If you have a fussy eater, what WILL they eat?

[BurningBright]

Just curious about the ranges of foods other fussy eaters will actually eat.

My DD ate everything placed in front of her, with gusto and enthusiasm, until she was two. Two and a half years on the list of what she will eat has dwindled to:

Bread
Breadsticks
Pasta (without sauce)
Hummus
Pizza (sometimes, but only cheese and tomato and it has to be fairly light on the tomato)
Cheddar cheese
Soft cheese (Dairylea type cheese)
Fishcakes
Smoked mackerel
Other fish in breadcrumbs (occasionally) but never fish fingers
Weetabix (without milk)
Porridge
Yogurt/fromage frais
Quite a few fruits - mango, banana, strawberries, apples, pears, cherries.

NO vegetables at all. She just won't try them. Even though brussels sprouts and broccoli were huge favourites when she was tiny.

She has small quantities of chocolate, cakes, biscuits etc every now and again. But she often leaves them only half eaten. She just isn't very interested in food.

Written down like that, the list actually looks longer than I expected. But it's still very restricted.

What will your fussy DC eat?

My DS, age 4, eats a very limited set of foods, but his choices cover most food groups so I worry less.

He won't touch anything 'saucy', but will eat the following:
Pasta without sauce
Bread
Chips
Roast potatoes
Rice
Carrots
Broccoli
Green beans
Peas
Apples
Bananas
Grapes
Eggy bread
Cereal without milk
Bacon bagels
Roast beef and Yorkshire pudding
Fish fingers
Sausages
Mini scotch eggs
Chicken nuggets
Garlic bread

We've just spent a week in France where he has survived on apples, cereal, chips and milk. It's not ideal!

god

I didn't think my toddler was fussy at all and she eats about half the length of list you've all put on there!!!

[bad and confused mother emoticon]

do you eman MEAL wise?
ours all like spag bol
sausages
steak
gammon
bacon
pasta with cheese
fried rice
( with bacon)
burgers

meatballs

omaoma, don't feel bad.. I don't :o

ds is so lively and energetic it can't be doing him any harm. One day he'll eat meat that isn't covered in breadcrumbs. That is my fervent hope!

Bizarrely, pizza is the one food that otherwise totally non-fussy DS2 won't eat!

I also have a very fussy child. DD who is 8 will eat:

Carbohydrates (rice, pasta, bread, potatoes)
Meat (Beef in instances, Chicken, Turkey, Ham)
Some Fish
We have just managed to get her to eat things in tomato sauces such as Bolognese, chicken casserole so I can hide a multitude of veg but she still won't eat any fruit or vegetables unless it's Banana's or Cucumber or Apple juice (but only in a sml carton!)

She used to be a lot worse, I think it's the texture of things as well as the look and taste of them and she just seems terrified to taste anything new unless there is a direct correlation to something she already likes (like for instance I got her to mashed potatoes by doing Chips - Croquettes to Mashed potato and now she loves it)

DS who is 12 months is a far better eater than her, I've been trying to get her to help feed him, at first she didn't like handling the fruit and veg but I just persisted and now she handles it fine - I'm hoping that will be a hurdle we have overcome!

The kids' regular tea list:

Pasta in green sauce
Pasta in cheese sauce
Spaghetti and meatballs
Fish fingers and rice
Fish cakes and cauliflower cheese
Chicken fingers and cous cous

So almost enough to fill a complete week! I console myself that I grew up eating exactly the same food week in, week out (Mon: gammon and eggs, Wed: pizza, Fri: spag bol) and as an adult have a wide and varied diet!

My DD is slightly fussy - won't eat meat, but likes pasta/rice/noodles/bread/potatoes/wraps, but no keen on chips. With tomato sauce (home made only) or parmesan cheese, although did eat some with garlic mushrooms last week which was a first, fish fingers, bean stew, veggie sausages, and maybe a few other things on a good day, she's pretty good at trying new foods but doesn't often like them.
She also eats yogurts/fromage frais/drinking yogurts/smoothies, veg she is mostly ok with, but prefers it plainly cooked, and she quite likes fruit/dried fruit. Most biscuits/cakes are eaten - unless she can see jam in which case not.
I don't find this diet restrictive, it can be varied quite a lot and she is happy and healthy.
My DSD is similar, but she will eat meat, but dislikes fruit and veg, but will eat a few peas and a peeled apple occasionally, but will fruit bars and drinks juice/smoothie. Her diet used to be terribly beige - pasta with cheese sauce, bread, rice, chicken nuggets, fish fingers - and mealtimes became stressful..So DP and I took a step back, relaxed and (had a baby) and I think it took the pressure off and over time she has developed a much better attitude to food. Going to senior school made a big difference too, she had to choose food from the canteen and I think having more control was good for her. Her diet is still a tad limited but much better - she's a slender, but healthy girl now.

