To think this is enough food for a 2 year old?

[Dranktoomuchpepsi]

DH is a bit worried about DS's diet. He doesn't really eat very much compared to other toddlers, it seems. He's gotten fussy recently! Use to eat everything given to him.

Today he's had:

Breakfast: Two slices of toast with butter. It is usually peanut butter. All eaten.

Snack: Handful of cheese. Most ended up on the floor. Ate one bit. Some pineapple - eaten. A multivitamin bear.

Lunch: Pasta with cheese. Eaten.

Dinner: 2 Weetbix with strawberry soya milk. All eaten.

Is this enough? We don't give a proper 'meal' at dinnertime because it NEVER eats. DH is really really worried.

DS is in 12 to 18 months clothes and he's 2.5. He is being investigated for height but doctor says it just may be genetic (both my grandads jockies), yet less likely since DH is 6 foot 3.

He does also get breastmilk but they're short feeds, not frequent and don't seem to impact appetite.

He was a brilliant eater before

Things like beans, vegetarian meats, etc, all get thrown and rejected. He won't eat them and has become so so fussy!

I haven’t read all the replies, sorry. Why is he having strawberry soya milk? Too much sugar and not enough fat. He needs either whole dairy milk, oatley Batista or alpro growing up milk.

Those posters that are saying a veggie diet is healthy I agree but the op’s ds isn’t eating enough protein.
So in view of that it wouldn’t be unreasonable to try some meat or fish.
If your husband is that worried maybe he needs to put he’s beliefs to one side for now and try to get your ds to eat something.

why does your husband allow non vegetarian cheese but nothing else that isn't veggie ?

In terms of quantity it sounds fine. Quality could be better though: nutritionally it's very limited. Better to have a variety of grains, pulses, fruit and vegetables. I would continue to offer plentiful fruit and vegetables, and healthy dinners. Children thrive on vegetarian diets, this is not the issue.

I’m not sure how anyone can tell you whether he is getting enough protein and/or calories without knowing exact portion sizes.
From your post it seems he is eating peanut butter, cheese, milk etc and these are all high in protein. In terms of nutrients, he is having fortified breakfast cereal and a vitamin tablet. Maybe not the most natural source of vitamins but vitamins nevertheless.

I am not veggie but it is perfectly possible for a child to have a balanced diet without eating meat especially if they are having dairy.

His breakfast does sound quite big, so maybe forget the snack if he’s not eating it. Peanut butter is very calorific! Can you make a hidden vegetable sauce for the pasta at lunch? Blend it up so he can’t see them, still sprinkle with cheese.

Offer fruit and veg if he says he’s hungry.

I agree with other posters that you should offer him what you are having for dinner, within reason. Very very few children have genuine issues with food, far more just start to assert their likes and dislikes more keenly around this age, and if they are offered an alternative it becomes harder to ever get them back eating a wider range of stuff. So unless you are having something really spicy etc let him eat with you.

For dinners I always used to try and have one item that I knew my children liked, and then the rest was just what we were having.

It’s really hard because you are worried about his size, but it seems unlikely from what you’ve said that this is because of his diet. I would think he is getting enough calories from what you have said.

He's not a vegetarian is he, he's 2. You're a vegetarian and foisting your choices on him.

I agree that protein is extremely important, especially with such a restricted diet. You need to allow him to try a wide range of foods.

Sorry, just seen that it's your DH who's vegetarian.

Honestly, if he won't entertain the idea of DS eating meat then he can't be that worried. I find it quite ridiculous that he is so happy to restrict his child's diet further, whilst moaning that his child isn't eating enough.
You've a DH problem here.

My ds went from eating everything to only eating Weetabix at that age. Literally that's all he'd eat. He's 12 now and as tall as me!

Why does he have soya milk? Is he allergic to cows milk?

I haven’t read all the replies, sorry. Why is he having strawberry soya milk? Too much sugar and not enough fat. He needs either whole dairy milk, oatley Batista or alpro growing up milk.

