Every day the boy brings home a communication sheet from daycare. The sheet explains meals provided that day, his overall disposition, and the main activity. It informs us if he is low on supplies. He eats breakfast at home so it’s rare to see anything written in the breakfast section other than what was served that day.
This week, on Tuesday, they served Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, and greens for lunch. “Refused to eat” is circled on his sheet. As a snack on Tuesday they offered a granola bar. “Ate everything” is circled. Also on Tuesday, he is described as happy and cooperative. He was actively involved when finger painting and recognizing colors. He slept for more than an hour.
Remarks: Zaid had a great day.
On Wednesday, chicken strips, mixed vegetables, applesauce, and milk was served for lunch. “He ate a little”, the sheet says. For snack, he was given goldfish. “Ate everything” is circled. He is described as happy, engaged again in finger painting. He needs wipes.
Remarks: Zaid had a great day.
On Thursday, meatballs, peas, fruit, and milk were served. He ate a little. Goldfish and milk were given for a snack, of which he ate and drank all. He is listed as cooperative and engaged in counting and naming colors, described as happy. He made a flower.
Remarks: Zaid doesn’t eat anything but snacks! Zaid does not want his lunch other than the fruit.
At the bottom of the page, it says “Please set aside a few minutes to meet and discuss:”. “Your child’s Appetite” has a faint line beside it. Is it a check mark? I don’t know. And honestly, with all the sincerity I can muster, I don’t care.
I am sighing. I am sighing heavily.
I do care whether the school thinks he doesn’t eat well, but I’ve written before about my experience with eating as a child. Just last week on Facebook I commented that for two nights he refused to eat the dinner I offered him. One night he only wanted dried cranberries or a granola bar, maybe an apple or banana. I’m pretty sure he requested and received each of those things instead of what I’d put before him. The other night he simply didn’t eat.
There are nights when he will eat three helpings of raw broccoli, but the potatoes and chicken go untouched. There are mornings when he will eat a bowl of oatmeal the size of which rivals that of his 11-year-old sister. On weekends I may lie that there is no more avocado just because I want more to myself after he’s eaten half the bowl. If I make berry muffins, he eats three. Every time, no matter what time of day.
He likes salad. He wants carrots, eggs, onion, tomato, cheese, and cranberries in his salad. Sometimes he doesn’t want dressing. He likes salmon cakes made with onions and green, red, and yellow peppers. He likes macaroni and cheese. He likes spinach and ricotta stuffed tortelloni. He eats.
Admittedly, I do worry, because maybe he is thinner than the other kids, not as tall. But overall I am unconcerned. Because he eats. He does. He’s just random with it. He’s not unhealthy. Neither my husband nor I is what anyone would (should) call larger than average. I could (am) likely described as below average weight-wise. He is not unhealthy, whether all they see is him eating the daily snack or not. If he were proclaiming he was hungry, then refusing to eat, I’d be concerned. If he were refusing to eat at home all the time, I’d be concerned. Maybe I should look more closely at their menu offerings; they clearly don’t make berry muffins.
Would I be more comfortable if he ate regularly? Sure. I’d like him to eat everything I present to him. Sometimes he does. But, if occasionally I offer fried chicken, potato salad, and spinach and all he eats is two helpings of spinach, then asks for an apple? I’m OK with that.
This past weekend we discovered his love of blackberries and strawberries. Between the five of us, both packages of each are gone. If he hated fruit or refused to eat vegetables, I’d be worried. But having your child cry because there are no more bananas, then dispatching your husband to the store to immediately re-up on bananas? I’m way more concerned with how much we’re spending on bananas than the fact that he didn’t eat all his pizza at lunch.
I keep thinking the joke’s on them. He’s just getting back at them for that bunny bullshit.
Thank the Lord that he loves his fruits & veggies! My nephews do too!! Pizza is good, just not all the time. The boy is fine and u know it! Maybe he just hasn’t found the one protien he can’t live without! :-) In any event, he’s healthy, & that’s all that counts! Hugs to everyone!!!
My son did not eat for AN ENTIRE YEAR at daycare. It really bothered the rovider because she felt he was rejecting her cooking! Lol. He would come home and pig out. He is very picky to this day, but loves his veggies!
Okay, I just read the sentence “he will eat three helpings of raw broccoli” and had to go beat my head against the wall. A BOY who will eat BROCCOLI and BERRIES and SALAD! There is absolutely nothing wrong with that boy. My boy, is the PICKIEST CHILD ON EARTH. Won’t eat anything. So I don’t want to hear about bell peppers and spinach. And he’s perfectly healthy too. We all worry too damn much, don’t we?
What does your doctor say?
If he thinks he’s healthy as well then who cares?
