I’m really worried because my 4-year-old often refuses to eat the lunch I carefully pack for him for daycare. Sometimes he goes hungry or ends up eating his classmates’ food instead, which isn’t always what I know is healthy or good for him. I try to give him balanced, healthy options but he either doesn’t like them or just gets bored. I feel like he might not understand how important it is to eat well to grow strong and do well at school and his activities. I want him to like his food and get why taking care of himself matters. Has anyone else dealt with this? Any tips?
Ugh same here with my kiddo! I pack all this good stuff and he barely touches it and then asks for snacks later Sometimes I think they just want what their friends have, not what’s healthy It’s frustrating but you’re not alone
Hey I totally get the struggle! One thing that helped me was involving my kid in packing his lunch. Letting him pick between 2 or 3 healthy options gives him a sense of control and he actually eats better Also, I started making fun shapes with the food or colorful bento-style boxes which makes it more exciting Kids get bored of the same thing so switching it up is key My daughter still has days she won’t eat much but overall it got better once she felt part of the process
That’s so tough. I’ve had days when I packed a perfect lunch and my kid barely touched a bite. It makes you worry so much about whether they’re getting enough nutrition or if they’re just picky Honestly, sometimes it’s about their mood or distractions at daycare too I don’t have a miracle fix but just want you to know you’re not alone in feeling worried about this It’s one of those parenting things that feels small but is huge in your mind Sending support to you!
One thing that worked for me was introducing a “try one bite” rule before my son could eat anything else I told him he didn’t have to finish the whole thing but at least try a bite. We made a little game of it and praised him for trying new foods Also, I snuck in some dips or sauces he liked, sometimes a little ranch or hummus makes veggies way more appealing. Another trick is making the lunch visually appealing with bright colors or even fun containers Kids eat with their eyes first!
Lol I get it totally! My kid used to throw a fit over lunch and end up trading half his food for cookies or chips from friends I even tried “hiding” veggies in sandwiches but he’s a pro at spotting them! Sometimes I just remind myself that picky eating is kinda normal at this age and that one day he’ll surprise me by eating something unexpected Hang in there it’s a battle but so normal
We had a similar problem when my daughter started preschool. She was super picky and hated her packed lunches. What helped was creating a little ritual around food, like a weekly “lunch box day” where she could pick some new things from the store and we’d talk about why they’re good for her. I also talked to her teachers so they could encourage trying new foods at school without pressure It took months but now she looks forward to lunch and sometimes even asks for the foods she used to reject It’s a slow process but involving them and having patience really pays off Keep trying and don’t stress too much, kids surprise us!