5 year old has turned fussy with her food

[Lauren8642]

Hi all my 5 year old used to eat everything I think it helps that I’m a veggie and her dad’s a meat eater so she gets a big variety of different foods and she would always try things.
But recently she’s been going off food she’s like in the past and when I make her something new 90% of the time she turns her nose up at it kind of like eating with her eyes.

When she says she doesn’t like it I always make sure I see her try it but then I have to make to something else (ends up being quick like beans on toast or something in the air fryer)
I can’t ask her what she wants for tea every night or the answer would be pizza 🫣.
I’m also trying to cook stuff that me my eldest and my 8 month old can all eat together (my partner works away a lot over tea time)
instead of cooking loads of different meals.

Whats the best thing to do is this situation?

Cook things you know she’ll generally accept, stick to the same 5-10 meals then once she’s ready to try more then introduce again. Sounds like you’re stuck in a cycle of refusal. I personally wouldn’t cook an alternative.

Stop cooking the alternative.

Kids are logical, even if they aren't aware of it.

She doesn't know she is doing it, but she is starting to internalize:

"if I refuse the food that I'm not really that keen on... mummy goes and gives me something I like more".

You've spotted it early, so just break the cycle and from now on, she gets what you offer her, and is expected to eat it. if she doesn't like parts that is ok, she can leave bits, but there will be no cooking or providing alternative meals.

Of course you aren't a monster and you will plan food that the family likes, like everyone does.. but when it is on the table, that is that. She will deal with it and get on with it, if she knows it is the expectation and norm for the family, and there is no other choice.

@lxn889121 its if I good something new and she doesn’t like it then I end up giving her something else cause she won’t eat any of it for example I found this recipe for orzo dish which had orzo (new food) tomato’s (she loves) onions, chickpeas that was it pretty much and she said she didn’t like the pasta bit so she couldn’t just pick that out so she ended up with fish stars and chips

A children’s dietician I follow online said to put some safe foods on the plate too and not to offer an alternative meal.
So each meal time there’s always something she’ll eat e.g. garlic bread, cheese slices, cucumber, peppers. So there are some foods she’ll definitely eat, alongside the new food. Sometimes once they’re eating one thing it can help them want to try the new thing.