to ask for tips for fussy eater children?

[Vittoriosa]

I have two ds aged 4 and 6 who are both incredibly fussy eaters. Annoyingly, they both like very little in common also. DS1 exists on mostly beige food (pizza, chicken nuggets, fish fingers) as well as tuna and sausages. DS2 really only likes pasta, noodles, pizza or sausages. I have tried in the past to encourage them to try other food with no success. DS1 gagged so much the last time I asked him to try pasta that he made himself vomit. Essentially, most nights I am making food that I know they will like (quite often 2 different dinners) and it is less healthy than I would like/ very little veg intake. AIBU to ask for help with others who have been through this and have very fussy eaters? I am aware I have facilitated this and I am keen to make a change, so please don’t flame me! I would be keen to have some suggestions of simple healthy recipes that your fussy children eat and any tips for dealing with this issue without making dinnertime hell!

Just comfort yourself that kids that don't want to try anything new won't be in a hurry to try alcohol, fags etc. Now my fussiest DC is in their late teens and their friends are getting worryingly drunk on everything in sight (and worse!) while DC won't even try fizzy pop, I feel that perhaps this is a small payback for all the years of worry and frustration when they were younger.

I was the same myself, I didn't start drinking alcohol till my mid twenties, have made up for it now though.

Haha @BalloonSlayer! This may be a benefit as mine have tried fizzy soft drinks and don’t like them either so fingers crossed there is an upside to this!! 😂

@AyBeeCee10
No I don’t believe there are any major sensory issues at play. I think with ds1 it’s been a reluctance to try anything new and throwing tantrums if asked to and ds2 following suit.

To the pp who asked about school meals ds1 has a school meal a couple of times a week (only when it’s something he usually eats eg. sausage roll.) DS2 has a cooked nursery lunch every day and I believe he is regularly choosing a ham sandwich and then just removing the filling to eat bread and butter! Or just choosing chicken curry but only eating plain rice. I suppose I should be thankful that he is at leadt eating a variety of carbs 😂

DS2 eats most fruit although is more fussy with main meals. DS1 eats basically no fruit or veg apart from in an innocent smoothie, so I suppose it’s him I should be most concerned about

Will also watch “how to eat well for less” - thanks!

Even as an adult if the choice is food I hate or nothing, i won't eat.

My issue is texture. Cutting veges or n different directions changes the texture. Really interestingly the veges I love as an adult are the ones my mother never cooked - asparagus, mushroom, broccolini, baby peas, snow peas. Don't mind carrots, but have to be cut right.

Just be careful of the “they’re not going to starve” tactic.
It will work with some but not all and as K123 says a lot of the time it is about textures

My DC will only eat beige food. Although I absolutely hate it and want them to eat better, they are only 2 so I'll have that argument with them when I can talk to and reason with or bribe them!

My only concern currently is that my child isn't hungry!