Vegetarian toddler very picky

[Teaandwater]

I am currently childming a little boy who is 18 months, minding him 6 months. His parents are bringing him up vegetarian. Over the last month he has literally refused any dinner I have made, some of which where his favourites. I make everything from scratch and really make sure the meals I am cooking are nutritious and healthy.

I do a lot of batch cooking so freezer is full of his meals that he now refuses to eat. I have told Dad at pick ups that he has not eaten his dinner and he always seems a bit shocked even though he has regularly told me that they find it hard to get him to eat vegetables in their house.

I've actually started to dread dinnertime as I know he will refuse to eat I'm throwing so much food in the bin.

Any advice on what I should do?

Ask parents what he likes to eat? You need to talk to the parents!

Maybe add meat. At least he will have had a healthy meal x

Simplify? Toast, egg, cheese, cucumber, peppers, tomatoes/whatever he eats, apple. Covers all the food groups and minimises waste.

Can they stock your freezer with a few things? See if he eats things that are the same. That way you'll know if it's the food or something else.

What a stupid comment. She's being paid to care for this child, you think she can just give him meat? Jesus wept.

Get them to pack a lunch or something for you to cook.

Ask the parents for a list of things he will definitely eat and offer a mix of the things you offer and the things he will eat. He needs to keep being exposed to the new foods, but offer it alongside something that he will eat so that he isn't hungry. Don't bribe, cajole or punish. Don't let any stress creep in.

It is quite common toddlers that age to .start being "fussy" give him food he will eat, finger food maybe eggs, cheese fruit, and don't fuss over it, surely as a childminder you have come across "fussy eating".

Yes this.

Right now my kids get a lot of nutrition in from mango lassi or strawberry smoothies with seeds. They go up and down for fussiness

Obviously you’ve spoken to the parents and they’ve confirmed he does eat the same food at home? If so, He’s not your child so I wouldn’t worry too much, let the parents worry. I’d just continue to offer and it’s up to him if he eats it or not.

Is he your only kid ? Couldn't you give the meals to other children i would stop batch cooking till it is resolved.

Even I can see how inappropriate this would be, and I don’t even agree with bringing up children vegetarian.

I asked at the start for a list of food/ meals that he liked and they cooked at home. I also added in my own meals too which up until recently he liked. He literally will only eat strawberries/raspberries. He used to eat kiwi, satsuma, blueberries, blackberries. Protein wise he will eat eggs for lunch but won't eat tomatoe, mushroom, spinach in his omlettes, only plain cheese.

It's dinner where he won't eat anything. So I literally end up giving him a yogurt which he eats or toast which he doesnt always eat and this is after I have already offered him his dinner.

I have dealt with fussy eaters before but they were meat eaters so had more options. Parents are strictly no UPF which is fine but sometimes I think some spaghetti hoops and a potatoe waffle every once in a while would be ok especially as he is eating a very limited amount of food.

He is the only child I mind.

Yes.
Probably undernourished, therefore lacking iron, therefore picky/refusing.

I did actually google and it said iron deficiency can cause pickyness.

Yes it's also a totally normal developmental stage for toddlers which you should know as a child development professional?
Does he show any other signs of iron deficiency?

Ah is he, i would just offer what you have then ask the parents what he does eat.

What are you offering and how does it compare to what his parents say he will eat?

Tbh I'd just give him what he will eat for every meal, alongside other things he hasn't yet accepted. A plate of assorted toast, nut butter (assuming no allergies), cheese, egg, berries, veggie sticks, houmous, avocado/guac, dried fruit, etc plus a small portion of the actual meal.

Or how about beans on toast? You can get beans that are not UPF, I believe. Beans on toast with some fruit and yoghurt afterwards is actually a really nutritious meal.

What an idiotic suggestion.

Really ? you are a childminder and you are "googiling" you should know picky eating can be a developmental stage.

It’s also fairly normal for kids that age to go through times when they are fussy with food. Nothing to do with being vegetarian.

Yep. Something doesn’t feel quite right about this.

Did you just fancy a moan about vegetarian children is this where you are heading ?