Pizza, Chicken Strips,String Cheese, and Pop Tarts

That is probably 80% of my kid's diet. I've tried rewarding him with trying new foods, taking away his favorites so he has to eat something else when he's hungry, etc.

I thought it would get better as he got older, but I think it's getting worse. And I don't think it's the taste of some of the foods he doesn't like, but the texture or something.

Anyway, besides rewarding him, or starving him, does anybody have any other ideas?

Oh, gee, that's not so good.

How is the rest of the families diet? Are you modeling good food choices? What about friends?

Can you slowly start introducing other "better" foods? For instance, put some vegis on the pizza, so you can later say "but you like broccoli on pizza, so try why not eat if off the pizza?" I think diet has more of an impact on behaviors and overall health than many think. I would play let's make a deal...barter for him eating at least some better foods.

My daughter has a friend (also a recent HS graduate) who eats chicken and junk food and almost nothing else...she has never even tasted lettuce. That's just not healthy.

Hi Noahsdad,

That's one of the hardest things, especially if this might be about texture. Perhaps you can find out what types of textures he likes, and look for healthier foods with the same type of texture. Also, trying little bits at a time is a good idea. But this only works if there is a reward in it for him he really wants. And it sounds like you have already given that a try. Marti's idea about putting some new food as topping on a pizza sounds good as well. Baby steps seems to be the key with these things. I'm not an expert on the topic so I'm affraid that's all I can share with you. I hope he will eventually learn to try other foods as well.

Good point about texture. I know there are people who won't eat cucumbers and mushrooms because of texture. I have a good friend who won't eat vegis. I suggested smothering broccoli with cheese sauce and then slowing wean off of the cheese sauce. My nephew's wife was saying their baby would not eat carrots but would eat applesauce...my suggestion was similar - start with a mixture heavy on applesauce and the slowly shift to more carrots and less applesauce in the mixture. Yup, baby steps...

A little tongue and cheek - try bribery. Often kids will do things they don't want to do if they have the right incentive. (Come to think of it, adults are the same!)

We as a family probably eat better than a normal family, maybe fast food once a week. I think it's just been too easy giving him things to eat because it seems we're always in a hurry. He did try some BBQ ribs the other night. Liked how they tasted, but not how they "felt".

Even I won't eat Mushrooms because of that texture.

I have the same issues with my son and what he eats. For him, it's all about texture. For instance, he loves potatoes in the form of french fries, or potato chunks such as red potatoes, cut into chunks, boiled in water then drained and served with butter and parsley flakes. But he despises mashed potatoes or hash browns. Go figure.

After having talked to his psychiatrist, behavioral therapist, and sensory therapist a couple of years ago, we came up with a plan. And the plan is simple - Pick your battles. Some things are important enough to fight over, and some just aren't. This is one of the ones that is - to an extent. SO, we came up with an eating plan, lol.

I will let him have his pop tarts for breakfast IF he will eat some scrambled eggs, or raisin toast. He usually goes for the raisin toast, which is really pretty healthy.
He loves a grilled cheese sandwich for dinner. I hate it letting him have this but, a nutritionist suggested letting him have that IF he will eat veggies on the side. No veggies? No grilled cheese. So twice per week - every Tuesday and Friday, he is permitted a grilled cheese sandwich, with either broccoli, carrots or cauliflower on the side. These are his favorite veggies, so that helps. I'm not going to force him to eat veggies he doesn't like. There's plenty of time for introducing new foods/textures later.

He also loves Pizza. Anywhere we go to eat out - Perkins, Golden Corral, Denny's, etc - he wants the pizza. Ok, you can have the pizza, as long as you have veggies on the side, OR some fruit. No veggies or fruit? No pizza.

My point is...... let him have what he likes/will eat, as long as you give him a healthy "side". Let it be known that if he wants what he wants, he has to also eat what you want him to eat.

9 times out of 10, you will both get your way.

Yeah, that texture thing is a big deal for some people. My daughter was not eating mushrooms for a while, but she eats them now. She does not like red meat - mostly the texture, but she eats it because...that's what is for dinner. (I've always been a pain in the neck about this - I never cooked anything different for my kids. They have always eaten what I cooked.) She will eat mushrooms now happily and red meat...still not her favorite, but she eats it. She intellectually understands that it is important to eat healthy food and therefore she does. I've had it really easy in that regard.

My son is not a red meat eater either, and I don't fight it. He likes hamburgers, and that's the only red meat he'll eat. As for pork, he'll eat ham. And he'll eat pork steak, but not pork chops.

But he does like fish and chicken, in almost any form. And since they're both healthier for you than red meat, I'm happy with that.

Peggy,

I missed your post before. I love the idea of letting him eat grilled cheese or pizza if he will eat a vegi on the side. Not only does that put some vegis in his belly but he feels like he is on control. Great idea.

Carrots is one of my sons favorite veggies. He'd walk around with carrot sticks in his hand all day if I would let him.

Home made apple juice? Yum!

I remember the pediatrician asking my son a long time ago during a check up what his favorite vegetable was. My son had to think about it for a while and then said carrots - raw. I don't think it mattered at all what he answered. The doctor just wanted to make sure the answer was not "ewwwwy, I hate all vegetables". I thought this was a smart way to ask the question. I really like this doctor!

Man, if I could get him to eat those, I'd be in heaven. Actually I thought he like baby carrots, I might coerce him into trying them again. I think his favorite vegetable right now are french fries. Mine probably is too

Carrots are very healthy but be careful with raw carrots if someone has trouble with chewing and/or swallowing and with very young children.
A nurse I know told me this when we were discussing foods, and raw carrots were one of the things she mentioned that could be potentially hazardous for young children.
Just like white bread and egg cakes they are almost impossible to remove from someones throat if it gets stuck in there. It's a type of food that will expand when it gets moist and therefor a big bite can get stuck in their throat and expand in there. So it's important they chew well and take small bites.

egg cakes? (I'll google it)

Peanut butter eaten off of a spoon is a common choking hazard and so are hot dogs.

Yeah, egg cakes? Like a baked donut or something? I was able to get him to try some baked chicken last night at a Fourth of July party, because one of his buddies was eating a lot of it, and I got him to eat some bread with butter on it, sounds like a breakthrough right around the corner!

I didn't know about the peanut butter and hot dogs, so thanks for the warning, Marti!
Noahsdad, that certainly sounds like a break through! He'll get there eventually taking baby steps; every single one is progress. Great to hear!

I'll post a pic of the egg cakes I am talking about. They are a very popular treat for children in Holland. I am not sure how popular they are abroad.

Yup, I was thinking baby steps too! Take whatever you can get and celebrate each success.

Yolanda, never saw these egg cakes. That is not what I found when I googled it. Thanks for posting the photo. They look like a cookie - why are they a choking hazard? Are they doughie? I have no trouble believing that they would be a favorite with the kids.

Try it with a "dip". My son loves dips. Ranch dressing, yogurt, pudding. He likes them all for dips. He'll dip a baby carrot stick in all three of them! He also like raw (and cooked) cauliflower, celery, tomatos, radishes, water chestnuts and more.

Dipping just might be the key to introducing your child to different veggies.