Should I really feed my DS crap just because that's the only thing he'll eat?

[mamadiva]

DS now 2YO, started being a very fussy eater when he was about a year old. His diet now is appauling and I feel so guilty feeding him what I do but everyone keeps telling me just to feed him what he'll eat even if it's not exactly nutritious. Is this right?

His diet at the moment basically consists of

Sausages, smiles, sausage rolls, water, milk, yoghurts, biscuits, bananas, french toast, toast and cheese, beans and maybe a select few other pieces of crap.

Please don't jump on me for being a bad parent, I feel like I am already but he has nearly been in hospital to be put on a drip to be fed because he refused everything for a week. He has had tests dine and there doesn't seem to be anything behind it just that he's fussy! Like I said I feel like such a failure feeding my child this crap when I make a decent dinner for myself and DP.

[mamadiva]

BUMP

[cornsilk]

so long as there's no fruit shoots involved
you'll be fine.

[GordonTheGopher]

Personally I would carry on as you are, but keep putting other stuff on his plate as well. I know where you're coming from!

It seems the main thing you're lacking is veg. I had to put carrots in front of ds at least twice a week for a year before he ate one. He will eat them now.

What about meat balls? If you make them yourself you can hide veg in them.

I honestly wouldn't worry but as I've said I know what it's like.

[mamadiva]

He does drink Fruit Shoot H20 but only if I'm out and run out of juice for him!

[mamadiva]

Thanks Gordon I have tried him with veg I always give him what we are eating but put other crap in the oven for him because I know that's what he'll eat

[Mamazon]

it may not get the lentil weavers slathering but its not THAT bad really.
it is better he eats crap than nothing at all.

Start weaning him onto other foods gently.
he eats sausages so why not make some home made ones with him. or take him to your local butchers and ask iff maybe he could watch.

Smiles - why not make some pureed mash and put it in a piping bag ( be sneaky and you can add some carrot/swede too) get him to make his own smiley faces. you just pop it into the oven till they go crispy voila his own smiley faces.

beans are good, just watch out for the sugar and salt content but you can get reduced versions now.
cheese is good. as is yogurt..tyry and buy fresh yoghurt make some fruit smoothy and mix...home made crappy shop bought one!

once he starys helping you in the kitchen and eating things he recognises he will be more inclined to have a try of other different things that you cook.
but don't despair...its not that bad a diet really.

[AbbeyA]

It is better that he eats something-however keep trying.
Do you eat as a family? If you do I would start getting him to have a small portion of the same.I also believe in disguise, for example call the meatballs round sausages, make your own and use minced up veg with the meat!
Soup is good. I made my own with all sorts of veg liquidised, I made sure it had more tomato than anything else, because they liked this, and called it tomato soup.It then gets to the point that you can be open about the contents!

[TheProvincialLady]

I'be definitely known 2 year olds with worse diets - he is doing okay really. I agree to keep putting other stuff in front of him but don't comment on it no matter what he does. He will start trying things eventually.

You could try putting a miniscule amount of pureed carrot or other orange/red veg into his baked beans and seeing how he takes to it. I did this with my DS when he was going through a fussy phase and it seemed to help. But don't let it put him off beans altogether - if he doesn't like it, back off and give him the normal beans.

Try not to worry what other people think or that everyone else's child eats a better diet. I have a friend whose DD looks like a dream eater as she will wolf down a plate of steamed baby sweetcorn and home made sweet potato chips, plus a bowl of plain pasta. Now I know this is pretty much all she will eat, I'm not so envious!

[mamadiva]

My mum has twins that are only 8 months older than DS and they eat anything that gets put down and then if we go over on a sunday for a roast dinner then he will be sat with some random bits the only bit he will eat is a yorkshire puudding and stewed sausages.

We do eat as family well when I'm not at work, I normally work nightshift in a care home or work a late shift from 4.30- 10 so I can't eat with him then but his dad does. His dad is incredibly fussy basically because his mum never bothered buying veg or anything which she has told me is because she doesn't like any of that shite! Her words not mine. I don't want DS to pick up on all of this but can't help thinking that's the cause, he won't eat what his dad won't IYKWIM.

[princessglitter]

Will he drink orange or apple juice? Home made juices or smoothies might be one way of getting more fruit into his diet.

I would also put small amounts of veg on his plate even if he won't eat them and let him see you eating veg, too.

