Im not a restaurant

[Momboss]

If a child doesnt eat what you serve for lunch, do you give them something else? Im not trying to create picky eaters and i know they wont starve, if they were truly hungry they would eat. But a parent told me they only feed their 18 month old chicken nuggets, corndogs, spaghetti, and pbj. That they try to give him what they cook but he fusses so they make what he likes “because hes little”. When i told her he didnt eat his lunch she informed me of how they feed him at home and realizes maybe shes creating a picky eater. I think this causes picky eating because they’re more likely to try new foods when they are younger versus older and realize that there’s choices. Plus, all that processed food is horrible. I figure im the childrens only source for healthy food.

[Springvalley]

If a child doesnt eat what you serve for lunch, do you give them something else? Im not trying to create picky eaters and i know they wont starve, if they were truly hungry they would eat. But a parent told me they only feed their 18 month old chicken nuggets, corndogs, spaghetti, and pbj. That they try to give him what they cook but he fusses so they make what he likes “because hes little”. When i told her he didnt eat his lunch she informed me of how they feed him at home and realizes maybe shes creating a picky eater. I think this causes picky eating because they’re more likely to try new foods when they are younger versus older and realize that there’s choices. Plus, all that processed food is horrible. I figure im the childrens only source for healthy food.

We've got a parent that brings their kid in EVERYDAY with a honey bun & a sippy cup of chocolate milk, the child will literally just eat while they are at dc tater tots & ketchup and sweets that's it! They won't eat afternoon snack and when its offered they make the excuse "they don't like it". You nailed this on the head

[Alwaysgreener]

No, I do not make anything else for them unless it is due to a known allergy. There is a meal coming soon.

[e.j.]

The kids know I serve "Eat It or Don't" at each meal. If I know one of the kids really doesn't like something I'm planning to serve, I try to include something else that he does like. For example, if I know he doesn't like turkey, I'll serve a veggie I know he likes so there's at least something on his plate I think he'll eat. That's as far as I'll go - unless a child has a diagnosed food allergy or other legitimate reason they can't eat what the other kids are being served.

[BaileeB]

This is my policy on this topic, it’s in my handbook and I explicitly point it out to parents because I’ve already had people ask me if I am feeding their child enough because they come home “starving” 🙄
”If the child does not eat what is served they will not be offered an alternative. The child will be served an afternoon snack after waking from nap. If the child is a very picky eater and parents are concerned about the child getting enough to eat, the provider strongly encourages parents to send a healthy packed lunch for the child.”

[BaileeB]

I will also add that I do typically serve things that toddlers like. I usually try to offer things for the entree that I know most of the kids like and will eat. I also serve things like veggie puffs or other sides that I know the kids will eat but I also serve small amounts of green beans or corn, etc and then a serving of fruit. Most of my kids just pick at it but eventually they at least taste it because they see someone else eat it. I just try to give them a healthy meal because I know most of them live off of applesauce, chicken nuggets, hot dogs and pizza rolls at home

[SandBox]

I watched kids (siblings) that were really picky and had food allergies that may or may not have been made up by the mother, but I had to go along with it. Anyway, she brought food sometimes but most of the time I bought their special food and they just ate that every day. They wouldn’t eat any fruit or any veggie, nothing but GF nuggets, GF meatballs, and GF pretzels and cheerios. So that’s all I ever gave them. It was just easier for me to cater to them. The mom would get upset if they didn’t eat and then I’d have to hear her BS and she was always looking for reasons to have her kids sick. She was very mental.

I haven’t had much trouble with picky eaters besides those two. If I serve something that most hate, I stop serving it. If I can alter it a little to make them like it then I try that first. So generally, I try to serve foods that most to all at the table like to eat.

[Cat Herder]

I only serve substitutions that meet the goal of a meal component for kids with a known, consistent, dislike in my home over time (not theirs). Cooked carrots are a great example since it is one of the most common I substitute for. I hated them as a kid, too, so I also give baked sweet potatoes (no sugar or butter added) on those days if I have a kid who won't eat them. Same Vitamin A, better compliance. Most kids eat them both. It's eye dayyy!!


Other than that or allergies, I won't serve junk food. If they are hungry, they will eat. My goal is to prepare them for public school. All curriculum is geared toward that goal.

[GirlMomma]

I serve pretty toddler friendly meals with fruits and veggies. I will sneak in different foods every now and then (like Chinese or asparagus) that most kids this age aren’t exposed to. Most of the time, they LOVE the new food we try! Asparagus didn’t go over too well, so we’ll stick to other greens

I have one picky eater. If he doesn’t eat, he doesn’t eat. He’s not malnourished and he doesn’t have any allergies. But if he doesn’t eat at home, DCP will feed him a whatever garbage he wants “just so he eats.”