Fussy eating grand daughters

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.

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

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.

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?

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.

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 !

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.

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.

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.

I have 4 grandchildren, 2 of whom are saying they are vegetarian, they are from different families.
There is no problem with my 16 year old grandson who eats a lot but my 17 year old granddaughter is a real worry as she seems to eat very little and misses meals seeming to almost exist on pizza and chocolate- she is now saying she only has a small stomach!!!

It is a real worry for everyone - I think all this faddy eating is a problem of the modern age.

my grandkids are the same chicken.nuggets every meal but they eat it so i dont care, 4 and 6 is the age where fussiness kicks in from my experience my eldest gd was the worst shes 13 now and is trying a few more things now, if they want bread and butter let them have it, its no big deal really

Dont pander to their wants. I have 4 grandsons and eldest tried this on me, I'm afraid I served up same for all and if he didnt want it then he obviously wasnt hungry, that meant no pudding, he soon started eating again. Dont get me wrong if they have tried it and then said they didnt like it then that is different and choice given. I love all grandsons and have great relationship with them.

Just give them bread and butter and water. They are playing games. They will soon get fed up of watching everyone else eating what is served. Oh and never make an issue of it.

Lots of options here. The dgds often help with making of pudding with me, but we try to have main course ready in advance, so there’s not a rush to get last minute things with the food done. Their arrival time is always a bit unpredictable.

I certainly wouldn’t punish them for not eating, I want them to enjoy coming here.

I was an extremely fussy eater.. I subsisted on cheese biscuits when I was very little, my mum has told me, and I was frightened of my dad’s draconian attitude to not eating. I dreaded Saturday tea time - it was the only time he ate with us.

I don’t think it’s real dislike thing with the dgds. I do agree they are playing up over this, and not to me, more to DS, dil usually works Sundays when they come. Thinking about it, I think it embarrasses him, and I’ve posted before about his stress levels.

So I’ll have a word with him, and ask him what he would like us to do. I don’t want 3stressed adults round a table, taking ages trying to coax 2 children who have decided not eat.

I don’t withhold their pudding either if they don’t eat the main course, so it is perhaps like my 91 yr old dad with Altzeimer’s. And he was the draconian one.

I’m going to hazard a guess that you’re not their favourite granny!

Just say to their parents (Mum or Dad) "I have a fridge full of food if you want to prepare them something to eat" or ' Would you like to dish out their dinner for them' Pass on the responsibility. Then if they don't eat it's not your fault!

There's nothing worse to me than seeing a plate piled high up with food, so yes, we always serve ourselves from dishes on the table.

Don't worry about it - even though it seems like they are having a go at you!
Is there any way that your DiL could "assist" you in the kitchen when they visit? Or even get the children involved in the preparation of the food?
If not, either just give them what they want or asked their parents to bring a packed lunch for them - they may still refuse to eat that or create a scene though! My SiL used to feed their children at home before they came to our house so us adults could eat in peace (her idea not mine), the children were in the next room watching a dvd. Maybe that is worth a try?

Years were stressful!

GC fussy eaters when younger but if it was a main meal I used to give them a small plate and let the children help themselves. Likewise for a buffet. One GS only ever took carbs, sister took a bit of everything. Other GS would only have meat and roasts- not touching his sister only veg especially peas. The years some of them refused everything was stressful for us, but the only firm rule I had was that food other than fruit had to be eaten at the table. No good deciding you were hungry after everything was cleared away. It seemed to work.This Christmas I was lectured on heathy eating by the ‘carbs only’ GS. ??

What we did with our son was that he could chose what he wanted from the serving dishes on the table (obviously there was stuff we knew he had eaten previously). If he didnt want anything then he had to sit at the table until we finished - he could join in the conversation, but was not allowed toys/electronics.

Jeepers these are small children. For some reason they are choosing to exercise control at your house. You have no idea why. I would do as many say, take advice from their parents, or let them choose from what is being served or bread or yoghurt. Downplay all the way! Be loving but disinterested in this expression of control and curious about why??

Put out a selection of sandwich fillings and let them make their own.

If you get a chance, read John Marsdeon's brilliant book, 'The Art of Growing Up' he talks a lot about giving children sensible choices to help them learn.

yes, I think maybe we have a kind ugly gnome among us...

I see that all Frognan's previous threads have been deleted, OP, so I would ignore the advice in her thread.