Fussy eating grand daughters

Its attention seeking. Ignore it and just give them bread and butter, no crisps, refuse to talk about food and what they are eating. Then sit back with the adults who do eat and enjoy. This will let them know that kids don't rule the roost.

Unless there is a digestive intolerance to certain foods which you would not expect them to eat and in spite of being informed previously of their preferences I would expect them to eat 'this preference'. The alternative ? go without.

My 7 year old Grandson is Autistic and is very picky about what he eats, so I bought one of those trays for party nibbles which has about 6 or 7 sections in it. I put different things in each section, three or four have different fruits in them, Strawberries, Blackberries, Raspberries etc then the others have things like grated cheese, tomato, cucumber, a sausage roll, things I know he likes and will eat. He can then choose from each section what to eat first and it's made a massive difference with his eating habits. Rather than overwhelm them with a full cooked meal try breaking it down into smaller portions.

Frognan Hate to say it but I’m so glad you’re not my Nan ! Grandparents should be treasured and loved and equally spoil and love their GC ! My parents were so much nicer and relaxed and lovely with my children than they ever were with me haha. I spoil my GS and adore seeing him and I’d go with the buffet with some bread and butter idea Kids love the idea of choice and helping themselves ! Never punish for not eating stuff can lead to eating disorders later in life !

No crisps or any snack foods at designated meal times.... mine are 8 and 12 ...have never ever been asked what they’d like until age of 5... before that they eat what’s given or leave the table ( when everybody has finished). This started them on the path of trying ALL foods presented to them...and forming any dislikes....of which there are none !! From 2 years they’ve eaten Brocolli.. asparagus ...carrots...peas...all kinds of potatoes...spinach... mange tout... sweet corn...broad beans...runner beans... the list is endless! They also eat fresh salmon..trout...kippers...mackerel...fresh tuna.. chicken...beef...pork ... and their particular live roast lamb. All goes down. Not SO keen on sweet puds as not brought up to indulge much.... but apple pie and custard... trifle is acceptable. They even eat Brussels and parsnips ....all because they’ve had no choice until 5.

My 11 year old granddaughter only eats carbs, no veg, no fruit. She was taken by her mum to the doctors as she was worried about this, but he told her not to worry, give her what she likes. He said as she grows she will eventually try different things. When she stays with me, I get a stock in of noodles, pancakes, French fries etc but I do wish she would eat fruit. I did try with a tiny bit of strawberry and said if you don’t like it, you can spit it out. Nope, won’t even try stuff so now I just give her what she likes with no fuss. One day, maybe?

Don’t fuss and don’t worry!. Ask them what they would like. Let them have a look inside the larder, fridge, cupboard and choose for themselves.

I always have ice cream in the freezer when I know the DGC are coming to lunch as I know they don’t like puddings but they love ice cream, chocolate for one and vinalla for the other. No problems with main meal, they gobble everything up with the exception of broccoli. We really do enjoy lunch with them but I have seen children who are very fussy eaters but most do grow out of it. Just give them what they want and be guided by the parents.

I think this seems to be a growing problem nowadays. I have 4 grandchildren two of whom now seem to have issues with what they eat stating they are now vegetarian, they are from different families.

No problem with the 16 year old grandson as he seems to eat a lot but my 17 year old granddaughter is a real worry, she seems to exist on pizza and chocolate and regularly misses meals saying she has a small stomach

This seems to be a growing problem nowadays - gone are the days when I was glad to eat most things

chino, I hope things don’t get too worrisome with your granddaughter. I sympathise.
Will try some of the ideas and see how it goes without getting so fed up with it.
Toad-in-the-hole sounds a yummy idea, by the way. They like Yorkshire pud and sausages are a rare treat for them. I will be more than willing to eat their leftovers.

Why not ask them if they would like a little peanut butter with their bread and butter?

There are a lot of nourishing additions to bread and butter ,and some delicious breads. Just ask the children what they would like. If they won't eat they wont eat.

This is often a phase that kids go through when they learn the power of refusing food! You can't force them to eat and parents/grandparents are generally anxious for them to - so it's a win/win situation for the children (they are in charge, for a change!) I agree with others - don't make a big thing of it.

PS Forgot to say - don't fuel the problem by giving them lots of attention around this issue but don't forget to praise any behaviour that you're happy with.

Oh goodness some replies are so intolerant. My brother (pushing 70) was the pickiest eater. Not just a current problem. I pity some of these grandchildren, treated like creatures to be broken in.

Marjgran I agree and you sound like a very lovely Nan/Gran

My almost three-year-old GD used to polish off anything, and loved salads, vegetables and fruit. Within the last few weeks she has suddenly become very picky, and wants to eat mainly cheese, chicken, hard-boiled egg and crackers. She refuses all veg and fruit with a ‘don’t like it.’
I think it may partly be due to a lot of upheaval over the last two months. I have stayed with them since November, and so have my SIL’s Peruvian parents and brother, who speak only Spanish. Perhaps taking control over what she will eat is her way of dealing with all the unsettling changes.
I’m hoping that, once they are back to normal again, she will revert to her healthy eating habits again.
The suggestions you have received are mainly very sensible ones. We are just ignoring GD’s fussy habits and I’m sure that they will all start to eat normally soon.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

I buy in exactly what the list I am given says, and stand back and watch them refuse it. Then they are gone and we don't waste anything any more.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ignore them at meal times. If they complain just say you know they don't like ????. They will neither say 'I Do' or just not bother. Don't stress over it. They will surely grow out of the phase.

Such spoilt children, give them bread and butter,like it or leave it.

Be relaxed because it might make parents stop coming for meals if you stress them all out. Just ask the parents (not in front of kids) what to do. It sounds like you want control and it's making you upset that you don't have it. Don't feel hurt. They are kids. Whatever little control they get, they like. So give them the option to choose, buffet style and make zero fuss. Perhaps the bread and butter can be put out along with all the other options. Then the kids see they don't have to hold out to get whatever they really want. They might select more than just bread and butter that way. The kids won't starve, but they might purposefully stop eating at your house. If you persist and insist, they WILL resist.

I try to serve meals that I can dish up at the table and ask one of the parents to serve their kiddies. I check privately with parents what will be eaten before visits and am just very matter of fact on the day. I initially made the mega mistake of trying to please everyone and ended up having my food go cold whilst first GC ruled the roost. I could have screamed, mum & dad cajoling this master manipulator to try this or that, could he have something else? ,(Id already been given a list of approved toddler meals, snacks and drinks, all pre prepared and expensive,) What else had we got? All our yoghurts were - the wrong flavour orcthe right flavour but wrong brand! We don't play these games any more. We check they eat it normally and don't get offered snacks instead, if they make a good effort they get a well done & can either have the same as us for pudd or ice cream in a cone usually with a mini flake or jelly baby stuck in. They still try it on though and I must admit doesn't make for stress free meals.

All our yoghurts were - the wrong flavour orcthe right flavour but wrong brand!
Oh goodness, ours always thought it very exciting and a privilege to be allowed one of 'Grandad's yogurts'

They are very special

I'm with the "if you dont like it - leave it" but definitely no cooking separate things for different people. Luckily my two DGDs are still at the eating everything stage to the extent that the 3yr old came to a restaurant in France with us and there was only a tasting menu of about 7 courses! She ploughed through pretty much all of it to the extent that the patron came out to applaud her efforts. He had looked very unhappy at this crazy English family bringing a toddler to his restaurant but her efforts to eat whatever came out next won him over completely!!!!! No doubt she will start to be fussy at some point but luckily not yet.

I agree with grannygravy advice, just do a simple buffett