Around the age of three, I noticed both of my kiddos embarking on a phase that tested my patience to its limits. They decided to go on a food strike, munching almost nothing throughout the day, only to demand snacks at all hours of the night. Currently, my adorable little troublemaker is in the thick of this routine.
Here’s a peek into his recent “meal schedule” (and I use the term loosely):
Breakfast
He wakes me at the crack of dawn, looking like a sad puppy, claiming he’s starving. I stumble into the kitchen, half-asleep. “How about some cereal?” I suggest. “No,” he replies flatly. I offer waffles, eggs, and even bagels, but he insists on goldfish. In the end, we compromise on a few pita chips—three to be exact.
Lunch
When I pick him up from preschool, he proclaims, “I’m starving!” At home, he requests a chicken patty without the bun, “cut up.” As I’m serving it, he suddenly changes his mind, bursting into tears. He wants corn, but it’s “broken” (don’t even ask). He then asks for a rice cake, but the plate is “too wet.” Lying on the floor, he declares all food “yuck,” yet somehow ends up devouring the eggs I made for myself, claiming, “Mommy’s food is the best.”
Dinner
After the lunch debacle, I decide to take no chances with dinner. I whip up his favorite dishes without bothering to ask for his input. He manages to eat half a bowl of spaghetti, but complains that the carrot sticks are “slimy,” the hot dog is “sticky,” and the cauliflower is “mushy.”
You can probably see where this is headed. By bedtime, he’s still refusing anything substantial. Some parents follow a strict “eat it or starve” philosophy, and while I understand the reluctance to be a short-order cook, I also believe it’s important for kids to tune into their hunger signals. Learning to listen to their bodies can foster healthy eating habits as they grow, especially with rising obesity rates everywhere.
However, if taken too far, kids might end up surviving solely on goldfish and cookies. That’s why a balance of structure and rules during mealtimes is essential.
Feeding little ones is rarely a flawless process. They are fickle, picky, and full of opinions. There will undoubtedly be days—or even weeks—when their eating habits make you question how they’re not collapsing from malnutrition.
When my youngest hardly eats all day, he invariably finds himself starving by evening, leading to a feeding frenzy right before bedtime. I don’t know what kind of magic spell kids are under during this phase (I know I’m not alone in this), but sometimes you just have to roll with the punches. I find myself allowing him a “snack” after dinner that turns into a full meal—nuggets, tortillas, or even celery sticks, all right before 7 p.m.
I think of it as a stage that will eventually pass, and I try to go with the flow. But then, just when I think I’ve got him all set for the night—PJs on, teeth brushed, and nestled in for bedtime stories—he hits me with the classic line: “I’m starving to death.” Where do they even learn such dramatic phrases?
This is where I draw the line—starting today. I made the mistake of not being firm with my eldest, who spent months demanding food after being tucked in. I eventually caved every time, which only perpetuated the cycle. But with my younger son, I’m setting boundaries:
The Kitchen Closes at 8 p.m.
All lights out! The granola bars are settling in for the night, cheese sticks are tucked away, and apples are cozily nestled in the crisper. No more eating.
We’re all understanding parents here, but you can’t skip meals all day just to feast at night. If that means going to bed a little hungry every now and then, so be it. You’ll survive—and maybe, just maybe, you’ll actually eat your breakfast in the morning.
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In summary, navigating mealtime with kids is often a challenging journey filled with unexpected twists. Ultimately, it’s about finding balance, setting boundaries, and remembering that these phases are temporary.