Weaning onto regular milk

Christopher has been on Pediasure since he was off of formula, but now he's almost 3 and the doctor told us if we can sneak meats, fruits, and veggies into his regular meals, we can take him off of Pediasure. Problem is, he won't drink plain cows milk...he has to have strawberry flavor in it and while I'm OK with that, I'd prefer eventually not do that either. What other milks are fortified with what he NEEDS at his age? We did soy for a while and he liked that, but I also hear soy isn't so good for little boys...I'm at a loss. Also to get him off of Pediasure, we're going to mix it little by little with milk to get him off like we did formula.

Quoting I♡C.:" Christopher has been on Pediasure since he was off of formula, but now he's almost 3 and the doctor told ... [snip!] ... a loss. Also to get him off of Pediasure, we're going to mix it little by little with milk to get him off like we did formula."

Doesn't he eat food?

DD doesn't drink much milk. What are his regular meals like? You can give him other foods with dairy in it.

Have you ever tried Almond milk? I like that a lot.

He's a big pasta eater, but gets his meats through bologna, hot dogs, and breakfast sandwiches. He likes grapes & oranges as far as fruits go, but won't touch veggies. I mix baby food veggies into pastas.

Quoting J+K=Bri+?  :" Have you ever tried Almond milk? I like that a lot."

I personally haven't tried it before, but I've mixed it into his Pediasure and he seems to like it OK. Maybe I could try mixing that and then eventually getting him over to that.

Quoting I♡C.:" He's a big pasta eater, but gets his meats through bologna, hot dogs, and breakfast sandwiches. He likes ... [snip!] ... sandwiches. He likes grapes & oranges as far as fruits go, but won't touch veggies. I mix baby food veggies into pastas."

He is 3. He should be eating a wide variety of foods. If you and your SO eat healthy balanced meals with real food then he should eat the same thing that you eat. At snack time offer healthy choices like fruit, yogurt, veggies and dip etc... Always give a choice of three healthy items. If he doesn't want any of the three you offer to he can wait until the next meal or snack time. Healthy kids will not starve themselves. Eventually he will get hungry enough to eat real food. There is nothing wrong with processed food (deli meats, hotdogs, etc...) in moderation but he shouldn't be getting it at every meal. There are lots of other protien options: beans, hummous, fish, chicken, prawns, nuts, lentils, soy, eggs, turkey, beef, pork, lamb, bison... Kids get picky because we sometimes cave and give them what they ask for instead of having our own plan of what to serve but if it happens all the time they get too picky and it doesn't benefit anyone.

As for veggies, they should always be one of the three items offered. Eventually he will find one he likes. I reccomend trying asparagus sauteed in butter - lots of vitamins but tastes buttery good. Squash is great this time of year and you can get lots of yummy recipes for different ways to prepare it. Try offering veggies with different textures on different days: raw, roasted, sauteed, steamed, etc... and try a variety of different sauces or plain as well. As long has he takes a taste of each option let him decide how much to have. He will choose to have more veggies at some point.

Quoting Lotusmama:" He is 3. He should be eating a wide variety of foods. If you and your SO eat healthy balanced meals ... [snip!] ... As long has he takes a taste of each option let him decide how much to have. He will choose to have more veggies at some point."

We eat balanced meals together when we CAN. We work opposite shifts so we never really sit down together and eat a lot of leftovers or microwavable meals. I do offer Christopher veggies and healthy snacks, but he refuses and always has. I'm not going to see him go hungry.

Quoting I♡C.:" We eat balanced meals together when we CAN. We work opposite shifts so we never really sit down together ... [snip!] ... meals. I do offer Christopher veggies and healthy snacks, but he refuses and always has. I'm not going to see him go hungry."

It is tough when parents work different shifts but getting onto a regular meal and snack schedule is one of the best ways to ensure healthy eating habits for life. Even if sometimes one of you isn't home the parent who is home should sit down at the table with him for meals and eat together.

Ellyn Satter gives great practical advice on how to raise competent eaters. Check it out:
http://www.ellynsatter.com/to-years-feeding-your-preschooler-i-32.html

Quoting Lotusmama:" It is tough when parents work different shifts but getting onto a regular meal and snack schedule is ... [snip!] ... advice on how to raise competent eaters. Check it out: http://www.ellynsatter.com/to-years-feeding-your-preschooler-i-32.html"

I do agree with you, it's just so tough. Daddy and I need to talk I guess and figure out a new pattern. I do agree and offer him healthy stuff as much as I can and I do sit with him when I am home...no clue if Daddy does or not. I do appreciate your helpful advice. I'll be re thinking some things and planning some healthy meals for him.