Step kids don’t eat

If you start “eat what’s in front of you” early, you won’t have an issue.

I’ve done it with both of my kids. I’m not a “step parent”.

But as “poor” people, my kids know they eat what gets served. Which is also healthy and something I also eat!

stop servin their meals on the sidewalk

Children are picky eaters, is thier nature.

The simple rule my parents had was it was perfectly OK for us to chose to go hungry if we didn't like what was served. If we chose not to eat there were no snacks before the next meal.

We learned to eat what was served.

When in Boy Scouts we often had parents present us with a menu of what their son would and would not eat. We told them that their son had input into the menus like everyone else; but, no special meals (unless there was a health reason).

I lost count of the number of shocked parents that found out that their kids would eat this or that... It's easy, run a bunch of kids around outdoors all day (and perhaps in winter - with tent camping); and they eat what is served. Most found out that they actually liked beans or whatever when they were hungry.

I agree with the others saying that kids should eat what is served in front of them. I always ate what everyone else in the house was having for dinner from the time I was old enough to eat it (I remember being 3 and eating the same dinner as everyone else, including vegetables). There were no special "kid friendly" meals cooked separately for me, no running to McDonald's if I didn't want what was for dinner, and I didn't get to have 10 different choices. The people I grew up with who were raised the opposite are still horribly picky eaters to this day and have the palate of a 5-year-old (refuse to eat fruit or vegetables of any kind, pretty much live off of junk food, only eat cheese or pepperoni pizza, plain hamburgers/cheeseburgers, chicken nuggets, Kraft macaroni and cheese, etc.). I, on the other hand, will eat most things, or will at least try them.

I have a stepmom that comes from a family of horribly picky eaters and is one herself, and I can easily see why by the way she treats her grandchildren (which is very likely the way she was raised). She will cook 10 different meals trying to please them, even after they throw it on the ground (oh hell no), go to McDonald's if they refuse to eat what is at home and turn around midway and go back if they change their minds, they never eat what the rest of the family is eating and always need a "kid friendly" special meal just for them which is usually junk food garbage, etc. Everyone in that family has to special order their food at restaurants to the point of it being unrecognizable from the original, and sends it back all the time, for the fries not being so hot they can't eat them (warm enough to eat is not okay), or a mountain of extra cheese not being added. If I have a get together and cook, they want me to cook a separate dish for them because they don't like half of the ingredients I use. I really think the fact that they grew up not having to eat what was put in front of them had a lot to do with it.

I also have a friend who is pre-diabetic at 25, who is the same way, but only eats junk food and drinks soda all day. He refuses to even try anything, as if trying something he doesn't like will kill him. To me, all of that spoiling and refusing to just make them eat what's in front of them can do more harm than good. A doctor once told my mother no kid will starve themselves to death on purpose, lol. If they are hungry, they will eat.

Your biggest problem is going to be the other adults involved, your spouse the other parent and or step parent if there is one, and who has custody the most time. With support of your spouse you can enforce house rules even if you are not the custodial parents. Hard to do if they don't support you. I do agree fix the meal small portions of each thing on the plate, seconds available if they eat what's on the plate. If they don't eat there will be nothing until next meal. Sometimes they will elect that option, depending on age that's fine. Good luck !

Ages? Remember they're step kids, they might just rebel against anything you feed them, even if its stuff they like.

Kids and food is always a potential minefield. Add in the dynamics of being a stepparent, and things can get very fraught.

I agree with olderdude: present the kids with your best attempt to provide a tasty, nutritious meal, give them reasonably sized portions and leave it up to them how much and what they eat, but make it clear there will be no treats before the next meal if they don't clear their plates. Most importantly, stick to your guns on that point, no matter how much whining there is.

Try not to take their pickiness personally. This was something my wife found very difficult when our daughter was going through her picky phase, but it's pointless and only creates even more tension about food in general. Given how many kids have eating disorders these days, that's really something any sensible parent wants to avoid.

The vast majority of kids are sufficiently in-tune with their bodies that they respond to its signals for what it needs for correct growth and development. As long as those signals aren't screwed up by high-sugar, high-fat processed treats or - even worse - drinking carbonated sugar syrup regularly, the kids will be fine.

Many years ago, I dated a woman whose pre-teen son would only eat French fries and lentil soup. I know for a fact this started before I met the woman and it went on for the three years we were dating. When I stopped seeing the woman, there wasn't any sign of the kid changing, so I don't know how much longer this phase lasted. However, when I met her son as an adult, the dude was over six feet tall and very healthy looking.

I just ate a piece of birthday cake. 😜

Nothing a good hard slap wouldn't sort out.