is she eating okay?

Cora has never been a "good" eater.

She isn 't picky at all, she just never finishes anything. She'll eat 4-5 bites of whatever I put in front of her and that is it

A friend of mine (who isn't a parent) asked me why I'm not stricter with her about finishing food


I don't want Cora to get the wrong idea about eating. I want her to learn to eat to satisfaction, even if it means that she doesn't finish everything.

She is growing properly, no weight issues. She is tall and skinny but no skinnier than any other kid her age/height/

I don't wanna feel like i am forcing food down her throat and I don't want to turn mealtimes into a struggle

I'm okay with her not finishing everything.


And if you suggest that I give her less on her plate so that she does finish, I've tried that and she just eats half of what is there, no matter the size I offer.


And why do I let this advice from a non-parent get to me?

i agree with you. i would NEVER force my child to eat when they are not hungry

If she's healthy don't worry about it. I'm always surprised at how little my 3 year old eats especially since DH and I eat so much. But he's a good weight and height so I'm not concerned.

my son does the same thing, he'll only eat a few bites and be done. he knows if he's hungry to lead me to the kitchen and say either banana or apple. i have no idea why he wont eat more because he used to eat a ton. how old is she? my son will be two in january and started doing this about two months ago.

DS is 3, and although he is not overweight, (he is 38 lbs, 40 " tall) , it concerns me sometimes at how much he actually can eat. even his preschool teacher at parent/teacher conferences politely said " Well, he likes to eat" lol

I never make Ariadne finish everything on her plate. I had to finish everything and I developed an eating disorder at 10.

Quoting *Zander's mommy*:" my son does the same thing, he'll only eat a few bites and be done. he knows if he's hungry to lead me ... [snip!] ... more because he used to eat a ton. how old is she? my son will be two in january and started doing this about two months ago."

She is 4.5 years old and has ALWAYS been like this.

Quoting Kelly&Coralie:" She is 4.5 years old and has ALWAYS been like this."

You probably shouldn't worry if she's always been doing it, my doctor told me the reason my son doesnt eat so much anymore is because it's been not so nice out so he's been burning less energy. as long as she's a healthy weight dont stress about it.

I absolutely agree with you...kids know when they're hungry and when they're full, and they know to listen to those cues. It's when you make them finish what's on their plate that they learn to overeat, and they will always have that compulsion to eat everything in front of them.

My friends DD is 7 and I have never seen a kid who eats so little. One or two bites of cereal in the morning few hours later half a banana few hours later maybe 5 bites of a sandwich etc.....

She is 7 tall but is like a good solid 70lbs. She is not over weight tho she is skinny lol but solid. Lol only a size 7-8 in clothes

She was worried too, but the Dr said she is healthy. I wouldn't worry about.

I agree about not forcing food.