2 year old refusing to eat dinner

[NZMummy]

I am just wondering how others would tackle a 2 year old refusing to eat dinner. I am trying to serve up what my husband and I are eating - and am wanting ds to eat some meat and vegies as a part of his diet. Usually he will eat a few spoonfuls and then stop (sometimes I can get a few more into him with some cajoling - but it is hard work). Last night he just said "no dinner!" from the start and refused to eat it (although he did ask for fish fingers which he had enjoyed the previous night). He did want dessert afterwards - so it can't be that he wasn't hungry (I gave him some apple because I didn't want him waking hungry in the night - but we refused the requested yoghurt on the basis that he hadn't eaten his dinner). It is so easy to get annoyed and frustrated with him over it - but I don't want to turn dinnertime into a battle ground or to force him to eat.

[~Tara~]

Around here, you eat what you're served at mealtimes. If you choose not to eat our meal then, fine, you will still sit at the table nicely with everyone else and you do not eat until the next meal. No dessert, no snacks.

I promise, they won't starve.

I do not fix separate meals to accomodate everyone's desires either. Though I will make a well rounded meal with at least one thing one will eat. (not generally an issue, but there are a couple of things some don't like so well)

They'll either learn to eat what they're served WHEN it's served, or they'll make it up at the next meal :)

No need to make it a battle. Just lay down the rules and follow them. If he wakes saying he's hungry, remind him of his earlier *choice* and offer some water then back to bed. He can eat at breakfast time.

[justmeNmine]

I have also used the "rules" Tara mentioned; another thing I found especially helpful with little ones (18mos. - 2ish) is to serve very small portions, like a tablespoon or two. That way they have a chance to be successful in finishing what they've been served and often end up asking for more. I think bigger amounts are intimidating and after a couple bites, they give up...

[mamallama]

I have also used the "rules" Tara mentioned; another thing I found especially helpful with little ones (18mos. - 2ish) is to serve very small portions, like a tablespoon or two. That way they have a chance to be successful in finishing what they've been served and often end up asking for more. I think bigger amounts are intimidating and after a couple bites, they give up...

I totally agree with this. When Gracie was that age, there were times when she was just not hungry and didn't eat. It's not that we gave her sweets before dinner or anything. But you know what? She always seemed to make up for it on other days. Some days she would barely eat and others she would eat a lot! I think their bodies let them know how much they need. Try not to worry too much. :)

[kanaclark]

I've already voiced my opinion on this on an earlier thread, and agree with Tara, eat what's fixed or do without, point blank. there are times with my 11 month old that i do fix him a pbj or grilled cheese, but it's only on nights when we have chili or spaghetti or something like that. but last time we had spaghetti he ate it too. when we have tacos, I make him a little taco salad with everything seperate so he can eat it the way he wants to.
I also wanted to add that kids are no different than us adults, just smaller. what I mean is this, we don't always eat a full meal three times a day, some days we may just pick b/c we've been lazy or something and our bodies do not need the fuel, kids are the same way. in my opinion, if a kid can tell when they're not hungry, it's a good thing. I think that old "clean your plate" thing has made a HUGE difference in child hood obesity.

[~Tara~]

oo I despise that whole 'clean your plate' thing too You're so right...and here we *wonder* why so many children are obese...why folks cannot tell when they are full Gee ??

[7thHeaven]

Sam eats what we eat! I must say, I'm truly blessed in this area because she will eat anything you give her. The only time she won't eat or eat alot is when she is sick. If we are eating something spicy or healthy (like a salad), then I'll fix her a can of ravioli's or something small like that. But If she refused food for no reason at all, I wouldn't fix her anything else, she would have to go without.

[Angelique]

I worried about this when my daughter was that age but then I read somewhere that they do eat a lot more than we think they do and so I kept a food journal for the week, as the article had suggested. Bearing in mind that recommended portion sizes are smaller for a toddler, I realized she wasn't too far off, even on days I thought she'd surely starve.

[LadyLavender]

If my DD doesn't want to eat dinner when it's served, she still has to sit at the table with us- if she says she's hungry later, her exact plate from dinner is reheated and served. She gets nothing else to eat that night until the plate from dinner is eaten.

[PLMMom]

I made up special "spices" for the boys...I cut out pictures of their favorite characters and taped them onto empty spice bottles...then I would let them choose what spice they wanted...like my middle son...he uses Thomas the Train most nights....and my oldest...Scooby Doo....and if all else fails...sprinkles can make dinner go down a lot better...just last night my middle son was not wanting to eat his pork chops...so they became party chops and he loved them.... :lol: of course there was the phase where we just told them that everything was chicken as well :wink: