Food glorious food?

[atrcts]

I watched a Horizon program about taste last week, and in it they said that toddlers who are fussy eaters will often continue that into their adulthood.

My 3 year old is a healthy weight but he is an incredibly fussy eater and most of the food we prepare for him doesn't get touched. Out of fear for him going to bed hungry, we always put a little something that he likes on his plate, because if we don't he will leave the table with an empty stomach.

He will only eat (some) fruit, potato waffles, bread, marmite, cereal and cottage pie. Rarely will eat small amount (I'm talking one or two mouthfuls) of pasta, sausage, fish fingers cheese, cucumber or carrot.

He would happily eat chocolate and crisps if allowed - but he's not allowed except in rare treats, as we don't want to encourage eating junk food over healthy stuff.

When weaning, and in the early days of feeding himself, he happily tried all things pureed, but then suddenly began refusing to eat cauliflower cheese and fish pie, even thought he'd enjoyed eating them regularly.

Never eats potato, chips, meat, rice, curry, or fish etc.

Hubby says that there is a perverse proportion to the amount he eats, in relation to the effort we've put into preparing it!

We keep re-introducing new foods but it never gets touched. I've tried bribing him to take just one bite, or even to lick it, but he just refuses.

Is this a stage that he will grow out of on his own or does anyone have any tips?

[NeoMaxiZoomDweebie]

My only advice is to stop worrying. Some people seem to find fussy eaters FAR more stressful than others....not sure why. I am one of the not so bothered parents.

I have 2 DDs...one eats anything that isn't still mooing or growing and the other eats crackers, butter, peanut butter, cucumber, chips, cheese now and then and peas...also oranges, and pasta, rice, noodles and bread.

That's it really...I give her chocolate on occasion and she loves it but she'll not even eat cake or jam...

She's 5 now and the third tallest in her class...healthy weight...happy, active.

Some days she barely eats anything...but she's fine. I don't fuss. Her teeth and hair are good and if she goes to bed hungry well that's up to her...there's always food available besides what's given at mealtimes.

If she doesn't eat her tea...later, she can have crackers or a peanut butter sandwich and an orange.

I offer her the same as we all have...she picks the bits she likes and eats those.

I wont cook seperately or try to ensure there is one of "her" foods on the plate...it's not on.

[NeoMaxiZoomDweebie]

Stop conversing at the table about his food...and don't ever bribe. Put his food down, eat yours and ignore him. no congratulations for eating things and no admonishments for not eating things.

[ballstoit]

If it helps, I was a very fussy eater and I eat anything now.

[PopMusic]

Well, my DS is a fussy eater, always has been , even as a baby he had very strong likes and dislikes. He is 4. Actually, I think he is more of a resistant eater. Extreme fussiness.

When he was 3 he was eating 6 things. That's it. Now he eats about 20 things so I am happy because its a huge improvement as far as I am concerned. (No veg at all still)

Try to relax about his eating - I know that's easier said than done when you are so worried but it really does help. Take the pressure off him - no "one more bite" or "try a little of this". We backed right off, putting on a couldn't care less attitude. If he did not have anything (still happens) he gets cereal or bread and butter before bed, along with his customary milk.

What really helped was eating school dinners with his friends. He actually eats food at school that he won't try at home.