I have a 4 year old son, (he weighs @ 39 lbs and is 42" tall), and all he ever wants to eat is the good old standard...PB and J. I've even had to buy the extra large jars to keep it in the house. I know it's good in protein and I at least make it with multi-grain bread. My question is, how long will this last? He gets plenty of calcium with cheese, yogurt, milk and ice-cream. He loves fresh fruit; not too keen on veggies except green beans and carrots. I have to say though, he does eat well at pre-school; seconds even on most days! Am I not creative enough? Any ideas???
Thanks in advance!

Hi Cookie,
What about if you make it a treat and tell him, "After you have (blank) then you can have PB and J". Or, if you think this is becoming a problem, have you thought it might be something he craves- often that is a sign of allergy or lack of something in the diet. Just a few ideas....Take care,
Diane


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"Act mindfully. Accept entirely. Move strongly. Think softly. Speak beautifully. Live simply. Love completely." Anon

Diane,
Yep! That's what I do and he'll take a couple of bites, usually a good portion, and then he has his PB and J. I've started him on multi-vits and he does have allergies,(seasonal); He's taking Claritan daily for that. I'm beginning to just think that PB and J's are his ultimate fave food! I still sneak a spoonful out of the jar myself on occasion. LOL!
Thanks anyway!

Cookie,
My son is 5 years old, 40 lbs and he only eats PB no J, grilled cheese, chicken nuggets, carrots, celery, cucumbers, and ramen noodles (only chicken). I checked with our ped. and he said as long as he seems healthy and continues to grow he's not too worried about it. Soemtimes we can get him to try something else. He will not eat meat of any kind, only that specific kind of chicken nugget I buy (which is so processed it can't possibly be meat anymore), and he screams and yells if we get anywhere near him with an "unapproved" food. Good Luck.

Heart,
Last night we went out to dinner at a restaurant with a huge salad bar, (only way to eat with kids), and I was amazed at the amount of food he ate! He started out with a slice of cantaloupe and watermelon, some jello and a HUGE banana. I doubted that he would be able to eat his chicken strips and fries but HE DID! I was so happy that he ate well and then he even ate the second chicken strip, which amounted to a whole breast, at home. What a good boy; but we didn't make a fuss over him which seems to be a factor in his appetite I've noticed. All in his head, I guess. A control thing?

Oh well, we're just happy he had a good meal for once.
Cookiemoon

Looked at the post by Raven and that was my daughter too, now I look her and this is my son.
I get the feeling that he likes to be the boss, my boy does and this could be a way of controlling you, I only think this because when your not around or the p/b jar isn't he is more than happy to eat other stuff.
Or it could be his teeth my boy eats alot of p/b because he has a bad tooth and the p/b sandwich doesn't hurt it but that is being fixed shortly.
In the end he will get tired of it and go to other stuff. I'm not ashamed to admit when I was a Kid we had lots of chooks and I ate omlets every day for 2years I still love them but I'm over the obsession.
http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Hi, Ya know I know a perfectly health man in his 60's who has basically lived on Grilled Cheese all his life. His wife says he was raised on them and thats all he eats. Go figure. i think childrens tastes change as the develope and they really start to eat more with time. Just keep what you are doing up and try something new once in a while for fun. I make face pancakes using fruits and veggies for eyes ears hair what ever. Cut sandwhiches out with cookie citters. Anything to make it look appealing to them.
Alsc The multigrain pastas that are tri colored mine love also. My eight year old sometimes will surprise me with what she feels brave enough to try.

My daughter is 4 and lives on dairy,chick. nuggets,cereal and pasta. No meat. No fish. No poultry. She gets to pick her own lunch and I try to add healthy sides, either fruit,applesauce,cheese sticks,etc. For dinner we usually have a meat/chicken,side and veggie and bread, or some kind of pasta dish. Most nights she only eats the bread unless we're having pasta. She gets a little of everything on her plate, even if she doesn't eat it or want it. She shocked me the other night by picking up her spoon and eating ALL the rice on her plate then asking for more. Quote of the day: "Mommy, I LOVE rice!" from a child who has turned up her nose at the last 500 servings of rice.

I've snuck wheat germ into and onto her food by calling it "crunchies" and sometimes I'll sneak baby food veggies into sauces or stir it into her foods. I've heard that spinach makes chocolate cakes very moist but I haven't gotten that far.

One other hint, we don't do a lot of snacks, usually fruit and only if she asks. She usually has apple slices with her dad before bed.

Good luck!