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Original poster

Vegetarian toddler very picky

112 replies

Teaandwater · 09/02/2026 15:00

I am currently childming a little boy who is 18 months, minding him 6 months. His parents are bringing him up vegetarian. Over the last month he has literally refused any dinner I have made, some of which where his favourites. I make everything from scratch and really make sure the meals I am cooking are nutritious and healthy.

I do a lot of batch cooking so freezer is full of his meals that he now refuses to eat. I have told Dad at pick ups that he has not eaten his dinner and he always seems a bit shocked even though he has regularly told me that they find it hard to get him to eat vegetables in their house.

I've actually started to dread dinnertime as I know he will refuse to eat I'm throwing so much food in the bin.

Any advice on what I should do?

OP posts:
Original poster
Teaandwater · 09/02/2026 16:03

Parents want him to have dinner in my home. I'm not sure if they offer him a snack before bed or just his bottle and that's why I'm anxious if has refused a dinner while in my care that he will be hungry later on in the evening/night.

OP posts:
MajorProcrastination · 09/02/2026 15:58

Kittylala · 09/02/2026 15:02

Maybe add meat. At least he will have had a healthy meal x

Don't do this!

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 09/02/2026 15:47

Teaandwater · 09/02/2026 15:41

For lunch he will only eat anything that's egg based so scrambled egg and toast or a cheese omlette. Then raspberries and strawberries and a small yogurt.

Some of his dinner favourites were:

Chickpea curry
Lasagne
Orzo bake
Pasta

I always added extra veg into every meal. He doesn't like soups, potatoes, any type of beans or lentils as I had made them before after his parents said he liked them.

He won't eat veggie sticks, avocado, houmous or any nut butters , tomatoe, cucumber,sweetcorn, so as you can see his diet is extremely limited.

If he’s eating something then that’s better than nothing.

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 09/02/2026 15:47

Teaandwater · 09/02/2026 15:44

Absolutely not. I'm not childminding very long and this is the first vegetarian child Ive looked after so was hoping for suggestions.

Show quote history

You need to talk to the parents for suggestions. All children are different.

Some meat eaters are exceptionally picky. Some vegetarians are exceptionally picky. Some meat eaters eat a varied and balanced diet. Some vegetarians eat a varied and balanced diet.

If you are concerned about whether this child's nutritional needs are being adequately met, then by all means, raise your specific concerns with his parents. Nobody on the Internet will be able to tell you what to feed this particular child.

Coffeeishot · 09/02/2026 15:46

Eggs rasberries and strawberries are fine,You are feeding him what he likes just offer some other bits of veg and if he eats it he eats it, does he need his evening meal with you or can you offer him a snack and let his parents deal with dinner.

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 09/02/2026 15:46

If it’s any comfort my 2 year old DNephew prefers his bottle (being weaned off it), likes avocado, boiled eggs, toast, biscuit and sometimes eats food but often not. He eats at nursery I’m sure of it. His older brother is a real pig so god knows why he doesn’t want to eat.

PiskiePenaluna · 09/02/2026 15:45

Teaandwater · 09/02/2026 15:41

For lunch he will only eat anything that's egg based so scrambled egg and toast or a cheese omlette. Then raspberries and strawberries and a small yogurt.

Some of his dinner favourites were:

Chickpea curry
Lasagne
Orzo bake
Pasta

I always added extra veg into every meal. He doesn't like soups, potatoes, any type of beans or lentils as I had made them before after his parents said he liked them.

He won't eat veggie sticks, avocado, houmous or any nut butters , tomatoe, cucumber,sweetcorn, so as you can see his diet is extremely limited.

Eggs, toast, cheese, fruit and yogurt are all healthy and nutritious. Most toddlers go through picky phases.

Original poster
Teaandwater · 09/02/2026 15:44

Coffeeishot · 09/02/2026 15:37

Did you just fancy a moan about vegetarian children is this where you are heading ?

Edited

Absolutely not. I'm not childminding very long and this is the first vegetarian child Ive looked after so was hoping for suggestions.

OP posts:
MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 09/02/2026 15:44

PiskiePenaluna · 09/02/2026 15:42

My DC was brought up vegetarian and never had any deficiencies. Offer a selection of small snacks and if he refuses to eat them, you haven’t wasted any more money than if he did eat them.

Show quote history

Same. She also had much less time off school than most of her peers.

TheDogsSmile · 09/02/2026 15:42

Coffeeishot · 09/02/2026 15:37

Did you just fancy a moan about vegetarian children is this where you are heading ?

Edited

I think that’s it.

PiskiePenaluna · 09/02/2026 15:42

Teaandwater · 09/02/2026 15:29

I did actually google and it said iron deficiency can cause pickyness.

