At what age can you reasonably expect a kid to eat what’s served or not eat?

Question

My son’s two and I’m wondering if that’s old enough to let him go to bed without dinner. He’s a picky eater and we always serve at least one food he has eaten before, but we still have nights he’ll refuse to eat anything that’s for dinner. He does have a afternoon snack, so I know he won’t starve. I just really don’t like setting the precedent that of he doesn’t want what we made, we’ll keep offering other foods until we can get him to eat something.

Answer

We're almost 2 here and the extreme pickiness with everything (clothes, food etc) or massive tantrums has officially started. 
The first few weeks I just sort of went along with it and kept the peace, but now the demands are just unreasonable. Only wants cherry yoghurt, and when I give it to her, actually wants cottage cheese, and then no, a cheese sandwich, of which she only takes a bite. 
And then the red jacket, not the pink. 
As of 3 days ago, I'm done with that. 2 choices of anything, and then no snack etc. Of course she starts crying hysterically and I'll just leave her. When she's done, she'll pick from the 2. There's been lots of crying on day 1 and 2, now less, but still happens a few times a day.

Answer

I’ve always only given my daughter what’s been served and never make her anything else... she’s now 1 and if she doesn’t like it I don’t sweat it and won’t ever... I give her enough variety at a meal that she eats something... breakfast it’s egg or yogurt and fruit. At lunch it’s cheese, a veggie and sometimes a meat. At dinner it’s a meat and one to two veggies. I don’t force her to finish and if she starts whining I end the meal... she’s now a year old. I also don’t give her any of those foods marketed for kids nor do I cut off skins, or crusts or whatever to make it “kid friendly”... she eats real food and that’s how it always will be. I think It’s silly when parents are cutting up things into different shapes, making a separate meal for their child or whatever...not my thing.

Answer

My baby sister was the pickiest dang toddler. Only wanted spaghetti and fruit salad, every meal every day. I was the evening caregiver during that time and I couldn’t make my mom’s spaghetti so she was out of luck most nights. She didn’t get any special food. She ate what she ate and if she didn’t want more than 2 bites then oh well. I kept her food out in case she changed her mind but she rarely did. At some point I heard the tip to let her direct me when putting food on her plate like she told me how many bites she wanted of each food, that helped some, along with involving her in the cooking process. She survived her picky toddler years, she never went to bed or woke up crying because she was hungry. A lot of it is exercising their independence, and it helps when they get some sort of say instead of us dictating everything. Try to find some ways to create choices.

Answer

We already do that with our 1 year old, but she still nurses before bed. I'd check with a pediatrician and go ahead and not do the short-order cook thing. It seems like that could reinforce the picky eating and set a precedent for a lot of extra work during dinner? I just don't have time or energy for that. A healthy kid with food available won't starve. Have you tried offering choices? Like if you make chicken and broccoli, saying "would you like chicken for dinner, or broccoli, or some of both?" That's what we're doing, and if she rejects the food entirely we don't pressure her or make it a thing, but just eat in front of her. 90% of the time she changes her mind and eats the food. As long as they're growing well I don't think that approach is mean/unreasonable.

Answer

Not sure on the exact age to start but all I’m saying is nip in the bud as early as possible. my mom catered to my brothers every whim and it literally took until he was 17 for him to realize “man I’m hungry af I’m going to eat whatever I can get my hands on”. It was so bad that on my 13th birthday I wanted Chinese food as my dinner out and he said no and we went to Applebee’s because that’s what he picked. On MY birthday. 🙄 love him to death he’s my fav person in this world tied with my husband and daughter but I was piiiised for a loooong time about that

Answer

2.5 year old here and all she wants is Halloween candy. If she refuses I will send her off with no food. I got tired of slaving over a special plate for her only to have her not eat. So now if she says no to what I offer I just send her off and forget about cooking it at all. 
But I can say that my husband tries to feed her less during the day so she is hungry at dinner. 
Her diet lately has consisted of mostly rice and veggies 😂

Answer

following!! My daughter is 2 and she has always been a really good eater. I mean everything she would eat all types of veggies, fruit, and main meals. Now that she's 2 she refuses to eat. She wants popsicles or candy. I have always told her she doesn't get any treats until after lunch or dinner. My husband gets worried that she isn't eating or drinking enough so he gives her popsicles to make sure she stays "hydrated". Today she had a melt down at lunch because she  picked out peanut butter and jelly. I gave it to her wouldn't touch it just threw a tantrum and kept asking for mms. Then she picked out apple sauce I open it up and same thing she throws a tantrum.  Then she picks out an orange. I peel it and put it in a bowl for her and tantrum. She still hasn't eaten anything since breakfast. She drinks a lot of milk and that's it no water or juice. I'm fine with her eating candy but I need her to understand it's a treat and not her  actual meal. She will snack sometimes if she doesn't eat and she will pick out animal crackers or raisins.  Just lately she won't eat anything for us. She's at daycare once or twice a week and with my mother in law once or twice a week. Daycare doesn't seem to have any issues with her eating. My mother in law does sometimes. I feel like my mother in law might be giving in to her sometimes though but im not sure.

Answer

We have always done that but really for strict with it when we step children moved in with us full time after the loss of their biological mother — prior to that it was tough because she fed them fast food a lot and gave them whatever they wanted..
So for the last 4 years (starting at ages 8 and 10) we have had this strict rule. 
You eat what is made or you don’t eat until the next meal. 
And believe me, it’s not like the food sucks, my husband is a chef so every meal is damn delicious..
Now we do know there are some foods our children just do not like, and we don’t really make those, but when we do, they have the option to eat it or not eat again until the next meal.

Answer

in my opinion the kid should at least try the food and decide if they like it or not. but to me that doesn't count taking a little nibble and spitting it out before actually tasting it

Answer

Following. Would love some tips on getting picky eaters to eat. I hate the food battles.

At what age can you reasonably expect a kid to eat what’s served or not eat?

Let’s Glow

Glow is here for you on your path to pregnancy

25+ million

4.8 stars

20+

Getting Pregnant

Pregnancy

1st Year (Baby & You)

Baby Products