When my kids were younger (and they still do this to some extent) they would go in phases with their food intake. There would be periods where it seemed like they were eating everything in site, other times where they ate like tiny birds and still others where they seemed to be on “strike” and refusing to eat a certain meal or a type of food. For a parent trying to make sure the child gets enough nutrition, it can be extremely frustrating and it is hard not to worry that the child will get dehydrated or get rickets or some other dreadful malnutrition-related condition. What can you do about a food strike?
A change in eating habits is typical and normal and food strikes are normal too. Whether it is a 10-month old who loses interest in nursing about the time she learns to crawl or a toddler who will only slow down long enough to grab a cracker from a plate—sometimes food intake goes down when a new skill is being learned or activity increases. You would think it would be just the opposite but sometimes kids do get too busy to want to eat. They also get sick or are teething (and some foods don’t taste or feel as good as others) or they just get bored. I found that sometimes, my kids just got bored or tired of eating things and were ready for a little excitement. Other times they did not want any change and they wanted to eat the same thing for two weeks straight. It is all normal.
The more we fuss and stress about it as parents; the more pressure we put on our child; and the more we turn it into a battle or a power struggle—the more likely we are creating a lasting problem and a battle ground dynamic that will play out for years to come. My pediatrician told me when in doubt, give a multivitamin, make sure they are getting plenty of water, and have faith that the food strike will pass and the child will move on to something else!
See Also: Eating Habits Change