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Children's health

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Fussy eating or food aversions? Should I seek help?

2 replies

Food123 · 06/10/2025 18:32

I have a just turned 5 year old son, he had dairy and egg intolerances as a baby which he has grown out of, and used to eat a wide variety of food but the fussy eating kicked in and has continued. Obviously not entirely abnormal however I'm really struggling to feed him. He won't eat any meat other than chicken sausages, and now he can communicate better we have established it's the texture he struggles with. He also has texture issues with most things sauce like, and won't eat yoghurt, cheese (other than on a pizza if it's not too cheesy), or any other form of protein other than beans. He was eating fish fingers but now he gags if he eats more than a nibble at a time so we are lucky if he eats half a fish finger. He won't have mash, only solid potato, and for example won't eat jacket potato if I have mashed butter into it.

He has just started school and the options they give are sufficient but it's taken away any meal options I would normally give him at home and I don't want to repeat them. (Pizza, jacket potato with beans, toad in the hole (said he didn't like the sausages as they aren't chicken) pasta with tomato sauce, fish fingers and chips. He had the deli option one day but ended up eating a butter wrap as he didn't want the ham or cheese.

I've sort of not been too concerned up till now but my husband is pulling his hair out and getting annoyed which I'm trying to tell him not to do. He said it's not normal and at the weekend sat watching all the other kids at a party eating whilst our son nibbled at what was on offer and then ate barely anything.

He will eat a wide variety of fruit and veg at least!

Is this still normal behaviour or should I be seeking help in relation or the texture aversions at this point? He is a healthy weight and throughout the week gets some form of all the food groups so this is why I've not asked for help before.

Thanks

OP posts:
24Dogcuddler · 06/10/2025 18:46

This is quite a wide range of foods compared to children with food neophobia/ARFID.
Rule number one is to try to remain calm and not be overly emotional. Your husband is just likely to make things worse if he gets annoyed and worked up about it.
Especially as he’s had some food intolerances as a baby, sounds like he’s going well. If his weight is OK I wouldn’t worry.
You don’t mention any sensory difficulties. You could get him involved in food prep if you don’t already and encourage messy play with different textures.

Food123 · 06/10/2025 19:15

24Dogcuddler · 06/10/2025 18:46

This is quite a wide range of foods compared to children with food neophobia/ARFID.
Rule number one is to try to remain calm and not be overly emotional. Your husband is just likely to make things worse if he gets annoyed and worked up about it.
Especially as he’s had some food intolerances as a baby, sounds like he’s going well. If his weight is OK I wouldn’t worry.
You don’t mention any sensory difficulties. You could get him involved in food prep if you don’t already and encourage messy play with different textures.

Yeah my son said tonight "don't tell Daddy I didn't eat my dinner" so it's definitely something that's obvious. There's no adverse consequences when he doesn't eat other than my husband's face!

He has no sensory issues other than loud noises upset him but I think he's just sensitive rather than it being a major issue and he's improving, but no issues with touching anything texture wise.

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