Ideas for tempting a poorly (!!) toddler to eat?

[Habbibu]

Apologies firstly for those who hate the word poorly! My dn (3) has had a bad virus lately - prob norovirus - and although the illness itself seems to be abating (temp down, etc), she's very weak and lethargic and has very little appetite.

She's had a couple of spoonfuls of porridge today, is drinking milk, but refuses everything else, including smoothies and chocolate!

My sister isn't sure whether to worry or not, and would appreciate ideas for nutritious and tempting food, and any other advice you might have. Thanks - am also posting this in Children's health.

Don't worry too much about food if she's not keen - animals starve themselves when they are ill, I tried it last time I had a tummy bug and recovered much quicker I think than if I'd tried to eat.

Something like breadsticks or dry toast is better than anything sweet to start with.

My dd is just getting over norovirus - I'm just letting her have what she fancies. And going fairly heavy on carbohydrates to try and bind up the diarrhoea. Mine has had a little sausage roll (!) and some bread and butter today, with milky smoothie. For tea I have chopped up some bits of tomato and cheese and breadsticks that she can take or leave. Hope she gets better soon, I think their bodies know what they need so am sure the milk and porridge will be doing her good.

When my friends little boy was ill and not eating she left a plate of bits and pieces out for him, within easy reach.

She said it worked quite well as she didn't have to keep asking him if he wanted anything, therefore avoiding making an issue of it.

(BTW he'd had his tonsils out and, as well as having no appetite from feeling unwell, he was also a bit scared of eating in case it hurt him. She was therefore wary about not making a big thing of it)

Thanks, all - sister says thanks too. dn appears to be on the mend, having passed it on to my poor mother!