Help me make my ds eat better please. Suggesstions for meals needed.

[Northerner]

My ds is 4 and not the best eater. Partly my fault as I give him what he likes to eat to avoid mealtime battles.

This is what he eats:

Baked potatoes
Mashed Potatoes
Cheese
Sausages
ham
bread
pasta
rice
spaghetti
carrots
fish fingers
Pizza

HIs meal staples are currently pasta in tomato sauce, shepherds pie, pizza, baked pots, spag bol and sandwiches.

I tend to feed him what he likes and he wolfs it down no problem. Dh will give him something we're eating (like last night rice, salmon, broccoli and sweetcorn) ds refuses to eat and battle commences, dh get's angry ds gets upset.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

[Sazisi]

My DD1 was similar at that age..
Looking at that list, he's actually getting a pretty balanced diet vegetables are the only food group that are a bit unrepresented.. try taking him to the shops with you and tell him to choose one green vegetable to have with dinner: peas, beans, brocoli or whatever (If he really hates all greens, get him to choose another type of vegetable, like maybe butternut squash)Involving them in the decision process can often spark a bit more enthusiasm. He might enjoy corn on the cob with a bit of butter, DD finds it fun to eat. Keep it all as light-hearted as you possibly can and try not to let meal times become a battle ground. Give him lots of prize for trying new things, even if he's had just one measly mouthful

[Sazisi]

I meant give him lots of praise not prize!

[Greensleeves]

Current big hit with my boys: (2 and nearly 4)

Pirate's Treasure!

It consists of "golden sand" (couscous) with "nuggets of treasure" buried in it (chuncks of cooked chicken/ham/peas/carrots/sweetcorn/whatever you've got)

They wolf it down, especially if you big it up with a few "Hahar, Jim lad!"s.... and perhaps an eye patch