3 yo very good eater at nursery, but doesn't want to eat at home

[Maia290]

My son who is 3 years old is a very good eater at nursery, he often has second and even third servings of food there, but at home he often refuses to eat, and I make the same food as the nursery does (baked potatoes with tuna or baked beans, fish fingers, pasta...)
The other day I saw him eating baked beans at nursery and he even asked for more, and today I gave him baked beans at home and he refused to eat them, and he said he didn't like them, this is happening most of the times at hoem with the food I prepare for him.
He is a very good eater at restaurants too. I think it is a behaviour issue, not that he doesn't like the food. What can I do?

DD (4) does this sometimes. It's definitely a power/attention thing. I try sometimes successfully to ignore it. At least you know he has eaten in nursery so he's not going to be malnourished. What I do is offer whatever dinner we're having, she has to try one bite of everything on the plate (sometimes she miraculously remembers she likes something, other times she continues to refuse, which is fine) and if she's still hungry later, she gets a banana or bread and butter. As a manners thing, everyone has to sit at the table until we are all finished (it's only about 15 mins so not too tortured) and she sometimes picks a bit more while waiting. Food is so emotive for all of us it's hard not to make it a battle ground, but if you can take a step back and try to detach, things might become a bit easier.

My dd can be like this too - not a terrible eater at home, but certainly not troughing away the multiple servings of everything and anything she has at nursery. I understand from friends this is quite common - it may be because they are more likely to eat when around other children eating? I would say not to worry too much as long as you are happy with his health and weight.