There are lots of good things in his diet, though. Good quality sausages are a source of protein, bananas and yogurts are great, too.

I mix grated carrots in with cheese in sandwiches for my dds. Maybe that would work?

[mamadiva]

Thanks Princess i can't believe I never thought of smoothies before! I make my own yoghurts with ntural yoghurt and fruit puree he eats that.

I don't think I have enough money for good quality sausages I'd love to be able to buy butchers ones but the now Richmond is about as good as it gets for me

I think I'll go into town today and price around the butchers at least I know whats in it then.

[reban]

how does he feel about pAsta? The annabel karmel recipe for tomato sauce with hidden veg is a godsend for my quite fussy eaters and they do have it for luch or dinner at least 3 times a week. If you want the recipe let me know

[Chooster]

He sounds very similar to my DS when he was 2... he's now 4 and his eating is still not great but its definately better. I've found more things that he will eat quite happily and have started to be a bit sneaky about hiding veg in things. There is a good recipe on here for banana bread which my DS enjoys and I sneak in grated carrot, grated apple and ground almonds. Its cheap and easy to make. (Let me know if you want the recipe but can't find it)

Other things I've tried which have worked are:

Making our own pizza's and piling on whatever DS fancies - even things like scrambled egg. We may think it looks / sounds horrible but DS loved making it all up and almost the more I wrinkled my nose up at his suggestions, the more he wanted to add .

Homemade quiche - Again really quick and easy and good for hiding things in. I'd just start off with a cheesy mixture (its just eggs, milk and cheese) then I added a little ham, then some salmon etc... Sometimes not even enough that he would notice at first.

Anyway, the key to it was just taking my time and not getting stressed about it.

[moondog]

I don't think his diet is that bad and hey, am Chief of Police for Food Nazis!

[tori32]

If the sausages and smiles are not home brands iyswim then his diet isn't horrendous. Since you said he didn't eat for a week, something is better than nothing. I would usually say take a hard line- which I did with a mindee who had a similar restricted diet. I gave no pudding unless she at least tried some fruit/veg- 1 piece/1 bite. Then she had to eat 2,3,4 and eventually she ate everything including blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, kiwi, melon, strawberries and all veg. It took approx 3mths to achieve.
Does he go to nursery? Can he eat elsewhere sometimes during the week. Children sometimes will do things for other adults that they refuse to do for parents. If he starts eating food at nursery and gets used to it he might do it at home as time passes iyswim. Really hard problem to solve. Have you spoken to anyone about it such as a child psychologist?Dietician?

[ladymariner]

been there done that, mamadiva, my ds was a nightmnare to feed, and I always used to look at other parents pre-ds and think to myself that there was no way I'd have a picky eater!! Talk about words coming back to haunt you

But it does get better, truly it does. My ds, who is now 12, ate chicken tikka and rice for the first time last night (not the first time I'd offered him it!) and polished the lot off. He also eats most meat, potatoes, a fair bit of veg, cheese, etc, so all the advice i was given about relaxing and not stressing was right.

[mamadiva]

Thnaks for all your replies!

Chooster - I will give the banana bread a try I'm not much of a baker have to sayt but I will give it a bash LOL. I used to love the bought stuff. He won't eat anything like scrambled eggs or quiche but thanks for the suggestion might give it a go and se what happens!

Tori32 - Thnaks DS does go to nursery and he won't eat anything in there eithr as far as I know they offer him plenty of healthy stuff too but he just refuses! I haven't seen anyone properly about it. Just had a few meetings with HV and doctor but they said to wait and see what happens. He's going for his 2 year check tomorrow so will mention it again.

[Doodle2U]

Soup.

Start on a tin of tomato and let him dip his bread in it (screw manners for now!)

You can get EVERYTHING into a soup and liquidize it until runny! He won't know what he's eating!

[damdaffs]

sounds very like my 2yo's diet! its not bad, just need to sneak in some source of vitamin c really. lots of calcium and protein in there and bananas are great. if you've got a fussy eater i think its better not to create issues over what they are happy eating, it could be a lot worse.

when my daughter was smaller ALL she would eat was tomatoes and bacon flavour crisps , but it did get better, eventually, and she's none the worse for it.

But i know how it makes you cringe when all the kids around are snacking on sunflower seeds n ricecakes....