On a slippery slope to meals being a battle. Help!

[SoBroken]

My 3yr old DS hates eating at tea time. He's fine with breakfast and lunch and has a very healthy diet, lots of fruit and never eats sweets or chocolate (not showing off, he doesn't like them!) but he just won't eat his tea, even if it's something I know he likes.

I haven't dared say this out loud, but I'm wondering if it's because my DH is home. During the day, DS eats on his own little table and chair, and because he has sandwiches and finger food, he can come and go as he pleases and watch a bit of TV while he eats.

In the evening, however, he sits (strapped in) on his booster seat at the dining room table, we have hot food that tends to be messier, and my DS just won't eat anything.

His dad makes him sit there until he's eaten something, but I think this may be counterproductive. Having said that, I don't have any better suggestions, am rather desperate to think of something before this becomes a full blown problem. Already when I mention the word tea, DS says "I hate tea" straight away.

Because he doesn't eat anything, he's always very hungry by bedtime and has to have a sandwich or toast. Bit concerned that he's not really getting a hot meal.

can anyone offer me some advice? Many thanks.

[cantmakecarrotcake]

Can you figure out which of the variables is the problem?

If you sat him in his booster at lunchtime what would his reaction be?

If you gave him sandwiches at tea time what would his reaction be?

If he had his hot food at his little table what would his reaction be?

Could you give him his hot food at lunchtime (without DH there)?

Etc etc...

Change one thing at a time and see what it is that's causing him to hate tea then you can tackle that one thing.

[SoBroken]

That's a great idea, I'll do that! Thank you very much for your help.