To ask what to feed a picky toddler?

[Notanotherhun]

2 years old and just over 2 stones, skinny - always has been but has recently become very fussy. Picks at food. Will demolish porridge/toast but actual balanced meals get largely left. Trying not to feel stressed. Need any helpful suggestions or solidarity as struggling not to take it personally when food is made and then wasted.

Do they eat weetabix? One weetabix will soak up 8oz milk if left long a little while to absorb so using full fat milk this will get some calories into them. Obviously add banana or other fruits and toppings to make it more appealing. I think it's a phase a lot of toddlers go through

They LOVE the stuff. They eat 2 of them with milk and blueberries for an average breakfast after a slice of toast.

Mine is 2 years 5 months and if I am honest is mostly subsisting on weetabix, Dairylea on crackers, and fruit if I'm honest. Sometimes he'll eat beans on toast. I'm trying not to worry too much - the health visitor says he may be a little-and-often eater. Nursery magically get him to eat veggie korma, chicken dinners and cottage pie though...

Honestly, my advice is not to push it too hard. Top up with vitamins but unless he's becoming noticeably underweight then just keep mainly to the things he likes and keep offering small bits of different foods. My eldest was and is like this, won't even fill up on carby foods! What kind of child doesn't like chips?? He does have sensory issues, but he's old enough for some bribery - 'eat 3 spoonfuls of rice and you get to watch an extra episode Thomas after dinner'. Trying not to make food 'the enemy', but also expecting everything on the plate to be tried even - it's a difficult balance!

Have you heard the old adage "it's your job to offer healthy food, it's their job to decide whether to eat it"?
I wouldn't worry about it - just don't cook anything specially so it will annoy you less!
Mine eats plain bread, fruit, yogurt, porridge, sausages, rice, pasta, chips, fish fingers, broccoli, and sometimes cheese or chicken or the odd spoon of soup etc. That is basically it at the moment! As long as she eats plenty of fruit, some dairy product and some carbohydrate each day I think it's ok. I just avoid offering anything "unhealthy" so that whatever she does decide to eat is healthy (as she would eat unlimited amounts of cake, biscuits and crisps if it was available!)

Honestly I'd just go with it, always offer what everyone's having but sounds like breakfast is good. I'm generally of the opinion they will eat if they are hungry there may well be someone along to say that's not the case but I've got 7dc and they have/are all had episodes like this and left to it come out of it quicker

Do you normally eat with him and feed him the same as you? DS has taken to demanding food from our plates recently (normally exactly what's on his plate...). We normally just give him what he asks for so he doesn't always eat his full balanced meal but does eat enough overall.

Other things I'd think of is giving him a desert?

And also if you're worried about overall nutrition/vitamins then one thing I've done with DS is I'll make his porridge up using formula rather than normal milk or water. He also still has 2 5oz bottles of formula a day (when he wakes up and before bed). He's almost 19 months old.

Another picky 2 year old here. Loves toast, crackers, plain pasta but pretty much anything else gets refused (unless it's at nursery, where he eats absolutely everything).

One thing I've found that he'll generally eat is smoothies with Greek yoghurt, whole milk and fruit in it. Makes me feel better about the carb fest the rest of the time.

I'd keep offering a good range of foods with no pressure alongside food I knew they liked. I have son who would only eat beige food for years and eventually he expanded his range of foods under his own steam (and by being involved in cooking), he now eats almost anything except baked beans and tomatoes.

I wish I had followed my own advice when he was small

Is 2 stones not about right for a 2yo? Unless they're almost 3 I don't think I'd worry about that weight.
Ds is 4.5 and 2st13lbs, he's not particularly skinny.

Don't stress about food, offer 3 balanced meals and 2 snacks per day. Make sure at each meal there's something they like and put other new things on the plate too but don't try to force them to eat.

Try not to feel stressed - I know it's hard. Sounds like they're getting a good breakfast into them and that's a great start! Make sure you're using full fat milk, there's more fat and also the vitamin D is more available. I still find that self-service/an element of control helps - eg if we're doing wraps, I put the peppers and toms on a plate and let him help himself. (DS is 15 ! But has food issues linked to autism).

It sounds like a good breakfast, could you add some more fruit? I try to do variations on stuff I know DS will eat - he also loves toast so avocado toast, French toast, cheese on toast, nut butter, tomato sauce and cheese, hummus.

Thanks, everyone.

Just had another idea aswell OP based on what my little boy's having for lunch. Baked sweet potato and cream cheese. He struggles with his weight so I try and make his meals pack a lot of goodness into them and I find sweet potato is good for kids as they like the sweetness