re: Getting a 3 year old to eat vegetables

smoothies are the easiest way my son will eat veggies. we'll put spinach, blue berries and bananas in it and he'll drink them no problem.

Breesus and TideSaint are exactly correct in this thread.

You are the parent. You tel him to eat it and he will.

This is not the last battle you will fight with him over who controls the home.

Show him you love him more than anything else and then tell him he will submit to your benevolent authority.

What are you going to do when he:

"Won't take the growth hormone shots his endocrinologist prescribes?"

"Won't wear his retainer to keep his teeth straight after you paid ten grand at the orthodontist"

You get the picture. You and your wife are teaching him that his feelings matter more than his medical health.

You can make your son happy now if you want to, but you fail him in the long run.

Not exactly - we are plenty tough on him, and he listens in all other aspects of life - but there is no "telling him" on this topic. It would literally consist of me pinning him down on the floor and prying his mouth open while my wife would shove food in his mouth, and hold it closed until he couldn't breathe. I'm not doing that and I'm not going to hit him over food either.

This advice makes me wonder if you and TideSaint have kids. Three year olds are pretty unreasonable and this really has no foreshadowing on him listening to us when he's older and can comprehend better, because he listens very well now on all things but this.

First of all if you have to "take away" candy, snowballs, etc, you are giving him too much of that stuff. They should get that maybe once a month and only then if earned.

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I'm 33 and frick vegetables

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Do you lube up before sticking them in your arse?

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Not exactly - we are plenty tough on him, and he listens in all other aspects of life - but there is no "telling him" on this topic. It would literally consist of me pinning him down on the floor and prying his mouth open while my wife would shove food in his mouth, and hold it closed until he couldn't breathe. I'm not doing that and I'm not going to hit him over food either. This advice makes me wonder if you and TideSaint have kids. Three year olds are pretty unreasonable and this really has no foreshadowing on him listening to us when he's older and can comprehend better, because he listens very well now on all things but this.

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You are just proving my point. You are saying "you can't convince him to eat vegetables".

It's not about "convincing him" like you are educating him on the matter. It's about him "knowing you love him enough to always do what is best for him".

In my home, He can choose which vegetables he wants to eat but he is going to eat them. He won't get any other food until he eats a vegetable to start every meal.

Behavioral modification works EVERY time when the person (parent) is firm and consistent with clear expectations.

I am not attacking you. I am just pointing out truth. I can tell you really love your son and you are frustrated with this issue. But you and your wife have a choice. Are you going to love him and let him call the shots? Or will you love him and protect him from his ignorance?

This is not about vegetables. It's about his entire life.

And to answer your question- yes I have two kids. Both of them are great. (Not bragging just facts)

One just graduated high school as the valedictorian and the other is on the exact same path as a freshman in high school.

Neither drinks, smokes, or have EVER even argued with their mom or me. Never had a door slammed on us and never had any significant lies or defiance. All their friends come to our house to hang out on weekends and ask my wife and my advice on how to deal with the chaos of life.

It starts with your marriage. Make it strong and ALWAYS be on the same page. Then it moves to authority in your home. Your children do not have a say in anything until they are old enough to have shown they make good and wise decisions. Then they can discuss it with you and you can decide from there.

A three year old is like a puppy who wants to pee in the house. He/She is not capable of making good decisions.

Again, not criticizing you. Your heart is in the right place. You have to teach him the best way will always be your way. (Until he is old enough to support himself).

I wish I had parents like me when I grew up. I would not have had to make so many mistakes to figure out what worked when I was young.

I don't understand why some parents get so worked up over MUH VEGGIES. He/she is a kid. Just control their portions of what they do eat, have them get excercise, and don't let them become obese. If they don't like broccoli, don't fricking give them broccoli.

My two year old will only eat bread and fruits. I can't get her to eat a protein at all. Kids are weird.

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My boy was born big at 9.5# and is taller than most kids his age

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Do you have him in travel ball yet?