But this morning, surprise: he didn’t want to eat breakfast to go to school. I served him his favorite cereal, then I tried a scrambled egg, even a bun with jam… nothing. He only said he wanted French fries. Could it be that this type of food is so addictive for them? I don’t know if I’m exaggerating, but it worries me
Take a deep breath, this won’t last forever! My son went through the same thing when he turned 4, and trust me, even though it feels never-ending, there’s light at the end of the tunnel. What helped me was staying as calm as possible and not getting caught up in the emotions of the moment. Sometimes they just need a safe space to let it out.
It also helps to talk to them afterward, once they’re calm, and put their feelings into words: “It seemed like you were really frustrated when I said no.” It doesn’t always work, but sometimes it helps them understand their emotions. Hang in there, mama, you’re doing great!
My son did the exact same thing when he was around 4! We let him have fast food once, and suddenly he acted like every meal after that was negotiable. It was like his brain just latched onto the idea of salty, crunchy fries, and nothing else compared. It took us a full week of standing our ground (a very exhausting week, I might add) to break the cycle. He eventually gave in and started eating his regular meals again, but I won’t lie, it was a battle of wills. Kids are smart, and they’ll hold out hoping we cave. If you’re worried, maybe try spacing out those fast food meals even more so they don’t start expecting them? It’s tough, but you’re not alone!
Omg, I have wondered this exact same thing. Do they literally get addicted to fries? Because my kid is the same way! One bite and suddenly she refuses everything else. Do you think it’s the taste or just that they see it as a “treat” and want to hold onto that feeling? I don’t know if I should be cutting it out completely or just limiting it to special occasions. What are you thinking of doing?
This is super common after a big, exciting weekend! What’s happening is that little kids don’t yet know how to regulate their energy after so much stimulation. Here are some things that helped me:
Smooth transitions – If I know a big visit is coming, I start preparing my kid in advance and let them know that afterward, we’ll go back to our normal routine. Sometimes we do a quiet activity together before bedtime to help them relax.
Less sugar – It’s hard to tell grandparents not to give sweets, but sometimes offering alternatives helps: “Instead of cookies, bring their favorite fruit.”
Putting words to their emotions – When my son has an emotional explosion, I try saying something like: “It looks like you’re sad because Grandma and Grandpa left,” instead of just telling him to calm down.
Hope something here helps. You’re not alone!
Totally normal, and totally frustrating. I went through this with my kids when they were about 4, and I learned a trick from a nutritionist friend: deconstruct the meal. Basically, make healthier versions of the same food they crave. My kids wanted fries? I started making homemade oven-baked potato wedges with a little seasoning. Instead of nuggets, I’d do air, fried chicken tenders. Over time, they stopped insisting on the drive-thru because they were getting similar flavors at home. It took patience, and yeah, there were tantrums at first, but it worked! Maybe you can try something like that and ease your little one out of the fast food cycle. Hang in there!
This happens to me too! Sometimes I don’t know if it’s the excitement, the sugar, or just that they have days where everything frustrates them more. Do you feel like it happens more when there’s a change in routine? I’ve noticed my daughter gets extra cranky after a different kind of weekend. I wonder if that has something to do with it…
My son is 8 now, but I remember this stage very well. And yes, after visits from the grandparents, we’d go into full meltdown mode for 2, 3 days. What I learned over time is that kids need an adjustment period after something exciting like that.
What worked for us was having a “wind, down plan” after a visit: a structured routine with lots of connection (like reading a book together before bed) and limiting extra stimulation. It also helps to prepare them in advance: “After Grandma and Grandpa leave, we’re going to do something relaxing.”
The good news? This won’t last forever. Over time, they learn to manage their emotions better, but for now, patience and consistency are key
Thank you all for your replies, I feel so much less alone in this 
. I think it is the change in routine, and the sugar definitely didn’t help… I’ll try talking to the grandparents before their next visit and also giving my son more time to calm down afterward. The idea of prepping him in advance for going back to routine sounds amazing. I’ll let you know how it goes!
Wow, these replies are SO helpful. I think I’ll try making homemade fries and see if that helps. And maybe just… not make a big deal when he refuses food. Hard to do in the moment, but I see how it could work. Thanks for the support, everyone!
I’ve definitely had days where my 4 year old suddenly seems like a completely different person. One thing that has helped us is the “cool-down space” method. Basically, instead of trying to reason with him in the middle of a tantrum, I give him a quiet spot where he can calm down on his own. It’s not a “punishment,” just a place with things that help him relax (like a stuffed animal or a soft blanket).
I also started using what they call the “pause technique”: when I see he’s about to lose it, instead of saying “no” outright, I give him choices: “Do you want some water or do you want to sit down for a bit?” Sometimes this prevents the tantrum from escalating. It doesn’t always work, but when it does, it’s a lifesaver.
I know it feels like a huge deal right now, but trust me, this is a phase. My oldest was the same way, full-on food strikes if he didn’t get what he wanted. I was so stressed, but my pediatrician assured me that kids will eat when they’re hungry enough. We stopped making a big deal about it and just offered regular meals. No special alternatives, no coaxing, just “this is what we have.” It took a few days, but he eventually realized he wasn’t getting fries and moved on. Now at 7, he eats pretty much everything we serve (except green beans, but you pick your battles, lol). So yeah, stay firm, and I promise, it gets better!
Been there, done that, and let me tell you, kids test boundaries constantly, especially when it comes to food. My youngest is now 10, and I’ve learned that the more you engage in food battles, the more power they feel they have over mealtime. What worked for us was giving choices within limits: “You don’t want cereal? Okay, do you want yogurt or toast instead?” That way, they feel like they have some control, but YOU are still the one setting the parameters. If they refuse everything? Well, then they wait until the next meal. No bribes, no negotiating. It’s hard, but I promise, it sets them up for healthier eating habits in the long run. You got this!