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!

His diet doesn't sound too bad to me op. My dd was similar at that age (and bf too). She ate very little variety until she turned four. The only thing I'd change is the Weetabix in the evening. Maybe cheese on toast or peanut butter on toast? Pasta and pesto?

My 2 yo isn't much of an eater , I've literally just responded to a what has your toddler eaten today post and he's eaten quite a bit more today than he usually would on a normal day. I'd agree with previous posters that's he's eaten enough but the quality's not great. DS is a bit behind on speaking and can't tell me he's hungry but would point to the kitchen and then to the cupboards.

It's is concerning that he has no meat and can't use cutlery but judging by your responses it seems you won't hear it. I'm vegetarian , granted DS doesn't eat much meat , he is most definitely offered it because that's not a decision he's old enough to make yet.

I'd be giving him proper meals from now on , he will eat it when he's hungry. If most toddlers knew Mum/Dad would eventually give in and give him a bowl of cereal with strawberry milk they wouldn't eat meals either because they'd know there's a treat coming.

Sorry meant to say, she ate very little (less than your ds from the sounds of things) as well as little variety. The reason I'd change the Weetabix is I don't think the strawberry soya milk is great but I could be wrong.

Breast milk is far superior to cows milk for him as his main drink OP. Well done.

I’d say oatly would be better for him than soya on cereals.

Is he allowed egg?

I used to blend veg into/with low salt gravy for my son. He loved gravy. Also lollies. Fruit hides the veg so a mix with fruit and a bit of carrot or cabbage in didn’t get picked up and he ate them.

A good multi vitamin.

Offer everything over and over again in tiny amounts. Tastes change really quick and one day he may just eat something.

Sounds like you’re doing a great job, and it’s really difficult. I hope you get an appointment soon.

Cant it isn't that I don't want to hear it, but what good will come over me stressing about cutlery? At this point I don't care if he eats with his hands or his toes. I just want food eaten

Sadly I can't actually help the cutlery situation

He is allowed egg, would try him again but can't find any in shops at mo.

You can make up healthy ice lollies but I think that may be a bit of a sensory issue for him. With a usual lolly he doesn't seem to like holding the stick and feeling it all cold if that makes sense

My DS has just turned three and that's pretty much the amount he would eat in a day. He's short for his age but a healthy weight. He wouldn't eat those exact things but weetabix for breakfast, a peanut butter sandwich for lunch and pasta for dinner (with fruit and yoghurt after lunch or dinner) are pretty standard days here.

We don't really do snacks as I find meals don't get eaten if the kids snack. Some parents (and nursery!) are obsessed with snacks though! Could you ditch the snacks and see if he would eat more at dinner?

Are you actually worried about his weight? My DS is only in 2-3 sized clothes recently (as I say, he's three) but he's just quite small and has short legs.

If it helps my 2.5 Yr old has asd. He was a fantastic eater until he was about 15 months then slowly his diet became more and more restricted. He has 8 'safe foods' now, basically bread and cheese in different forms. He is under a dietitian but they see no issues in his growth or development due to his diet. He has a good multivitamin which helps bridge the gap. It has been said he has a 'uniform diet' which makes sense, he will only accept certain foods and certain brands. But this is the same around a lot of his care, such as clothing, nappies, wipes, creams, medicines....he would rather starve than eat outside of his safe foods.

But, every now and again we have a miracle moment where he will try something else. Each meal time he has his safe foods plated up and on a separate plate I put the meal the rest of the family are having. No pressure or fuss, it's completely up to him if he wants to try it or not. Over a year since he last did, but heyho.

Like your ds he has no communication skills, and being on lockdown has definitely altered his routine and his mental health. He has been strimming, ticking and very anxious or easily upset these past few weeks.

If you're concerned ask to be referred to dietetics and have a chat with them. They will point you in the right direction.

Op, firstly any post saying cows milk is better for your child than his mothers milk, ridiculous, just skip them. 🙄

He's having a multivitamin and you're already saying he's being investigated too.

It's really worrying when they get very fussy, and as you be mentioned it sounds like he may have extra needs to be met also.

Being on a veggie diet it much healthier for him and you sound like you're doing everything you can and you sound like a lovely mum. 😊

I found to just keep offering foods that we're turned down, eventually got eaten (even if only a bit) it's disheartening, but offer smaller portions so you don't waste too much!

Hope he starts eating better for you soon!

I also 2nd oatly (if he'll have it) on cereal. It's delicious and is a bit better than soya nutrionally I found. 😊

I just wanted to say, OP, that it sounds like you’re doing a great job in difficult circumstances. I don’t have any real suggestions except to maybe offer a small amount of something he’s likely to reject alongside something else he’s likely to eat. He may throw it on the floor or spit it out, but one day he may just eat it. Play it cool and do your best not to get emotionally invested or in a battle over food.

