To think my child is a new breed that doesn't need food to survive?

[StandardNameHere]

My 2.5 year old son seems to live on air.
His eating is starting to keep me up at night so I need to tackle it but just don't know where to start.
He is perfectly healthy and not underweight so there is no issue with introducing diets but he just doesn't seem interested in food.
He will eat a creamy pasta dish that I make (hidden veg and fish/ chicken in there)
He will eat a few bites of chicken, fish fingers and he likes beans.
He likes grapes as a snack and maybe lick an apple.
I try him with new foods all the time but whatever it is he seems to have a few bites and that's it.
Surely a 2.5 year old needs more than a few bites at each meal?
Do I give up and just carry on being grateful whenever he eats something, whatever it is or do I start being strict?
What do others do with fussy eaters?

[trashcanjunkie]

Erm. Sorry just to recap - there’s no health issue and he eats a variety of foods as well as tries lots of new ones.... this is a non problem. The size of a two year olds stomach is about the size of a peach..... a few bites is more than fine. Also food battles are the Vietnam war of parenting. Neither side wins and it’s never ending.

[MrsBirdseye]

sounds like he eats after all

[WhooooAmI24601]

Do I give up and just carry on being grateful whenever he eats something

Not grateful. Just accepting. Unless there's a medical issue I'd honestly let it go. Lots of fluids, smiles and praise when he does eat, making foods you know he'll enjoy and just make meals enjoyable, no fuss if he leaves food on his plate. As trashcan says, neither side will ever win this battle; 2 year olds are the very devil when it comes to stubbornness and making meals stressful will make you all so unhappy.

DS2 is 6 and doesn't eat a huge amount. Never has. Never will. He's not fussy and will try anything in front of him, he's just one of those children who doesn't 'love' food in the way I do. He's healthy and strong, though, so I chuck vitamins and probiotics at him occasionally and let him get on with it.

[Pickleypickles]

If he has no other problems, is a good size and will eat some stuff i would try not to worry.

[Orangebird69]

It's totally normal.

[Moanyoldcow]

That isn't a fussy eater.

If he tries new foods easily, is generally healthy and is a healthy weight you've nothing to worry about.

Little kids generally can't be arsed with food.

[PinkHeart5914]

Some dc eat less than others. Unless his really underweight leave the child to it

[Wightintheghoulies]

He's doing better than my two year old, who currently seems to be surviving on Weetabix and ketchup (not together, I may add).

[Sirzy]

The worst thing you can do is make food an issue. He does eat and he eats a wide variety. He maybe has a small appetite but that’s not an issue as long as he is getting food when hungry.

Ds is nearly 8 and has a very restricted diet (to the point of being prescribed supplement drinks) but when then I don’t make an issue he eats what he eats. I offer new foods but don’t force it.

[Waitingonasmile]

Totally understand your frustration. My DS is very slightly younger and exactly the smart. Today he's eaten one grape! I think it's best just to keep offering food and try not to stress about them not eating it throwing it on the floor.

[Waitingonasmile]

Same not smart

[Butternutissquashed]

My 9 year old is similar and has always been the same. He's a healthy weight, although at the lower end. However, he's incredibly active and has seemingly boundless energy. I worried when he was younger but now just leave him to get on with it and so far so good.

[Flimp]

you're creating a problem where there isn't one!

[BackBoiler]

Mine is still the same at 5 but he tends to now have an irrational fear of sauces. I can make a balanced diet out of his foods, albeit sometimes a little odd but all meals are DRY! No gravy, no sauce, no bolognese etc etc.

He also doesn't like fish, pasta or cheese.

[BackBoiler]

He eats for fuel rather than pleasure. I have come to the conclusion that he has a much healthier attitude to food than me who salivates over burnt ends!

[Gileswithachainsaw]

The actual portions kids need aren't very big. If you are watching kids eating platefulls and comparing yours to theirs then chances are they are being over fed and your dc is eating nore appropriate portions.

If you were to plate up a recommended portion it probably wouldn't be much more than he's eating

[ColinCreevy]

I wouldn't worry about it. My little girl hardly eats but my 5 year old is the other end of the scale and it does my head in. He asks for food all day. It's mostly healthy stuff so I shouldn't moan but it's just relentless. They're both healthy weights, just seem to have very different needs when it comes to food. My son has ASD so I suspect that comes into it. I think if they're growing, alert and active there's not much you need to worry about. Turning it into a battle will almost certainly make it a "thing" and that's a lose-lose for everyone.

[DJBaggySmalls]

I know this sounds nuts but is there any way he could be getting food from somewhere such as raiding the fridge, and by food I include dog biscuits.

[StandardNameHere]

No, sorry I meant that he doesn't have any dietary issues so in theory introducing foods isn't an issue, he doesn't eat them however.
I don't think I'm creating a problem, well not for him as I don't try and force anything.
The things he will eat are:
Pasta
Beans
Chicken dippers/ fish fingers
Peas
Grapes
Anything different to that ends up on the floor.
I was just asking for other peoples experiences that's all.
I'm a single parent and none of my friends have toddlers so I don't know what is 'normal' toddler behaviour and when it becomes an issue.

[UnicornRainbowColours]

The foods he’s eating are high in sugar and salt foods....
But you can make it healthier if you want.


Swop white pasta for wholemeal pasta
Make your own fish/chicken nuggets using wholemeal breadcrumbs.

Beans are fine And peas fine, maybe try adding sweet corn, sweet potatoes?

I’m a Nanny who looks after a previously fussy toddler until she met me.

[Jenala]

If his weight is ok I wouldn't make an issue of it or worry too much. I'd probably try introducing a new food that he doesn't normally like at each meal, alongside the normal stuff you give him. Don't worry if he refuses it but keep putting something new on the plate.

In terms of weight if he is a good weight then he is obviously getting enough.

My two year old is tiny for his age but eats enormous amounts. I worry something is wrong with him too sometimes. I think we will always worry but as long as he is healthy it'll be fine! My opinion is longer term food issues happen when the parent stresses. If you stay relaxed he will probably come to things in his own time

[CecilyP]

If he's not underweight, I can't really see the problem; honestly, he will eat more in the fullness of time! Does he still drink a lot of milk , by any chance?

[Ummmmgogo]

kids need much smaller portions than you'd think. he sounds like a good eater and less fussy than most. I think you are doing great! x

[Jenala]

Also involving with cooking helps. My two year old loves standing on a chair 'helping (watching) me chop veg etc and has got into raw veg that way.

Make it exciting... eg sweet potato, chop, tall about how it's hard, what colour it is, ooh look let's put it in the pan, what do you think will happen? It'll get soft and YUMMY.
Ooh I think it's ready shall we see what it's like now? Wow look it's changed, shall we try it? When it's fun they forget they are trying something new. If he still won't again don't worry just ooh mummy will eat it, this is really yummy etc

[UnicornRainbowColours]

A child development specialist once told me a child’s portion should roughly be the size of their hand..
I would only offer vegetable or fruit sticks as snacks.