How bad does fussy eating need to be to get referred?

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DS has been a fussy eater since 18 months. He was actually great at weaning. He is now 5 and is still very fussy.

Protein is my biggest concern as he will not eat any form of meat/fish or eggs.

Whenever I have spoken to my GP over the last couple of years they state it's something to get advice from my HV for. I have done this numerous times and it's always the same hide bits of meat/keep encouraging etc. I have done this he actually seems to have texture issues as he will gag if meat/egg is in his mouth.

He is very slim but growing/gaining weight as he does eat but is on a fairly limited diet.

His diet literally consist of below and very little else.

Breakfast - toast or cereal
Lunch/Dinner - cheese sandwich, beans or spaghetti hoops on toast, homemade margarita pizza, lentil curry with chapati , chips, tomatoe pasta.
Snacks - good with most fruit, rich tea biscuits and kitkats.

Has anyone experience of their child being referred to see a specialist. Is this diet restrictive enough?

Our youngest has a more limited diet - won't entertain any fruit/veg/meat/bread. In fact his diet consists of porridge, yogurts and baked beans. We've tried all sorts. He did have a varied diet on weaning and self limited. We continue to offer a range of different foods alongside the darn beans but no shift. We just get told he'll grow out of it and keep offering different foods. It's frustrating for everyone. No referral or additional support/guidance offered. He's the youngest of 4 and the only 'picky' one. No practical help but you're not alone!

Oh some practical help! We put vitamin drops in his water. Might reduce any worries about your ds not getting enough from food?

There’s protein in wheat (bread, cereal, pasta, pizza base) cheese, lentils, and even some in the fruit and oats, it’s very unlikely he’s not getting enough protein. We really don’t need as much as people think and protein deficiency is really rare, you don’t need meat and eggs for protein.

Have you come across Kids Eat in Color? She’s a dietician who makes content about feeding kids and does a lot on picky eating, you might find it helpful

I used to work in a primary school where we had several children with similar issues and we ended up running a parent workshop with the paediatric OTs from the local health/children’s centre. They were fab and came in to observe the children at lunch, met with parents etc.

I’m not sure how you would go about finding your local one, and possibly you would need a GP referral, but that would be my starting point. Good luck!

My DCs were like this, especially DC2. DC2 aged 20 was diagnosed with ADHD earlier this month. The psychiatrist who did the assessment said they were probably autistic as well. DC2 does not like certain foods touching each other and when aged 7-14 particular would always prefer to go hungry rather than eat something they didn't like. It never crossed my mind that DC2 might have ADHD or autism until about a year ago, even though I am autistic myself. Any chance your DS might be ND?

The fact he’s growing well and that there is a range of foods in there would get your referral rejected from paeds here.

If your child is growing, they don't get a referral. DD1 (12 years old) eats fewer and fewer things every year. She is autistic. I would recommend joining the AFRID Facebook group.