Technically he doesn't need a milk sub at all. He's breastfed. I don't know why people think cows milk would somehow add something that breastmilk is missing (I hope that didn't come across as rude, sorry)

Only the same as meat esters forcing a choice on a child to at meat. 1/3 of world is veggie for cultural, religious or other reasons.
Could you try smoothies or something like pureeing cauliflower into. A mac n cheese sause? My mom used to do this when we were little

Whole milk and other full fat dairy, or comparable non dairy substitutes are a good source of nutrition for a fussy child. My child was breastfed but started drinking cows milk as well from age two. They are often too busy to get much breastmilk at that age, it's quicker to drink from a cup or add milk to food.

So he's in the mind frame of getting whatever in is better than nothing

In that case get the kid some fish fingers. If your DH is worried then it's time he put your child in front of his principles don't you think?

Op cows milk has triple the protein of human milk, which may give him a boost. His diet is crap. It is possible to be a veggie if you’re eating the right substitutes. You are not feeding him them though. You do know your child has two parents? Your partner doesn’t get to make all the decisions. I’d start introducing chicken/fish into his diet at least

Some children don’t start to really eat properly until they stop breastfeeding

It looks like his calories are ok. He is getting about 300 calories from toast and peanut butter, 300 odd from the weetabix and soya milk and probably similar from pasta and cheese- so without snacks he is getting around 1000 calories or just over, with 1000 to 1,400 being the estimated range required for a toddler of that age- so he isn't really lacking in calories by the look of it but maybe the balance isn't great at the moment.

My son was similar - fussy and a little slim - you should see him now though as a teenager- looks like a locusts have been through the fridge..I just carried on offering stuff that even if it was left and didn't stress - its not like he is throwing the food it seems, just disinterested? If you chide him he will associate food with stress- best just ignore.

Kids with ASD may have behaviours other than sensory that make feeding a bit difficult but all go through phases.

As long as he has energy and seems healthy don't stress too much..I let mine make a mess even just to play with the food . I think he absorbed most from his skin..

Do you give him vitamins ?

@Dranktoomuchpepsi the OP says her toddler has very little breast milk now so I would be concerned mostly about calcium and iodine. Either way the products I mention are much better than low fat high refined sugar product she mentioned.

Op cows milk has triple the protein of human milk, which may give him a boost. His diet is crap. It is possible to be a veggie if you’re eating the right substitutes. You are not feeding him them though. You do know your child has two parents? Your partner doesn’t get to make all the decisions. I’d start introducing chicken/fish into his diet at least

And cows milk is designed for a nutritionally tailored to... Cow's offspring. Breastmilk is nutritionally tailored to... Human offspring (and arguably that specific offspring since BM is tailored for an indicudal).

Yes he has two parents but I agreed from the start that DS would be vegeterian. Meat eaters for example wouldn't be bothered about dishes containing no meat, but obviously you can't comprise on meat eating. You're either veggie or you're not.

And you say introducing chicken or fish at least, what do you mean at least? Red meat is actually really quite bad for you

Some children don’t start to really eat properly until they stop breastfeeding

So why then did he eat anything given to him until recently?

Was there a trigger or event or something that happened to stop him eating everything? And how long ago was that

Here you go

Dish The only thing I can think of is no more nursery. But he seems his happy self, if not happier

I would consider full fat cows milk OP or a suitable alternative for the extra protein. Did you agree to him being a vegetarian before you had these concerns over his lack of nutrition/poor diet? I only ask because you couldn't have foreseen these issues and it is ok to change direction. Parenting decisions sometimes need to be fluid/flexible for the child's sake.

Ok , So is it only since lockdown. Is he picking up on the understandably higher tension ( every household is the same) and using food as a challenge?

Did he eat ok at nursery

I don’t think my 2yo ever ate that much in a single day.