7 year old fussy eater

[iamworkingonit]

My son (we are a vegetarian family) eats lots of raw fruit and vegetables. He will eat cooked peas and corn. Predictably he will eat practically anything sweet, He eats porridge and weetabix. He doesn't like cheese, potato, baked beans or vegetarian quorn products.He eats pasta, rice, eggs and even though vegetarian I do give him fish fingers. I have tried lentils, chickpeas, nuts all manner of foods with protein but he refuses to eat them only trying a tiny amount and declaring it as disgusting. He is very active and neither overweight or underweight. It is becoming an issue. He has free school dinners and is often reprimanded for not trying foods or eating enough of the first course. When we visit friends or he goes to parties etc it is difficult to accommodate his limited diet. Suggestions would be appreciated.

[Vinorosso74]

Have you tried flavoured Tofu? Cauldron do marinated tofu pieces. Another brand Taifun (Waitrose sell it) do a smoked one and basil one (my non veggie DD likes these).

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

What do you do when he refuses food?

[iamworkingonit]

He doesn't point blank refuse it. He tries a little. He then says he doesn't like it. I then coach him to eat a bit more. Sometimes I get angry with him. II don;t give him a sweet pudding if he refuses to eat the first course replacing pudding with porridge, toast and peanut butter or fruit.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

So he doesn't go hungry then? Have you tried offering something you know he will eat, like a fish finger along with something he's not so sure about? Then not to comment or cojole. Just clear away when you've all finished. Don't comment on what he has or hadn't eaten, just chat about other things and let him leave the table when you clear away. It should stop the tension for both of you and he may start to get the idea that if he doesn't at least try, he's going to be hungry.

[iamworkingonit]

Thanks OP yes he does try things but only a very small amount. So he is well aware that he must try something new or less to his liking. The problem is that that is were it stops.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Have you read <a class="break-all" href="//www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00785YLYG/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">My Child Won't Eat?

[iamworkingonit]

No but I will google it.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

No need to google. Just click on the link in my post