2.8 year old DS being really annoying with food!

[WhereIsBlueRabbit]

As it says in the title, DS (2.8) is being extremely annoying with food at the moment. He is constantly asking for food which he then doesn't eat, and is being beyond fickle at mealtimes. I'm at the stage of wanting to scream with frustration and wondered if anyone had any bright ideas? Or is it "just a phase"?!

By way of example, at breakfast he can choose what he has from a selection of cereal, toast, fruit and yogurt. So he'll ask for yogurt, then for cereal to have at the same time, then decide after one bite that he doesn't want cereal after all and would rather have toast.... Refusals lead to huge tantrums on occasion.

Supper is just as bad - again, he'll ask for something, eat a bite, ask for something else, refuse to eat that either.

I think some of this is about control and some of it is typical toddler fickleness - I know better than to make myself toast if I'm waiting for him to eat his cereal. But as he's been doing this for weeks now, and my air of disinterest/staying calm, along with reminding him that it's silly to ask for something you don't want, is clearly not working, all suggestions would be welcome!

I should say that we try to be relaxed about food (though he was verging on underweight as a baby) and he is a naturally slim little boy (9-25th centile in charts) with a perfectly healthy appetite. I try to be very cool about food and if he starts telling me he won't eat something, I just respond "that's fine" and remind him it's up to him what he eats from what's on his plate.

Any thoughts on how best to handle it? Or how long this might last for?

Perhaps too many choices? Just say "Would you like toast and yogurt?" or "How about cereal and yogurt today?"

How is he asking for his supper? Aren't you deciding what to cook and then serving it? You should be. Choose what to make and serve it OP.

He's not at a restaurant!

Too bloody right it's not a restaurant! Sorry, I wasn't entirely clear - supper in our house is something like a banana or cereal that he has after his bath, rather than a meal.

For dinner, yes, I absolutely agree - unless he's having his before us, in which case I might offer him a choice of, say, fish fingers or chicken goujons, then I decide the menu. Last night's hissy fit was because dinner was sausages (which he likes) rather than chicken .

In terms of breakfast, it's more like that he is asking for stuff before I've even walked into the kitchen - usually trying his luck asking for a biscuit (not on the menu ) before starting to ask for yogurt or cereal. Once he has whatever it is, he often loses interest - it's like he wants to acquire it more than he actually wants the item, iyswim? Which is why I think it's a power thing.

You could make him a small "buffet" plate for brekky every day with a bit of everything on it.

If you can be bothered! You know....a segmented plate perhaps with a few grapes or strawberries, a spoon of yogurt and some cereal/toast.

For supper, just say "Here's your supper" and present it. No choices will help I should think.