I think that, although you’re obviously dealing with additional circumstances that limit his communication and engagement, it’s very normal for toddlers to suddenly become awkward about food, and then to eventually reverse that. One of mine used to love a big bowl of pasta with tomato sauce, and now he won’t touch pasta in any form and regards any new foods with great suspicion. Meanwhile, his twin brother adores any pasta-based food and will enthusiastically try most anything. Obviously, we haven’t done anything different in terms of how we’ve raised them: it’s just down to personality. It may be a waiting game with your DS.

You say veggie is a a balanced diet but you also say he's very fussy and not eating a balanced diet. I'm a vegetarian
My son is very fussy and very thin. I cook him meat. I'm desperate to get nutrients in to him.

Has he ever interacted with you OP? Or has things changed just since the lockdown?

I think veggie /vegan is fine. How is he refusing food? I'm asking because our little one was a very good eater and suddenly one day discovered that throwing food was fun (same time she started being fussy about foods)
So I would stop the weetabix thing for dinner and offer whatever you are having for dinner. Always something in the plate that she likes ( with mine that is potatoes, sweet potato or pasta) and the rest whatever is even if they are odd combination. I will go for one veg at least whole (so they can see it and see you guys eating it) even if you know that is not going to be eaten and one source of protein
If he is eating breakfast you may like to offer some fruit as well (same here offer it even if you know will not be eaten)
Now for the throwing what we did is offer food (always trying to eat as a family) at some point she will tip her plate not even trying to eat anything.
In general during meals don't talk about their behavior around food, talk about anything else. What you did that morning, your plans for later but no eating stuff
If they eat, praise. When throwing food just say "we don't throw food on the floor" once.
If they eat praise if they throw away food say, "you are not hungry no more. That is fine" . Then take away the food and take them off the high chair. Off you go to play.
Let them be and try again after 5 minutes.
Repeat both steps
Leave 10 minutes the second time
Try again for last time.
No kid willfully will starve themselves
You have to be consistent (and please don't give in if it looks like they are not eating)
Mine took a few days to get the gist but she is way better now and I am better at her signals of fullness. No messing up with food at meal time (she can poke it, play with it but not throw it)
But above all be patient and kind with yourselves. You are doing your best

This sounds like my 2 year old, except he doesn’t eat his breakfast either. Also in 12-18m clothes. Paeds say just small. No advice, but not alone!

You seem to be fighting and arguing against every suggestion op. I don’t know why you’ve bothered asking for advice. Just carry on with his shit diet and denying him proper food then if you think that you’ve got it right 👍🏻

What about homemade muffins OP? I’m thinking if he will eat bread it might work. I make sugar free blueberry muffins with whole-wheat flour/oats/egg/butter and banana for my DS but you could substitute the fruit for veggies too?

He is allowed egg, would try him again but can't find any in shops at mo.
Could you try a farmshop?

Banana bread for both eggs and fruit? My child will not eat bananas but loves banana bread and banana in smoothies.

Has he got any pain or soreness in his mouth? In some children large molars come through at around 2.5yrs, it might be painful for him to chew. He might be hungry but hurts to eat, so becomes frustrated - hence throwing food.

I don't think the child needs breast milk at this age. He should be having full cream cows milk.
And as for him for being vegitarian, that's ridiculous. He can decide at a later stage in life whether he wants to be a vegetarian on not. At this stage he needs plenty of protein preferably animal protein.
As a previous poster wrote, you need to be firm with him and not allow him to throw food on to the floor.
Why he has to use his fingers, I don't know, what's wrong with a spoon and fork. Mine were using a knife and fork at three.

It's perfectly possible to bring children up on a vegetarian or vegan diet. Would he be interested in helping you to make some food and maybe the opportunity to handle different foods would help him. Lentil bolognaise dishes can work well for children, have you thought of giving small amounts of nuts and chickpeas as snacks.

Actually, that's a pretty valid point above. Shuffle the meals round a bit, and youd get less stick if he'd had wetabix for breakfast, sandwich for lunch, and cheesy pasta for tea.

The wetabix and toast servings sound right, if not large. Cant comment on the size of the pasta serving. If he will take them, some more fruit and veg would be good.

What does he drink in addition to breastmilk? And what sort of amount?

Was he born low weight ?

How tall is he? My 2.5 year old is around 89 to 90cm and weighs 30lbs. He has

Breakfast a banana a yogurt and a slice of toast
Snack a oat bar
Dinner beans on toast
Tea pasta bake and pineapple or pear
He drinks around 800mls of milk a day