How to Get Your Kid to Eat: But Not Too Much

I'm a therapist that work on feeding so I generally read a lot of books on this topic... I couldn't finish this book. Sooo judgmental and negative towards parent. Most families I work with parent(s) are distraught that their child doesnt eat and this book basically says well its ur fault... eating is a parent-child relationship so if ur child isn't eating u f$%k up... I would never recommend this book for a parent. Never. I didn't even finish it, but if the fist two chapter are horrible, I imagine the rest of the book is too.

I thought this book would have some wonderful insight based on a blog I read that recommended it but it didn't seem purposeful to me. My son is already a good eater so I was hoping to expand upon that with some extra tips but didn't really find those here. I did pass this to my sister who has a 4 year old who is a terrible eater and she returned it to me a week or so later with a shrug. Try it if you want but for what I spent I would have hoped to gain more.

This isn't just a book about how and what to feed kids - it's a book about parenting. It helped me stop stressing and not worry so much about a complicated job. The author's easy-going attitude and conviction that everything will turn out okay was encouraging.

This book leaves a strange impression. The author talks about a number of cases in a judgmental and condescending manner. I appreciate that parents make mistakes, but gloating over them is hardly a way to inform others. There are many anecdotes and opinions, but not much confirmed research data. Some useful advice and charts but take with a grain of salt.

Summary: adults job is to provide healthy food opportunities, Childs job is to choose how much and which of those items to eat. Don't stress the rest as long as growth and development are on track.

I can't say exactly when my daughter became a picky eater. She started off great eating different veggie and fruit purees, and somewhere around 11 months, feeding went downhill quickly. It may have had something to with her daycare provider or something else she perceived as traumatic, but her preferred diet became yoghurt, Cheerios, and bananas. I tried for almost five months to "get" her to eat other things, then bought every toddler feeding book I could find. This was the one with the best layout, and best philosophy.Unlike the other books I got, I was able to read the whole book inside of a week, and was also able to read the specific chapters without needing to constantly reference others.We have incorporated the philosophy and recommendations with our daughter and while she has only added one fruit to her diet on a regular basis, she is now at least willing to try a new food.The one con I found was that Ms Satter referenced her other book "Child of Mine" quite often in the early chapters, and I felt that including a basic summary of it in its own chapter would have been very helpful.

This book is OK. There are some good tips and pointers, but nothing really amazing that I was able to try and get my fussy toddler to eat. Just didnt work with my little guy. The idea of feeding dessert WITH dinner, (because saving it for last teaches that theres something special or better about dessert) did not work for us.

I have given this to my children and all of my nieces and nephews when their first child was on the way. At some time, food is going to become an issue. This author created the division of responsibility that is used by most child practitioners today. When I tried to buy it at a local bookstore, the owner said, "you know that is an old book don't you?" Yes, but so is the Bible and people still read that. This is practical, easy to read. I have seen that the parents who adopt the no pressure approach have life much easier and their children eat a variety of healthy foods.

I have a child with eating difficulties because of a congenital deformity; eating is technically challenging for her and on top of that she is a toddler adept in psychological warfare. This book has saved my sanity and my daughter has, thanks to the approach in this book, started enjoying new foods again. And if she doesn't want to try it this time, that's cool. I've been recommending it to all my friends as it's more than just a book about eating, and goes beyond parenting; it has helped me reexamine my own ideas about food and eating. I love this book. Don't hesitate to read it.

Thanks Ellen for a very helpful book. I have a much easier time feeding our son. And a much happier child. This guidance is extremely helpful.The principles are the main thing I have found useful.

Helped us relax at mealtimes. Have to say our daughter still leaves a lot of food and rarely eats much of her veg but we’re all happier and enjoying meals again. An easy to read and encouraging book, felt reassured after reading it.

Read the parts that were applicable to my 18 month old...after 1 day meals were easier and definitely less stressful. And he has eaten pretty much everything I have given him since. It could be a coincidence but I definitely don't dread meals like I used to.

In the process of reading through the book, but even so far it has been very helpful. It is not just an eating book but a parenting book. Very honest in its approach.