Show quote history

My DC was brought up vegetarian and never had any deficiencies. Offer a selection of small snacks and if he refuses to eat them, you haven’t wasted any more money than if he did eat them.

Original poster
Teaandwater · 09/02/2026 15:41

For lunch he will only eat anything that's egg based so scrambled egg and toast or a cheese omlette. Then raspberries and strawberries and a small yogurt.

Some of his dinner favourites were:

Chickpea curry
Lasagne
Orzo bake
Pasta

I always added extra veg into every meal. He doesn't like soups, potatoes, any type of beans or lentils as I had made them before after his parents said he liked them.

He won't eat veggie sticks, avocado, houmous or any nut butters , tomatoe, cucumber,sweetcorn, so as you can see his diet is extremely limited.

OP posts:
Coffeeishot · 09/02/2026 15:37

Did you just fancy a moan about vegetarian children is this where you are heading ?

TheDogsSmile · 09/02/2026 15:36

Coffeeishot · 09/02/2026 15:35

Really ? you are a childminder and you are "googiling" you should know picky eating can be a developmental stage.

Show quote history

Yep. Something doesn’t feel quite right about this.

TheDogsSmile · 09/02/2026 15:36

Teaandwater · 09/02/2026 15:29

I did actually google and it said iron deficiency can cause pickyness.

Show quote history

It’s also fairly normal for kids that age to go through times when they are fussy with food. Nothing to do with being vegetarian.

Coffeeishot · 09/02/2026 15:35

Teaandwater · 09/02/2026 15:29

I did actually google and it said iron deficiency can cause pickyness.

Show quote history

Really ? you are a childminder and you are "googiling" you should know picky eating can be a developmental stage.

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 09/02/2026 15:35

Kittylala · 09/02/2026 15:02

Maybe add meat. At least he will have had a healthy meal x

What an idiotic suggestion.

BoobsOnTheMoon · 09/02/2026 15:35

What are you offering and how does it compare to what his parents say he will eat?

Tbh I'd just give him what he will eat for every meal, alongside other things he hasn't yet accepted. A plate of assorted toast, nut butter (assuming no allergies), cheese, egg, berries, veggie sticks, houmous, avocado/guac, dried fruit, etc plus a small portion of the actual meal.

Or how about beans on toast? You can get beans that are not UPF, I believe. Beans on toast with some fruit and yoghurt afterwards is actually a really nutritious meal.

Coffeeishot · 09/02/2026 15:33

Teaandwater · 09/02/2026 15:17

He is the only child I mind.

Show quote history

Ah is he, i would just offer what you have then ask the parents what he does eat.

ShawnaMacallister · 09/02/2026 15:31

Teaandwater · 09/02/2026 15:29

I did actually google and it said iron deficiency can cause pickyness.

Show quote history

Yes it's also a totally normal developmental stage for toddlers which you should know as a child development professional?
Does he show any other signs of iron deficiency?

Original poster
Teaandwater · 09/02/2026 15:29

Luckyingame · 09/02/2026 15:26

Yes.
Probably undernourished, therefore lacking iron, therefore picky/refusing.

Show quote history

I did actually google and it said iron deficiency can cause pickyness.

OP posts:
Luckyingame · 09/02/2026 15:26

Kittylala · 09/02/2026 15:02

Maybe add meat. At least he will have had a healthy meal x

Yes.
Probably undernourished, therefore lacking iron, therefore picky/refusing.

Original poster
Teaandwater · 09/02/2026 15:17

Coffeeishot · 09/02/2026 15:09

Is he your only kid ? Couldn't you give the meals to other children i would stop batch cooking till it is resolved.

He is the only child I mind.

OP posts:
Original poster
Teaandwater · 09/02/2026 15:16

I asked at the start for a list of food/ meals that he liked and they cooked at home. I also added in my own meals too which up until recently he liked. He literally will only eat strawberries/raspberries. He used to eat kiwi, satsuma, blueberries, blackberries. Protein wise he will eat eggs for lunch but won't eat tomatoe, mushroom, spinach in his omlettes, only plain cheese.

It's dinner where he won't eat anything. So I literally end up giving him a yogurt which he eats or toast which he doesnt always eat and this is after I have already offered him his dinner.

I have dealt with fussy eaters before but they were meat eaters so had more options. Parents are strictly no UPF which is fine but sometimes I think some spaghetti hoops and a potatoe waffle every once in a while would be ok especially as he is eating a very limited amount of food.

OP posts:
FreshInks · 09/02/2026 15:12

Kittylala · 09/02/2026 15:02

Maybe add meat. At least he will have had a healthy meal x

Even I can see how inappropriate this would be, and I don’t even agree with bringing up children vegetarian.