Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

5yo Picky Eater

3 replies

TheWorstWeek · 24/11/2023 18:13

Despite doing everything possible when he was a baby and little toddler, DS who is 5 has been a terribly picky eater since he was about 3. Instead of it getting better like his brother, it's gotten worse. Particularly since he started school in the summer.

The past three days he's come home without eating any of his packed lunch (he won't touch the school lunches, unless it's pizza) and I'm at my wit's end trying to find him something to eat. He was eating buttered crackers, raspberries and apple, sometimes a banana, and a mini muffin for a while then traded the crackers for a tuna sandwich for about a month but now he'll come out of school at 3pm without eating anything. He will ask to eat his apple and muffin at 3 though so he at least likes them still.

He doesn't like cheese or ham or jam so sandwiches/wraps are a no go. He will eat the pastry off a sausage roll but not the actual sausage. He won't touch cucumbers, peppers, carrot sticks etc. He only likes munch bunch yoghurts (has one most mornings at breakfast) but will make a mess of his whole lunch box with one - if he eats it at all!

Dinnertime isn't much better but at least he isn't going another 3 hours before he gets the chance to eat something like if he skips lunch. Normally, it'll just be some peanut butter toast or something equally unexciting.

He is a healthy weight (and not losing any), growing as he should etc. but I am now wondering if I should speak to the GP and see if I can get advice from a dietician/nutritionist. Has anyone done this with a picky eater? What was the process?

In the meantime does anyone have any suggestions of what I could offer him for lunch? I'm losing my mind.

OP posts:
herbyham · 24/11/2023 18:36

Solid starts here some really amazing information on how to offer new foods among safe foods and how to help picky eaters!
They have an Instagram and a website with tonnes of free info

AtleastitsnotMonday · 24/11/2023 20:19

Have you mentioned it to the teacher? Is there anything about the school dining room that mate putting him off? Noise, smell, general hustle and bustle?
Will he drink any thing like a milkshake/smoothie/hot chocolate?
I'm guessing soup is a no go?
Would he eat cold pizza? Porridge? Pasta? What does he eat at home?

Nanamuffin · 24/11/2023 20:28

What is he actually eating?

My 5yo is similar. I’ve spoken to his class teacher and they encouraging him to try more lunch options.

Not giving packed lunch has helped. For example he now eats Yorkshire pudding.

For 3 years I’ve rotated potato products (chips, waffles etc) with very little protein like fish.

I followed the division of responsibility- a variety of food choices but one safe choice that I know he will eat for each meal.

Some days he eats very little at lunch and is very hungry and eats dinner early.

The staff at his school have helped a lot.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread