[CassBH]

I have twins that will be 3 this summer and I am at my wits end with their eating lately. They used to be really good but now they put up a fight with everything (sometimes even with their favorites).
Can someone advise how to handle these food struggles on a daily basis? It is mostly dinner, as they seem to do better at lunch and breakfast. The biggest struggle seems to be getting them to eat meat (like chicken or cheeseburgers).
Any thoughts, tips, tricks? I am starting to get really depressed around dinner time and I want that to stop!
Thanks!

[mrmnmom82]

Maybe try other ways to get protein into their diet. If they eat everything else and leave the meat, that's ok, give seconds of the stuff they finished until they are full. We have a rule that you have to eat 3 bites of everything to even be considered as done. Especially if there is dessert. After they're done, that's it, they can eat again at breakfast time.

Hope this helps.

[twinzplus3]

Hey. . .I have twins that will turn 3 in June!

This is actually very common. Toddlers go through phases where they'll only eat orange food, only green food, only chicken nuggets. . .I am not sure why you feel it's so important that they eat meat at dinner--but it's really not. (What I mean is I don't know if someone is telling you that they have to eat meat or not.) Healthy children will not starve themselves and the bottom line is that you cannot win this battle. You cannot force them to eat. . .so my advice is not to even bother doing the battle. Instead, offer healthy options for dinner, healthy snacks and plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Like pp said, there are other options for protein but really, they need much less than we tend to think.

[CassBH]

Originally Posted by twinzplus3

Hey. . .I have twins that will turn 3 in June!

This is actually very common. Toddlers go through phases where they'll only eat orange food, only green food, only chicken nuggets. . .I am not sure why you feel it's so important that they eat meat at dinner--but it's really not. (What I mean is I don't know if someone is telling you that they have to eat meat or not.) Healthy children will not starve themselves and the bottom line is that you cannot win this battle. You cannot force them to eat. . .so my advice is not to even bother doing the battle. Instead, offer healthy options for dinner, healthy snacks and plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Like pp said, there are other options for protein but really, they need much less than we tend to think.

Ok, so here is what they normally eat. Does this sound like enough variety?
AM- wheat pancakes, fruit or oatmeal square cereal & fruit, milk
Snacks- wheat crackers, fruit, Nutrigrain bar
Lunch- usually always grilled cheese w. slice of turkey (hidden inside), yogurt or grapes
Dinner- either whole wheat Mac &cheese or whole gain pizza, a veggie, and then chicken tenders (usually they will eat these), all natural hot dog, that;s it.
Can you tell me what dinner time looks liek in your house? In other words, do you all eat together? (We don;t, as my kids eat at 6:00pm, and then my hubby and I eat after they are in bed, but I will sit down with them). Also, if they are not eating at a meal, how do you handle it? Are there any tips/tricks? If they don't eat what you are serving, do you give them something else (like a yogurt, etc) so they don't go to bed hungry? I greatly appreciate your feedback!
Aren't twins a blast? Do you have girls, boys, one of each? I have both
Cass

[Samual]

Young children need fiber and fat more than anything else, just or mainly eating veg is bad for them as they aren't getting the nourishment they need.
Do they both decide at the same time they aren't going to eat their food? With them being little bribery may work, so tell them if they eat a certain amount of meat you will do something fun that they enjoy.
They are at the age where this is possible too, you can make things with them like meat cakes, a good one is cooked chicken cut into small parts and mix it with veggies and cheese and add some melted lard and make it into little cakes and then bake them in the oven, kind of like a pattie. They might be more willing if they can help to make them. You can do it on the kitchen floor on some newspaper to minimise mess too.

[deedee1231]

My twins are older now, turning 6 in June, but they are also picky eaters. I am a big believer in family meals, I think they eat more if they see that everyone else is eating as well. I also try to avoid making "kid food" and "adult food" I cook a meal and everyone eats the same meal.

Is there any way that you and dh can have dinner with the twins? If it is an issue of dh getting home from work too late, have you considered altering the twins schedule to accomodate a family dinner time? There is no rule that children have to go to bed at a specific time unless they need to get up early for school or daycare.

Also remember that it takes much less to fill up little tummies than it takes to fill up an adult. My twins eat very small portions, but if they say they are full I take their word for it. My smaller one will eat, for example, 3-4 bites of meat, one half a cup of rice or potatoes, and one third of a cup of vegetables, and be quite full. It doesn't seem like it would be enough but it is for her. When they are hungry, they will eat !

[Samual]

Yes the golden rule of a full tummy, a childs stomach can hold food that same size as their clenched fist.

[KR258]

I think they're eating fine and it might help if you eat as a family but I know that isn't always possible so just encourage them as much as you can without pushing too hard. Just keep offering other options and eventually they will try new things.

[CassBH]

Honestly, not that I am trying to get out of a family meal, but it is difficult and less than ideal. My hubby and I both work, I pick up the kids from daycare, come home, make their dinner, then hubby gets home aroud 6:30. The kids go to bed at 7:30, and we all love that time from 6:30 - 7:30 to run around, play, sing, read stories and otherwise wind down from the day. I don't want to mess with that, since they are great sleepers and are pretty well-adjusted kids who like a schedule.
For those of you who don't have family meals, any suggestions?

[Samual]

Do you have family meals at weekends? If you don't want family meals in the week I would advise having a small plate of your own with the same food on it, it is surprising after all children learn everything by watching and imitating you.