Worryingly fussy 4/5 year old

[DevonDumpling31]

Hi everyone,

My partners child is turning 5 in a few months and since I've known him (2 years) he has been an incredibly fussy eater. To the point that no one knows what to do!

When I met him, he would only eat porridge for breakfast and those pre-made toddler meals you buy from supermarkets along with snacks like cookies, biscuits and skips. Around 18 months ago he refused his porridge and those meals and since then only eats mcvities toaster waffles, cookies, crisps and the occasional yoghurt.

All of the above items must be of a certain brand or he refuses them. We've tried to make mealtimes fun and encourage him to try new foods but he just refuses them and cries.

We're getting concerned because I honestly don't see a way out of this rut and his health must be in the bin if he's only fuelling himself with ultra processed foods and the odd petit filous!

His mum has taken him to the GP and specialists and they all say he's "healthy" and he'll grow out of it but we're at our wits end.

Has anyone got any suggestions or any advice?

Look into food chaining and the division of labour in eating, there's a great explaining on food chaining here www.cddft.nhs.uk/our-services/division-of-clinical-support-services/nutrition-and-dietetic-service/patient-and-carers/children's-nutrition-dietetics/patient-information/fussy-eaters/food-chaining.aspx#:~:text=Food%20chaining%20is%20about%20taking,going%20at%20your%20child's%20pace.

My sons 99th percentile with restrictive eating/sensory issue with food and under a paediatrician (just been told well "I've seen kids thrive off of much less, plod on") . They won't refer to a dietician in our area unless a child is underweight and heading towards needing a feeding tube fitting, so it's incredibly unlikely that any health professional will intervene.