Fussy eating grand daughters

I would ignore them both! Don’t even bother to lay a place for them at the table. Worrying and stressing about them will only fuel them. If they are eating at home they will not starve.

I would just give them bread and butter. They won't starve and your son and daughter in law can then enjoy your cooking.

Yes, try serving up something you know they really like, and then offer them bread and butter ‘ as we know that’s all you want’.

I am with Midgey I would just give them nothing children will not starve themselves and if they are eating at home fine.
Sounds like they are playing games with you.
When DGS was younger he would not eat in front of people he did not know. I just left him to play quietly in the other room until the meal was over, he knew not to run about and make a fuss. I could see him clearly of course.
Now he is fine it was just a phase.

We have a couple of GC like this, our solution is to put serving platers on the table and let everyone help themselves. Curiosity and being "in charge" of what goes on their plates often takes over and they will eat or try several items.

I ensure that alongside a couple of puddings I have fresh fruit, yoghurt and cheese.

My middle DGS age 2 is a very picky eater and hardly eats at all! Yesterday we had a big family New Year lunch at eldest DD house, he wouldn’t sit at the table with his cousins and siblings so we put a small plate of food on a side table and ignored him, when he thought no one was watching he quietly took the food and ate it! We find that not making a fuss is usually the best way!

I would be inclined to ignore it and just give them normal food. I know that my AC would not put up with it or encourage them. As long as you know that it's something usually acceptable making separate meals is just a rod for your own back.

I agree with having buffet type food and let them choose what they put on their plates. It will also break the cycle a little.

My grandsons are the same.

But I don't bother about it.

I'll ask if they want a sandwich

No?

Fine

I agree with grannyGravy and just don’t make a thing of it

Thanks for the advice and ideas. I just used to give my sons bread and butter at home if they wouldn’t eat what I’d made, and I only had to do it a couple of times. It just feels a bit harsh when I only see dgds along with their parents. If I looked after them on my own I think ground rules would be easier..

I certainly don’t want to pander to them, or make separate meals, so helping themselves or a buffet type meal is a good idea..

It’s also that I have the same problem with my nonagenarian father. He just gets cake when he won’t eat, but not a solution for the dgds ?.

What do their parents say about it?

.sorry pressed post too soon above

I would ask their parents (not in front of the children!) what they would like you to do? Give nothing? Offer alternatives? Lay s place? Not lay a place? Ignore? It really is up to them to manage this particular phase with their kids and to tel you what they would like to happen.

If it was me I would just say " Oh ok if you dont want anything on the table, talk to mummy and daddy about it" and show no other reaction atall!

My GD is pretty fussy, although improving slowly.
Last summer, knowing she likes sausages, I made toad in the hole, reasoning that she could always pick the sausage out. She loved it, so now gets it at home, too.

She doesn't like roast but did pretty well with her Christmas dinner. I did check with her beforehand about which vegetables she likes (carrots!). She actually ate a sprout! But when it was suggested that she might eat them at home now she said that she only likes mine!

My rules are that she eats what she wants of what's put in front of her but doesn't make a fuss. If she hasn't eaten much I try to give her something I know she'll eat, even if it isn't all that healthy, for supper.

In your case, the children appear to be eating normally for the majority of the time. So I would just put whatever you are all eating in front of them. Then let them decide whether to eat it or not. Don't mention the food at all. If they don't eat it then take it away without comment. They won't starve to death.

It only needs doing a couple of times and they will give up making a fuss and just eat it. The more fuss you make, the more fuss they will make.

DGD2 has become rather fussy.

Do you plate up meals or do you put everything in dishes on the table?

I always let everyone help themselves, if mum and dad are there they will encourage DGD2 to try something.
You could put some bread and butter on a plate on the table too and really, their nutrition is up to their parents unless they stay with you for any length of time without them.

The parents can bring food they eat to your home.

No need to make a fuss about it as it adds stress to the visits, it is totally normal for those ages. Don't even mention their fuzziness again, they will grow out of it.

Enjoy their company. They are kids, they do what kids do.

If they don’t eat then no tv for them! I confiscated my granddaughters Ranpoedi Gawa toys when she played up and it set her right straight!!

I can remember not wanting, or not being able, to eat when I was about that age.
Faced with something I didn't want, my throat would close up and no amount of threats of any kind would have helped me to swallow.

Frognan
I hope the parents agreed with that disciplinary action.

It is definitely something not recommended. Peditritian now say that as long as a child eats one meal a day (while snacking in the middle), it is all fine.

I don't think its ever a good idea to impose sanctions on eating Frognan My own children went through phases of fussiness to varying degrees and they simply left what they didn't want. No one ever had specially prepared meals because they didn't like some element of it. I do the same with my grandchildren and keep mealtimes as relaxed and enjoyable as possible. As others have mentioned, using serving dishes and letting them serve themselves is good. Letting them help prepare food and act as 'waiters' also seems to work. And I agree that taking guidance from their parents is a sound idea

I would just go with the flow. I never make a drama over food. Eventually they realise I am in fact not trying to poison them and they return to their normal selves.

As you see them such a small amount of time just enjoy their company. Get some microwave pizzas and just be fun.

Callistemon I also remember that. I had my tonsils out when I was six (so nearly sixty years ago) and I have such a clear memory of how strange the food tasted and how much it upset me.

I cook to everyone, preferences. If they change their minds to what they like they eat bread and butter or biscuits and puddings. Their parents can take care of nutrition another day.