Far out - I'd be happy if my 3.9yr DD ate half of these lists!! For the last 2 years she has had pasta (plain with butter & sometimes with cheese) for every supper!

Lunch is marmite on toast or marmite sandwich
or cheese on toast

We have to give her iron supplements a day, extra vitamins a day & a complan milkshake to build her up.

Her list of food includes:

Cheerios (dry)
Babybel cheese or Dairylea sticks
Bread
Double gloucester cheese
twiglets
fries (McD chips)
the occasional slice of apple
Pasta (plain with butter)
Innocent fruit smoothie (in packets) THANK GOD!!

She is a complete pain in the A to cater for and we are now seeing dieticians as they fear she is food phobic.
Caught her "cleaning" her chips with a napkin in Ikea once - she's got issues my one!!

BTW - she used to eat a varied diet bt over the last 2 years she has dropped any veg, fruit & meat that she used to eat.

I almost sound like I'm bragging about how little my daughter eats but I'm really not - I'm honestly at my wits end.

Do any of you see light at the end of the tunnel?

Muffinpip, it it reassuring for me to see your list, as it is not dissimilar to my own. DS2 is not food phobic, but is simply uninterested in actually eating food (he will play with it, he will talk to it, he will help cook it, but he will not eat it). I have almost reached a point where I give up and leave him to it - maybe that is best. I remember being so precious about ds1's diet (he didn't even taste chocolate till he was 4 ffs), yet I'll happily feed ds2 with hoola hoops day after day, because he will eat them .

I do know what you mean - we have just been on a 2 week holiday which proved to be a nightmare as I would end up cooking pasta everyday or she would eat chips!! Not the lovely healthy eater I had always dreamed of having.
Have you seen anyone about your child's eating habits? Mealtimes are so stressful - I just wish I could chill out & relax about the whole thing but I think she picks up on the attention & as mush as I try to ignore it she knows full well that my getting a decent meal into her is the b all & end all.

She's defo lost weight after our 2 weeks away - am going to weight her right now!!!

We are seeing a dietician and clincal psychologist about his eating. Neither seem to offer much advice above and beyond what we've already tried. Both say don't worry about nutritional value, worry more about calories at this point. It does make mealtimes very stressful though, which only makes it worse. He also will take the option to starve, if given it and has gone 4 days eating nothing before now (at that point, I put my foot down).

I used to be sooo judgy about people feeding their children on crap. Now I realise there are some that will look at ds2's diet and judge me just as much.

Blimey, you poor thing - you must be tearing your hair out!!! Fingers crossed that one day our children will tuck into a decent meal!!

One thing that has helped us & that was suggested by our dietician (from Southampton Hospital) was a complan milkshake of a day. It has heaps of vitamins & calories & is a good substitute. Obviously we dont want the kids to think that they can use this milkshake as a substitute but we've somehow brainwashed our daughter into thinking its a real treat to have one of these shakes. they come in different flavours - perhaps you might find one which your son likes?? How old is he??

he is 2.9 years old. Unfortunately he also has a dairy allergy, which makes it doubly complicated. He has everything made with Soya cream and I melt dairy free chocolate and add it to Soya yoghurts etc to increase the calories. he used to have a high calorie hypoallergenic milk, but it was making him sick, so he doesn't have it now. he's a million times better than he was,but far from anything like normal.

You poor thing - I know how much of a worry it is - thinking of you & hope that things will improve for you in time. Best wishes

Unseen - I know what you mean. I'm sure a lot of people look at my DS and think it's my fault that he barely eats but he would rather eat nothing than eat something he doesn't like. I've put him to bed without dinner several times but now I've just got to the point where I feed him what I know he'll eat as it's just too stressful otherwise.

Apparently a lot of them grow out of it around 5 or 6. I'm dreading him starting school in six months :(

blimey, some of these lists don't look fussy to me

my niece is 3 and will only eat

choc buttons
biscuits
banana
pasta occasionally
blackcurrant squash

now that is fussy

she is very listless and sad really

I agree with RoundOrangeHead,I wish mine would eat some of the things listed on here.

