance they will actually eat more of it and especially when the child next to them finishes their meal and then receives dessert - applesauce and cookie.


As far as just being picky - food jags are normal with 3 year olds but in daycare they have to eat the meal that is served. It is ok to acknowledge that you know they would rather be eating nutella or grilled cheese for the third day in a row but that variety of foods is important and that today the meal will be lasagna. Then they can eat it, stare at it, whatever. I dont' even play the three bites game. I just serve it and retreat. I have found not making eye contact with the child during the meal actually helps a lot and the kids eat a lot more if I make myself busy and not available for a confrontation. There is no battle if there is no opponent. I check emails.

YOu make some good points.
I don't offer dessert. To me that seems an extra expense and a bad incentive to finish good food for junk food.
I do agree that not hovering during lunch is good. I usually go behind the counter and make busy with dishes and starting to put the pots or serving dishes away....or pouring milk or sippy cup refills...or helping the little ones wipe their mouth etc.

I write in my manual that children will be OFFERED food but not forced to eat. I am not going to sit there and force someone, try to convince them or entice them and quite frankly there is no time to give that sort of attention to 1 difficult child who is 3 or up when there are toddlers who could use help or a napkin wipe, etc. They are given the food, I encourage them to try at least a bit but if they don't that is too bad. I know she will survive until snack.

3 bites works here for me. I know she at least tried and if she wants to go off and play and be hungry then that is her decision. Kids have to learn that actions have consequences (ie a hungry tummy if they go off and play) and that they can have the right to say no to something or an adult when it comes to anything to do with their own bodies (ie what goes into their tummies and whether they want to be touched, etc)

I tell parents upfront that I am not going to force their kids to eat or take a spoon and try to cajole them to eat, etc. I might do that if it was my own kids at dinner time but not for the daycare kids when I have 2-5 kids around - some of which probably need my attention more than a 3 year old

[Skysue]

Well I prepared one of the 3 meals she eats, Mac "n" Cheese and put broccoli on her plate as well she took one look at the broccoli and refused to eat anything. I told her she can only eat her Mac "n" Cheese but if she doesn't eat her broccoli than no choc Milk at quiet time only white Milk. (Choc Milk at quiet time is a treat for the bigger kids but only if they eat there veggies)

My after school kids came at 3:30 and had rice crispy squares & Granola bars, she asked for a rice crispy square as did my little one and I said "no" neither of you ate your veggies at lunch so you can have fruit but no treats. She at a banana for the 1st time ever!

Today is day 2 and she won't eat anything at all due to veggies being on her plate, she had a large 8oz glass of milk and asked for a 2nd glass and I said no but offered her her lunch.

Her parents sent nutella on bread for breakie and she didn't eat it! If I'm not supose to serve nutella then shouldn't they too not serve it! Just a thought!