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How do you get around fussy eaters? Tell us to win £100-worth of picture books! Ends midday 8 February

156 replies

SorchaMumsnet · 11/01/2017 09:34

Eat Your People! is a hilarious tale of fussy eating, guaranteed to get children giggling. To celebrate its publication, we want to know how you get around those pickier eating habits.

Do you think vegetables are yucky? Just wait until you see what Monty the Monster has on his plate!

Monty definitely does NOT want to eat his people. He'll eat his vegetables - every single one! - but he will not eat his people.

For your chance to win Eat Your People! and a £100 picture book bundle from Hachette, just tell us: what are your tips for dealing with fussy eaters?

This discussion is sponsored by Hachette and will close at midday on 8 February

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How do you get around fussy eaters? Tell us to win £100-worth of picture books! Ends midday 8 February
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buckley1983 · 08/02/2017 23:18

Covert veggies! I have an Ella's Kitchen cookbook which I used when weaning - gives a great recipe for tomato sauce which includes a variety of veg all whizzed up. It can be used with pasta, or as a base for spaghetti bolognese or lasagne - a great way of sneaking in some healthy bits if your LO isn't a fan!
Luckily my LO likes most veggies - he requested a whole bowl of peas for dinner the other day.. it takes all sorts! x

starryskies78 · 08/02/2017 20:40

My little boy is very fussy too. He'll eat what he likes with mostly no problems but is totally reluctant to try anything new. Unfortunately I was like this too so I could never force him. The only thing I've found that helps is when he's eating with a friend. But we can't do that every night!!!!!

molly57 · 08/02/2017 19:36

You need to disguise the food fussy eaters don't like with foods they do.

SorchaMumsnet · 08/02/2017 15:50

Hi there - thanks for all your creative solutions on coping with fussy eaters. Now, how to get me to be pickier about the amount of Cake I eat...

The discussion has now ended and the winner is... Mozarmstrong! Congratulations - we hope you and your family enjoy reading Eat Your People and the rest of the picture book bundle Flowers

OP posts:
vincenta · 08/02/2017 12:06

Trick is to cook together and shop together,kids are more willing to try something when theu take part in cooking or choosing food.

sofaloafbanana · 08/02/2017 11:13

We cook together! My daughter stared very suspiciously at chick peas until she got to use them in a dish all by herself. Then suddenly they are 'delicious!'

bex552 · 08/02/2017 10:07

Give them the foods they like but mix it up with new foods to try, one at a time, and try more than a couple of times!

carrieo83 · 08/02/2017 05:34

My 11 month old is mostly really good and will eat anything. Some days she wants to be fed and sometimes she won't take anything from me, I just go with it and embrace the mess! X

GiraffesAndButterflies · 08/02/2017 02:58

Relax. I get much better results from my DD if she can see I'm laid back about what she eats.

Rewards (e.g. sticker, tv time) for trying something new/disliked.

Distraction- when we're not all eating together, it's a horrible atmosphere if I sit at the table just watching her eat. Usually we have the radio on and I clean the kitchen and chat to her.

jamielmdjs · 08/02/2017 01:38

storytelling. from pretending food items are objects (like trees and footballs) to playing it as a game and eating to win points.

clarabella12 · 08/02/2017 01:04

make it fun and get them involved

pinkspideruk · 07/02/2017 23:50

dont force the issue - introduce new foods in a relaxed setting - do messy play, cook together, put little bits to taste to the side and so on to encourage them without forcing them

sarahw2 · 07/02/2017 23:08

I've always found that not forcing the issue has worked. Offer the 'offending' food, and if they don't want it, then that's that. Their curiosity has always gotten the better of them in the end and they end of trying it of their own accord. Maybe I've just been lucky with my two!

HerRoyalFattyness · 07/02/2017 22:58

Get them involved in making it. They tend to want to eat what they've made.
Also, don't give up. Keep offering it on the plate. If they don't eat it then don't worry about it, but carry on offering it. Eventually they'll try it.

piggypoo · 07/02/2017 22:55

We get the kids involved in the cooking, and make the food into little faces that smile or have big teeth! That way, the kids can experiment with different tastes and textures, it never fails!

grannybiker · 07/02/2017 22:39

You can try all sorts from getting them to grow, care for and harvest their own veggies to hiding grated carrot in cake, but at the end of the day, no one thing works for every child.
Very few adults survive solely on grated cheese, cucumber and white sliced bead with the crusts cut off. Your toddler will eventually experiment further.

Sarah250187 · 07/02/2017 21:56

I get my 4 year old help me to prep dinner and we try as we go! Also him watching us try different foods encourages him too as well!

chrisisorange · 07/02/2017 21:52

My 2 yr old has pretty much been a self imposed vegetarian from birth. It's no big issue for us, but there are some foods (fruit and veg) it would be great if he ate more. I think like several comments have said, it's a case of working from what they will eat and gradually expanding it, different sandwich fillings and similar colour/size/flavour foods. Exercise first so he is hungry helps too.

xxgeexx · 07/02/2017 21:29

I would love to know if anyone has the secret lol! The only thing i have found helps is letting them cook with you and mine are more likely too want to try there own handywork x

Rigbyroo · 07/02/2017 21:25

Dd is a terrible eater lately. I try and involve her in menu making, food shopping and preparing food.

Dessallara · 07/02/2017 21:14

giving smaller portions to my daughter worked a treat if it's a very small portion and she doesn't really like it she will finish just because there isn't a lot and if she wants more she can always ask for more. When she was getting portions before she was being fussy even before she tried the food

TiggersAngel7774 · 07/02/2017 19:19

I wish i knew my son on the autism spectrum and food phobias are massive, real bad gag reflex

Doodygirl2009 · 07/02/2017 19:13

My son is a nightmare eater he eats the exact same thing every single day and he refuses to try anything new I'm hoping I can pick up some good advice on here

zebedee01 · 07/02/2017 18:13

My son went through a very fussy stage. I kept on putting the foods on his plate even though he told me he didn't like them. I think that is the key to it really, keep it normal! He has always eaten with us, eaten the same foods as us and been offered the same foods as us even when he was very fussy, and eventually he did start to eat different foods again!

By the way he wasn't starving! If he didn't eat his meal I would offer him something later on :)

maria08k · 07/02/2017 14:43

We encourage and sneak!! Hahahaha.

We encourage our son to pick out one vegetable and one piece of fruit from the Supermarket each week that he can try. His chosen veggie and fruit is then prepped by him so he feels grown up and "part of the process".

I also blend alot of veggies and hide them into sauces and gravies to make sure he is getting goodness into him!