DS (2.5)will only eat

yoghurts
weetabix/porridge
toast occasionally
crackers with dairylea occasionally
chips
yorkshire puddings
raisins

funny how he has no problem with crisps or chocolate though. I just wish he would eat the occasional bit of pasta, veg, meat. I don't know how he manages to stay alive tbh. Physically nought wrong with him thoug, he's loud and full of energy (too much energy, likes to be up at 5.30) Have tried to give him homemade chips, but he knows the difference. Tried hiding things in yorkshires, but he examines them first.

It's rather embarrasing now he's at preschool and has a packed lunch. I'm sure they think I'm neglecting him. His big brother (4) is nothing like this, so I know it's not our lifestyle.

Muffinpip and LadyBiscuit, thank you for your kind words. It is reassuring to know that we are not alone! (although obviously not nice for you either and I wouldn't wish it on anyone iyswim).

I also know what you mean about dreading the start of school. DS2 is due to start in either September 2012 or January 2013 (if our LA hasn't stopped the January option by then), but he eats no breakfast, he only eats mid-morning under duress, he only eats a little lunch and survives on constant snacks (as advised by dietician and psychologist). However, school aren't going to accept a constantly snacking child. Some might say it's just a case of being firmer with him, but we've tried being firm (sit here till you eat some of your dinner etc) and that didn't work, we tried being relaxed and that didn't work (but was better for our sanity). It really is an absolute nightmare and makes me feel like such a failure as a parent, when our culture is so keyed in to "oh, he's such a good eater", being tied in with "oh, you are looking after him so well".

That sounds very familiar! You can't even mention food in earshot of my DS without him shouting 'But I'm not hungry!'. So discussions of what we should have for dinner or lunch or something have to be had out of earshot.

My nephew is almost as bad and he's 10 - he rarely finishes his school lunch because he eats so slowly, he doesn't have time.

And yes, a good eater does tend to be synonymous with being a good parent in a lot of people's eyes doesn't it? Crap

DS is 4 and eats:

Fish fingers
Chicken nuggets
Yoghurt
Fromage frais
Innocent smoothie pouches
Hummus
Pitta bread
Toast
Most cereals- weetabix, cornflakes, frosties, cheerios...
Sausages
Scotch eggs
Sausage rolls
Ham
Cheese on toast
Spreadable goats cheese (bizarrely)
Pizza (only margherita)

In addition, at nursery (but never at home) he will eat:

Tuna
Roast chicken (little sod asks for second helpings)
Angel Delight
Plain rice
Potatoes
Tinned fruit cocktail

If he didn't go to nursery he would have a huge vitamin deficiency I think. DH was apparently exactly the same until he was 16 or so.

I agree with whoever said their child just wasn't that bothered by food. DS seems to see it as fuel whereas his sister will tuck into whatever's put in front of her.

Oh, I wish ds2 would see it as fuel. He sees it as unnecessary, unfortunately . (OTOH, lately he seems to be responding to "you need food to help you grow", which was going fine until he ate a mouthful of dinner, then turned to ds1 and said "I ate some dinner, am I bigger yet?" ds1 (aged 6), desperately trying to explain it doesn't happen that fast, much to the disgust of ds2 .)

We work on the basis that he has protein (albeit only one source - salami or pepperoni), he has carbohydrates (even if they are chips, twiglets and hoola hoops) and he has fruit (apples/pears/grape juice). Ocassionally he chews on a carrot or piece of brocolli. He has multivitamins to cover any deficiencies and he has calcium and iron on prescription. There's not much more we can do.

My ds1 will eat:
Sausages
Cheese and tomato pizza
Pasta and spaghetti with a smudge of tomato sauce on it.
Plain omelette
Tomato soup
Bread
Just recently, thin Chips (mcdonalds style)
Burgers
Tuna
Chicken
Yorkshire puddings
Plain pancakes
Choc spread, Marmite, dairylea
Yogurt with no bits in

But not these things in combination,although last week for the first time ever tasted tuna and pasta bake. He is 8.

He eats no fruit or veg at all and it breaks my heart.

DDs thankfully isn't a fussy eater, but I grew up with the King of fussy eaters in my Brother -

he would eat NOTHING but Chicken, beans, chips, boiled eggs & white bread & only drink milk or lemonade (later beer & coke) - until well into his 30s -

its only now in his 40s he's expanded his diet, to include cauliflower, mushrooms, tinned peas, scampi fry crisps, peanuts & several other meats, but still a very poor diet, drinking more coke in a day than I do in a year -

weirder still, he is never bloody ill - unlike the rest of us who eat very healthy diets & weren't ever fussy eaters