As long as he’s getting the nutients necessary to grow and think and build a strong body I don’t think it should matter.
But that is just my humble opinion. You are mom you know best.
I’m with Gretchen. I’m impressed that you can get Z to eat even one kind of vegetable, fruit and salad. My son is very picky and will not even eat pizza these days. Sometimes he has 3 helpings of fish and potatoes but never veggies or fruit. I tried being sneaky and adding a small amount of pureed broccoli to mac n cheese. Now he will not eat mac n cheese. He often times will only eat one decent meal a day. According to the doctor, he is healthy. I guess take it a day at a time. Someday my son may eat something green….keeping my fingers crossed.
I wouldn’t be concerned either. Like you said, at least he IS eating….
Stopping by from mama Kat’s.
I can understand your “who cares?” thoughts on the issue. kids around his age are notorious for not wanting to eat. It’s my belief that adults too often take it upon themselves to almost force feed kids because we think they “should” be hungry….then we get bad reports for having a too large percentage of kids suffering from childhood obesity. I’m with you that it seems like he eats perfectly fine.
You’d think a daycare would be use to seeing picky and/or non-eaters. I’ve had few parent friends who said their kids eat all and everything that’s offered to them.
ok…sorry..i’ll get off my soapbox on your comment section :)…..i just hate to hear about people acting as if the world as-we-know-it will end if our toddlers refuse a few meals…geez….I need to take some pointers in THAT area myself(skipping some meals) ..lol
You do NOT. Those pictures you posted of yourself last week (week before?) are gorgeous. You look very fit.
They just need to make some berry muffins, lol!!!
No but seriously, we sometimes force my kid to try new foods at dinner but he eats very well and he loves goldfish crackers. When I go back to work, I plan to send them to a childcare place that doesn’t serve lunch but only snacks. My husband didn’t agree although he loved the childcare place I chose more than the ones that serve lunch, but my thing was what if he didn’t like what they had for lunch? At least I know what he likes to eat (since I’ve been at home for a while now).
If your boy doesn’t like it, he doesn’t like it.
I love that you’re laid back about it, because I think Z is laid back about it…as he should be! I am constantly reminding myself that toddlers usually take a full week to eat a balanced diet. In other words, lots of veggies for no reason on Monday, protein looks good Tuesday, hey I think I like cheese on Wednesday…and crap, we’re having the same problem at preschool. Personally, I think it’s the “Oooh look! 10 million new toys I’d rather play with, screw my stupid lunchbox because I don’t have time to sit still” problem :) The train table wins, every.single.time!
Funny lady who never fails to crack me up…I’ve left somethings on my blog for you!
I have a similar thing going on with my twins. They’re teeny for their age but eat relatively well and healthy. I’m trying to not let it bother me that they’re below 15th percentile for their weight because it’s all genetics. Hard, but I’m trying.
You don’t eat Salisbury steak unless you are in a hospital or nursing home! Yuck!! And all kids go through strange eating phases…some never out grow them but as long as they are thriving and getting some vitamins and minerals, I say they should worry about the kid eating play-doh.
Fantastic that he’s eating fruit and veggies though. The pediatrician always gave me the old adage “they’ll eat when they’re hungry” but you know, as a mother, we still worry. We want them to eat. He’s a little cutie pie – oh my gosh.
And I love the new look of your blog!
I have a bit of an eating issue from childhood that makes me refuse to force any of them to eat. It won’t stop my worry but I know as long as he’s eating the things he likes and those things are as healthy as can be at that time (fruit snacks be damned!) he’s ok.
And thanks! I figure if I keep tinkering with it I just might get it where I want it.
If he’s happy, who cares? Mine all went through phases. It just is what it is. However, that is one serious salad for a little kid. Sounds nutritious enough for a month!
Andie, he has evolved, of course and rarely touches salad now unless it’s drowned in ranch, but I’m not complaining. And you know what, he is happy, he is growing, so I guess you’re right.
I have a son, 16, who is a light eater. The Dr says as long as he shows up with an appetite. Some days, he does. He has grown, his foot size changes every year. He is thin. but the boy knows his favorite foods. Your guy is a DOLL.
Thank you, Alexandra. I carry eating issues from childhood so there’s just no way I can “make him” eat. Sure, it gets frustrating sometimes when he refuses everything, then says 30 minutes later that there’s a dinosaur roaring in his stomach. But I figure if he eats SOMETHING it’s better than nothing. Sometimes there are just apples and cheese for dinner and that’s OK.
I remember having a pediatrician for my kids who told me once that she was lucky to get her child to eat more than gold fish and juice. It was like the heavens opened and angels started singing. FINALLY someone who told the truth. :)
LOVe your redesign!