I told him he should try something different, but he started screaming, crying, kicking the chair—people were staring at us, and I felt like my face was burning from embarrassment. I tried to calm him down, I offered him other options, but there was no way, he kept screaming that he wanted nuggets. In the end, I had to go out with him, carrying him while he writhed like a fish out of water. I felt exhausted and frustrated. Did I do right in not giving in?
I know this scenario all too well. My daughter (3.5 now) has pulled this exact move, and honestly, it’s so stressful. You’re sitting there trying to hold it together while feeling every single pair of eyes on you, and it’s like, great, now I have to be the mom dragging a screaming toddler out of a restaurant. I used to feel so guilty, like I should’ve just brought her favorite food or something, but then I realized, if I cave every time, she’ll never learn to adapt. You absolutely did the right thing. It’s so hard in the moment, but he’s learning boundaries. Solidarity, mama
Omg, been there, done that, multiple times! The worst was when my son threw an absolute FIT at a family wedding because they didn’t have mac & cheese. He was rolling around under the table, screaming, and I had to physically pick him up and take him outside while my in-laws stared like I had no control over my own kid. But here’s the thing, kids this age thrive on predictability, and new food is a huge unknown for them. You 100% did the right thing. If we keep giving in, they learn that screaming gets them what they want. It’s rough now, but one day, he’ll understand that tantrums don’t equal nuggets
I get it. The embarrassment, the exhaustion, the frustration of feeling like you tried EVERYTHING, and nothing worked. I don’t have any advice, but just know you’re not alone
Lol, nuggets are basically a food group for toddlers. My son (4 now) went through a phase where he would only eat PB&J, and he once refused an entire Thanksgiving meal, like, mashed potatoes? Nope. Turkey? No way. Cranberry sauce? Forget it. He sat at the table sobbing into his uneaten plate, demanding a PB&J. We caved that day because, well, it was Thanksgiving, and we were tired. But later, we started telling him he could have his favorite foods at home, but restaurants were for trying new things. It took a while, but eventually, he got it. So maybe that could work for you too?
I know it feels like this phase will last forever, but trust me, it won’t. My oldest was the pickiest eater, and now he’s a teenager who eats sushi and quinoa bowls. Hang in there, it gets better!
You totally did the right thing. Experts say that giving in to tantrums reinforces them, making it more likely they’ll happen again. One thing that worked for us was prepping beforehand. Before going to a restaurant, we started showing our daughter the menu and talking about what she could expect. We also set expectations: “We’re going to a restaurant, and they don’t have nuggets, but let’s pick something together that you might like.” We let her have a little control in the decision, and that helped A LOT. Might be worth a try next time!
As a mom of three (my youngest is 5 now), I’ve been through this battle more times than I can count. My biggest game-changer? Exposure and consistency. We started a “one, bite rule” at home, new foods had to be tried at least once, no pressure to finish. Over time, it helped expand their palates, and eating out became less of a fight. Another tip: bring a “backup” meal for a little while (something you know he’ll eat, like a PB&J or crackers), but still encourage trying new things. It’s not an overnight fix, but trust me, it gets better!
Oh wow, I remember this stage so well! My kids are 11 and 9 now, and I promise this phase doesn’t last forever. At 3, food battles feel like the biggest struggle because toddlers crave control. You absolutely did the right thing by not giving in. It’s tough in the moment, but it teaches them that tantrums don’t work. What helped us was involving our kids in meal planning, letting them pick meals at home and talking about food choices before going out. It gave them a sense of control, which reduced meltdowns. Keep doing what you’re doing, and don’t stress the judgmental looks, every parent has been there!