If my son doesn't eat his meal

My son is almost 4 and has this habit of saying hes hungry, we cook him dinner (many times it even involves what he asks for) and he will take one bite or lick then say he is 'done;. A couple minutes later I will catch him going into the fridge to get a yogurt (his favorite food. He eats it every day and would eat nothing but yogurt if he had his way).

When he does this I tell him that I will put it in the fridge and when he is hungry he can eat it. So next time he wants to eat I will reheat his previous meal instead of making him a new one.

His father sends him to bed if he doesn't attempt to eat his meal. We don't expect him to wolf down every meal. But we at least want him to try his meal and if he says he is hungry, we make him a meal, then he says he is not hungry and grabs a yogurt, well that is not acceptable.

I often feel like his fathers approach is too strict, but maybe I am just a softy.

Do you think he is being too strict?

nope that's what we do too.

Nah. That's not strict at all. I'd say that's very reasonable

This is what we have been doing for 10 months and finally it has sunk in, no dinner no treats (healthy or not).
It sounds mean but it worked for us .

Quoting jo-jo:" This is what we have been doing for 10 months and finally it has sunk in, no dinner no treats (healthy or not). It sounds mean but it worked for us ."

well you have given me hope, my 5 year old (OMG as of today he's 5 *tear*) has been pulling this crap for 3 years and its yet to sink in. maybe he's just a slow learner lol

Quoting nursemaya (11weeks):" well you have given me hope, my 5 year old (OMG as of today he's 5 *tear*) has been pulling this crap for 3 years and its yet to sink in. maybe he's just a slow learner lol"

Happy 5th Birthday to your lo!!
I do feel for you! my ds will be 5 in July but my eldest who will be 9 next month also did this but not for this long. I felt so guilty at times when my ds would go to bed with out eating his dinner. There were times when he would have a tiny piece of lettuce or a carrott and say his belly was full then 10 minutes later would try and talk me into letting him have a snack.
It is just a habbit they (and we) have to break. It will get better it just takes time.

Quoting jo-jo:" Happy 5th Birthday to your lo!! I do feel for you! my ds will be 5 in July but my eldest who will be ... [snip!] ... talk me into letting him have a snack. It is just a habbit they (and we) have to break. It will get better it just takes time."

I think mine is a bit differnt. He has a sensory processing disorder and has major issues with food and for a long time couldn't swallow anything but liquid. When he fimally go surgery to remove the tonsils to allow swallowing the food aversions were sooo engrained that its been super hard to get him to eat, but he is getting better. Damn hard habits to break!