The terrible two's have hit this house HARD. he is two and a half, and always been a really really good eater (the boy weighs 41lbs. and is 4 inches shorter than my 5 year old daughter!) He loves all foods, and was always open to trying new things. Didnt always like them, but he would atleast try them. For the last few months (probaby two) I've noticed his eating has geared more to a power struggle. He only asks for what he likes, and NOTHING else. Problem is, its the same three meals he asks for. Chicken, hot dog, and pizza. well, he cant eat that everyday. Everything is a struggle to get him to try, everything is NO! Do you want this? NO! and I know this is normal, we went through this with my 5 year old. But its gotten to where he's graze eating snacks and barely eating. I know thats not filling him up because he says he's hungry! but he wont eat what I give him. Any fool proof meal ideas I could try? I'm desperate!Currently the only things I can get him to eat are hotdogs, pizza, chicken, blueberries, crackers, goldfish, yogurt and sometimes grapes. This isnt complete meals! AH!

I would try a little positive reinforcement if you haven't already. If he eats what he is given, he gets to pick the dessert that night or gets to play a game he likes, etc. Good Luck.

let him get his veggies in the pizza. he can get his fruit in the yougurt. his protein is in the pizza as well or the hotdog, I would try making fun plates like smiley faces if he likes a particular color maybe try coloring the mashed potatoes??? Let him pick out something to try at the grocery store and then help you prepare it. Hide away or lock up all the snacks so that he will have to eat at meal time. Also a multi-vitamin (maybe of his choosing) would not hurt either. If he likes chocolate, strawberry, or vanilla milk maybe give him ensure or pediasure drinks once a day to supplement if you think he isn't getting enough nutrition and is losing weight. I know you will get plenty more advise. Good Luck!

A few ideas, but different things will work for different kids...For snacks and such, offer two things, then it is still his choice but its something you want him to have.have healthy things available for when he is hungry. I know that ideally he would sit down and eat dinner at dinner time, but at two years old, grazing is better then nothing. Offer him a small snack every few hours, have things where he can reach them himself. If vitamin/nutrient intake is a big concern, have him drink a healthy smoothie, pack full of vitamins and filling. Have him 'help' you prepare meals, he will be much more likely to eat something he helped make. (keep in mind, helping can be as simple as sprinkling cheese on top, dumping in something you have measured in a measuring cup etc.)I dont know how this would work on a toddler, but at my house when I was little, the rule was dinner or a PBJ. He might not mind at first, but a few nights of that will get old fast.One more suggestion is having him help you make a meal plan for the week. Tell him he gets ONE day thats what he wants, if he helps you pick between your options for the rest of the week. Again, it offers him control, while still keeping you in control.Well, good luck, let me know what works!

My instinct is that he's probably doing it to be stubborn, because when you ask a kid, "What do you want for dinner" they'll expect to get what they ask for. My first suggestion is to stop asking for his input. But do ask him to help you make dinner - most kids will eat if they helped make dinner, especially if you make a big deal about it. Call it his "special macaroni" or whatever, make it important. But grazing might also be his eating style. Might be because the weather's getting warmer, or it might be his metabolism. If it's not causing any health issues, it might be easier to let him snack, as long as he only gets access to healthy things.Don't forget, too, that he'll eat when he's hungry. It might take awhile, but if he's doing it to be a turd he'll eventually have to knock it off. Don't let him think he can call the shots - home isn't a restaurant!

honestly i would tell you as a mom its not worth the fight...toddlers eventually get all the food they need so would say just let him eat what he likes..as long as he does eat thats all that matters..but you could go with him on a fun trip to the grocery store so he could pick out something he would like to eat...that might get him excited to try something new!