My 4 year old who used to be chubby cheeks as an infant now only eats a meal a week. He is now thin (thank goodness for adjustable pants) He will go on days at a time with just one good meal. He drinks a lot of fluids and his doctor says he's healthy but it worries me so much he may be anemic or something. Any advice on how to get him to eat? Or is this normal and I'm just freaking out?

Wow, that really is a skinny eater! I would be concerned too in truth, and worried that the little fella was constantly hungry. How is his behaviour? Anything to indicate low blood sugar?

When you say liquids, is it milk? Juice, water? Is he getting a significant amount of calories and nutrition that way?

Is it particular foods he avoids? It is totally normal for kids to have light eating and heavy eating days, but one meal a week is a set up for a huge amount of deficiencies.

My eldest niece has been like this much of her life. She can eat if she wants to otherwise she just picks like a bird and never eats much at all. She's never turned up anemic or with low blood sugar. Her mom normally gave her Ensure when she was little. Now she gets a multivitamin and energy bars as well.

Its rough to balance out a picky eater and not enough eating in general. Since all her kids are like that its probably my sister-in-law thats causing it.

My son used to be a healthy eater, but he started picking around in the last stages of teething. I got him some vitamins and as long as I kept giving them to him, he eats. Ask your doc to prescribe one for you.

Are you sure you don't mean one meal a day? One meal a week is pretty worrisome to deal with. Either way what is he eating and what is he avoiding. And how large is the meal?

Nope one good meal a week. His behavior is fine, he's a happy smart kid. He does drink a lot of milk, and while I know it might make him full if he doesn't drink it, then he will definitely get no nutrition. I asked his pediatrician about Pediasure but he said he didn't need them. He did recommend Flinstone vitamins but that's about it.

Ok, so one "good" meal a week means what? I'm sure he's actually eating something else on other days. Is it 10 cheerioes? 1 baby carrot? 1 slice of cheese? Toddlers and young children eat very small amounts of food, so what looks like a meal to you might be way too much to them.

Ok, so one "good" meal a week means what? I'm sure he's actually eating something else on other days. Is it 10 cheerioes? 1 baby carrot? 1 slice of cheese? Toddlers and young children eat very small amounts of food, so what looks like a meal to you might be way too much to them.
That's exactly what the his pediatrician told me. I can't help but worry though. The worriness just comes with the mommy package! :) I do have some good news, he ate 2 meals this week and it's only Thursday. So I have high hopes for dinner tonight. Wish me luck!

Can you explain how much is a heartily meal? I cant really imagine a little one eating just one meal a day, I'm sure its possible but it seems a little odd too (no offense).

Can you explain how much is a heartily meal? I cant really imagine a little one eating just one meal a day, I'm sure its possible but it seems a little odd too (no offense).

Odd yes, but apparently it's not uncommon for kids this age specially the picky ones. Although over the past weeks I discovered... that he'll try anything that has cartoon characters on the box. So I stacked up on Scooby-Doo string cheese, so for a week now he can't have enough! It's better than eating nothing!

Sounds like time to buy him a lunch box. If it has cartoon characters on it you can fill it with wholesome goodies. My mom used to love to do this when I was a kid. I never caught on until it was too late and I started doing it to my nieces when we babysit. :)