I feel like Mommy Dearest

[windorabug]

my dd will only eat macaroni and cheese (Amy's frozen) with the idea that I could save some money & not feed her frozen dinners for lunch and dinner I decided to make a large batch of macaroni & cheese (really large) hoping to freeze some.

She won't touch it.

I was really annoyed as I don't eat cheese & it's just the two of us - what the H E double hockey sticks am I going to do with 8 pounds of macaroni and cheese?? So I said I was not going to make anything else for her for supper.

How in the world do I deal with this crazy eating??

BTW - Yesterday she said when asked what she wanted for breakfast "toast"
then said "no sandwich" I said are you sure? no toast, no sandwich, toast, sandwich finally settling on sandwich. I made a peanut butter & jelly sandwich & she lost it saying "no no no mama toast!" and wouldn't eat it - I refused to make toast so she cried - I hate this

cross posted in toddlers

[2cutiekitties]

I also feel like Mommy Dearest today. Started off with DS asking for cereal, and then refused to touch it. A few other things and I went balls out crazy and said I was going to pack my bags and move to Tahiti so I could get something done.


sigh. Sometimes it is just so hard.

[sunnmama]

My strategy at meals is for the food to just appear on the table--things they like, and things they don't like yet, served family-style (meaning, not already on their plate, but rather a platter of toast, eggs, fruit and everyone takes what they want). My ds is 2.5, and I don't think I've ever asked him what he wants to eat, lol. (I also have an 8 yo dd, and I do ask her what she wants for breakfast....but not for lunch or dinner. She gets her own snacks at this point).

I don't get into power struggles about food. If I had mac-n-cheese to finish up, I'd put it on the table, along with fruit and cucumber wedges and bread and maybe some chick peas or some other protein. And then everyone takes what they want. I've read, and have found to be true, that kids will often try something after many, many exposures....so the foods I want them to eat just keep appearing on the table for them to try or pass on.

Obviously, making 8# of mac-n-cheese, with the idea that a toddler would willingly eat it up, was not well thought through . It is frustrating when we make things for our kids and they won't eat them, but keeping the quantities small (unless you are sure they will eat it) can keep the frustrations small, too.

[Evergreen]

You can see my response about food here :http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1135053

Annnnd on a related not the other night dh told me he was going to hide the wire hangers because I had that look in my eye.*

Maybe you can go to a picnic or potluck and bring the Mac N Cheese?

*This was a joke on his part. I have never hit my children with wire hangers or anything for that matter.

[Pernillep]

Ohh, I so feel your frustration. We have the same power struggles right now.
Honestly, as long as it is something I know he likes and he has asked for it he can either eat it or not eat. I am not getting into a struggle with him over it.

Usually at some point he will have it if we don't feed into the tantrums.

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

Originally Posted by Evergreen

You can see my response about food here :http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1135053

Annnnd on a related not the other night dh told me he was going to hide the wire hangers because I had that look in my eye.*

Maybe you can go to a picnic or potluck and bring the Mac N Cheese?

*This was a joke on his part. I have never hit my children with wire hangers or anything for that matter.

Im trying not to laugh, but that was darned whitty on your DH's part.

[mamaofthree]

Originally Posted by sunnmama

My strategy at meals is for the food to just appear on the table--things they like, and things they don't like yet, served family-style (meaning, not already on their plate, but rather a platter of toast, eggs, fruit and everyone takes what they want). My ds is 2.5, and I don't think I've ever asked him what he wants to eat, lol. (I also have an 8 yo dd, and I do ask her what she wants for breakfast....but not for lunch or dinner. She gets her own snacks at this point).

I don't get into power struggles about food. If I had mac-n-cheese to finish up, I'd put it on the table, along with fruit and cucumber wedges and bread and maybe some chick peas or some other protein. And then everyone takes what they want. I've read, and have found to be true, that kids will often try something after many, many exposures....so the foods I want them to eat just keep appearing on the table for them to try or pass on.

Obviously, making 8# of mac-n-cheese, with the idea that a toddler would willingly eat it up, was not well thought through . It is frustrating when we make things for our kids and they won't eat them, but keeping the quantities small (unless you are sure they will eat it) can keep the frustrations small, too.

i like this idea alot! put a few choices on the table (stuff you wouldn't mind that they eat and eat only) and then everyone picks their stuff and eats. i use to think my kids ate "only" 1 or 2 different things and then i sat down and wrote out everything they like. the list was pretty good sized and varied. so i always picked stuff off that list to give them through out the day, along with new things. anyway... good luck!

h

[windorabug]

Originally Posted by Evergreen

You can see my response about food here :http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1135053

Annnnd on a related not the other night dh told me he was going to hide the wire hangers because I had that look in my eye.*

Maybe you can go to a picnic or potluck and bring the Mac N Cheese?

*This was a joke on his part. I have never hit my children with wire hangers or anything for that matter.

So funny! I really did feel like that part where the little girl kept having to eat the same plate of food - I thought for a brief moment of wrapping it up & offering it up for breakfast. I didn't though

I was also just reminded that we just returned from a 2 week visit with family & every time I turned around someone was giving her cake or ice cream or chocolate - it's no wonder she won't eat "healthy" food right now!

[JessBB]

don't feel tooo bad...lately my toddler has been telling me, "go to your room, mama! You go right now!" Wonder where he heard that?! It reminds me of those 1980's anti-drug PSA's: "I learned it from watching you!"

[josie423]

I don't offer choices either.

Maybe you could find a homeless shelter in your area to donate the Mac 'n Cheese to if your daughter simply won't eat it?

[Funny Face]

I've been doing what other moms suggested... giving her small amounts of several things and it has helped immensely . I've told dh several times that if feeding my daughter wasn't required, I wouldn't do it. Nothing stresses me out more.

But I've been doing 'bento' style meals and it has helped so much!

[windorabug]

Originally Posted by JessBB

don't feel tooo bad...lately my toddler has been telling me, "go to your room, mama! You go right now!" Wonder where he heard that?! It reminds me of those 1980's anti-drug PSA's: "I learned it from watching you!"

ha ha ha! I loved that PSA

[windorabug]

so after posting the original post, my dd has proceeded to eat everything she can get her hands on OTHER than that mac & cheese! I threw it out today & didn't feel too bad. She has been eating like a champ. I also took the lock off the fridge (actually it broke) & she has been helping herself to all kinds of good snacks - broccoli, tofu, cheese, pancakes, potstickers you name it. Thanks for the kind words everyone!