To think my child is a new breed that doesn't need food to survive?

[StandardNameHere]

My 2.5 year old son seems to live on air.
His eating is starting to keep me up at night so I need to tackle it but just don't know where to start.
He is perfectly healthy and not underweight so there is no issue with introducing diets but he just doesn't seem interested in food.
He will eat a creamy pasta dish that I make (hidden veg and fish/ chicken in there)
He will eat a few bites of chicken, fish fingers and he likes beans.
He likes grapes as a snack and maybe lick an apple.
I try him with new foods all the time but whatever it is he seems to have a few bites and that's it.
Surely a 2.5 year old needs more than a few bites at each meal?
Do I give up and just carry on being grateful whenever he eats something, whatever it is or do I start being strict?
What do others do with fussy eaters?

Keep going with what you are doing. Offer him a wide variety and eat with him. Make sure that there is always something he likes on his plate as well as something he hasn't eaten before. Ask him what he thinks about the new food and accept his answer but follow with 'mummy loves it' eat some and make yummy noises then move the conversation on. Next meal, offer it again. Don't give any negative reaction of he doesn't eat but lots of praise if he does. Get him involved in cooking and choosing food at the supermarket. But don't stress. My dd1 is 6 and lived on chicken and vegetables for a good couple of years. Last week, dh made corned beef stew (it's a childhood favourite of his) and served it to dd. I say there expecting a bit of a battle but she ate every element at least once and thoroughly, but politely, critiqued each ingredient before finally telling her dad she didn't really like it. She's given it a good go with no fuss at all. Two years previous, she'd had a meltdown because the pasta bolognaise her Nanny made wasn't the same as mine and wouldn't eat it. Its a slow process but you are doing great so keep going x

He eats a lot more variety than my DS did who was an absolute monster fusspot over food when he was little. I gave up in the end getting him to eat. And I was brought up to eat everything on your plate. Unless he is underweight I don't think you should worry any more.

Unless he's very underweight don't worry about it, both of my children go through phases of surviving on thin air and then suddenly eating like a horse (or eating the damn horse) - nowadays I just take it as a sign to buy shares in Clarks because it always precedes a sudden growth spurt.

Does he drink milk or squash? That could be filling him up.

What about home made breaded salmon coujons.

Chicken dippers are usually a bit crappy, can you make your own?

When my dd was little she went through a short phase when the only thing she wanted to eat was yogurt and peppers eaten like apples. She survived. the only things she doesn't eat now are aubergines .

And goats cheese.

At that age my oldest ds ate only sausages with the skin peeled off of course and bananas . I remember being super stressed about it cause he was very thin despite being tall.. at some point (honestly can't remember) he changed and.now eats embarrassingly large portions .. still tall and skinny though. If he survived any child can..

Was he prem/IUGR? My DAD was and we had a hell of a time feeding her, even now at 6 she only eats limited things.

DD1 had a phase of eating nothing but cereal with milk and scrambled eggs with baked beans. Lasted 3 months! Now at 12 has a vast diet. Don't worry, don't stress, all will be fine.

My DS is 22 months, very active. He usually eats a reasonable breakfast and lunch (he likes cereal and bread based food!) but is picky with his “hot” meals. Loves pasta and cream cheese with mixed in veg and will generally eat steamed carrots/peas/broccoli alongside a beige kiddie food but everything else he either turns his nose up or will try it, seemingly like it and have a couple of spoonfuls, then ask for fruit/yoghurt. It can be very demoralising especially when you’ve made him something in particular, but I try not to stress! I know it’s totally normal toddler behaviour. He sleeps well and is generally well behaved and seems to be gaining weight appropriately although he’s naturally slender (haven’t had him weighed in months mind!).

My family still remind me I used to reply to "are you not hungry/eating anything?" With "but mummy I ate yesterday"

Ha, you've described exactly how DS was at that age.

He used to have scrambled egg, apple sauce, banana, yog, biscuits and the odd bit of pasta.

He's nearly four and eats most stuff now.

If you write down all the bits he actually eats in a day and add up the calories it'll be more than you think.

I really wouldn't worry op.

Does he have full fat milk?

I had one of them.

The bad news is he turned into a six foot tall food-hoovering machine who will eat a full roast at 8 and will then be found in the kitchen at midnight trying to sustain himself on boiled eggs and beans on toast. I would put whatever money you are saving on his non-eating now into a savings account: you may need it for later.

I had one of those, I think I spent more on food for her just trying to find something she would eat. She was also chubby so no-one believed me. My dgd is the opposite, eats huge amounts with gusto and is slimmer than dd was.

Really helpful to know that he isn't the only one and may just grow out of the fussy phase.
I have tried all sorts making meals from scratch for him to flat out refuse but will happily eat one of those Ella's kitchen veg pouches.
I eat with him, eat the same meals but he's just not interested.
He does still have milk before bed which is full fat and sometimes a bottle during the night but only water during the day.

DD was like. That, she is now on a diet after putting on a lot of weight after having kids and discovering food can be mainly cake and chocolate

If he's not wasting away in front of your eyes, then he's having enough.

I'm only mildly surprised by a kid who eats no bread, butter, sweets, cereal, porridge, biscuits, chips, cereal or crisps, though. I've known kids who were much more restricted than OP's and they seem ok, too.

Sounds ok to me- I have a 6 year old who is very similar. She will eat if encouraged but never finishes her meal and will usually leave half of a quite small portion already. She is low end of healthy weight. She does have a sweet tooth but sometimes will leave a pudding if it's too sweet. She loves playing with toys and finds food a bit of an interruption. However, she is very dramatic and will say she's 'starving' and goes on to leave most of it. She will also fixate on her brother who is 10.5 having more than her- at home, in restaurants but she mostly never finishes a small portion let alone a portion that her older brother has.

He's fine. Keep trying him with new stuff but just let him eat what he's eating.

He's not even three. It's fine.

Don't make a fuss of it.
He's a picker, that's all. Most 2yr olds are. Just keep giving him lots of different things and he'll be fine.
My 7 year old would much rather have lots of snacks throughout the day than proper meals.