My five year old child has just suddenly decided that she is a picky breakfast eater. It all started suddenly last month, when she just started proclaiming that she doesn’t like anything that she has been eating for years. All she wants to eat is Coco Puffs, and she is definitely not getting that since she has a hyperactivity problem and she will bounce off the walls with all the sugar.
I tried to give her healthy cereal, but she complained that she doesn’t like milk. So I bought soy milk, and then almond milk, but she wouldn’t eat it since she says that it all looks like milk. Then I tried to make her eggs. She claimed that she didn’t like scrambled eggs anymore, so I made her fried eggs, and then boiled eggs. But of course then she decided that she just didn’t like eggs. After that I tried to give her toast, or oatmeal, or fruit, or meat, or pancakes… but she won’t eat any of it.
She keeps telling me that she wants this or that cereal that has a superload of sugar in it, but I’m just not budging. It’s not healthy for her and she will drive her kindergarten teacher crazy by bouncing off the walls.
For the past week, I have told her that she needs to eat what I give her, and that if she doesn’t eat breakfast that she won’t eat again until lunch. But apparently she just doesn’t care. Instead she goes to school hungry and complains to the teacher that she is hungry. The teacher mentioned to me that it’s important that she eat breakfast. I want to just pull my hair out.
I’ve had friends in the past that would make all sorts of elaborate meals for their children when they didn’t want to eat something, and I always swore that I wouldn’t do that. I never have. My children typically eat what I eat, but now I suddenly feel that I am catering to a five year old. I’m so frustrated!!
Have you had this problem before? What did you do?
About the Author: Elizabeth is a feminist with three young daughters under the age of six. She is on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I have never personally had this problem. I think it’s due to the fact that we’ve always eaten such a great variety of food and if they didn’t like any of it, the rule was to at least try it first. I never forced my kids to eat something they didn’t like, but I strongly feel that you can’t claim to dislike something you haven’t even tried.
My sister’s son is like your daughter. He pretty much hates everything you put in front of him, so he pretty much lives on hot dogs and cereal. It annoys the crap out of me when he’s at my house…and I won’t cater to him. He either eats or he doesn’t. His choice.
Can you explain to her that those cereals she wants won’t help her body and brain? I know, she’s five, right? She’s being stubborn…maybe you can try an organic alternative to the cereals she’s asking for?
Good luck to you
Warmly, Rachel
Thank you, it’s been getting a little better lately. But she still won’t eat any milk, or any soy milk, rice milk or any other alternatives. She’s been doing well with eating fruit in the morning, or cereal with water! I really hope that this phase passes!!