5 Year old with eating issues

[Tree101uk]

Hi All,

We have two sons one is nearly 7 and eats a balanced diet, however our 5 year old is terrible and we have tried to let it go as a 'phase' but it has now passed that.

He likes dairy products, smoothies and chocolate spread sandwiches but he does not eat meet and the only veg we can get into him is through smoothies.

He used to eat pizzas and cereal but now suddenly does not like them.

He is a healthy, active and happy lad and you would not know he does not eat properly.

Can I get him referred to a doctor etc??

Any advice would be greatly appreciated as it is becoming a real strain at home now.

[Siouxsie76]

We have the same issue, my dd aged 9 eats everything and ds age 5 eats hardly anything. He lives on meat, chips, toast and cakes. We just give him the healthiest food that he will eat, e.g he will have weetabix in the morning so we always get him to have this so he is getting fibre and smoothies to drink. We got to the point where every meal time was a battle so we now just have set rules- I'll only serve him food that he likes, but he has to eat a certain amount of it and will get nothing else unless he eats how much we say. It feels like we have given in but the end result in what he eats is the same and we have less arguments. My ex used to be forced and pressurised to eat and he had some really odd phobias about food. I'm hoping ds will grow out of this stubborn phase :)

[Sometimesithinkimbonkers]

We have had this.... Went on for years. Put him on school dinners !!!! Now eats a much varied selection of foods and is happier to try new things. You don't have to see or hear any of the moaning or feel guilty so you give in!!!
Worked a treat with my very fussy eater who was under the dietician and on meal supplements xx

[Tree101uk]

Thanks for the advice. He is such a lovely boy but he is very stubborn as well which does not help. My wife is also really upset about the situation which causes more stress at meal times.

[Sometimesithinkimbonkers]

It is so stressful... School dinners means you're the good cop... You give them what they want to eat!!!!