What Do Expect Your Nusery to do for Youe Picky Eater?

[Highlander]

DS1 is now going to nursery for lumch. I wrote down all the foods that he likes, but said it was probably best if he was on the vegetarian menu since he hates chunks of meat.

I said that we operate the kiss it, lick it, nibble it policy for new foods (works wonders!) and that I never, ever make a separate meal for him. Also, if he was being fussy to offer him an apple and bread at main course.

However, he frequently comes homesaying he had 'plain pasta', despite reporting to me that he ate all of his lunch.

jiggling DS2 while writing, so a bit short.... should I expect them to do more?

apologies for cod-esque typing.

Also, I volunteered to bring a packed lunch for DS1 but his teacher immediately said NO, as she didn't want the other children being encouraged to be picky. Bit disappointed, but don't know whether I'm beiong unreasonable.

Hve you asked the teacher what he is actually eating? Sometimes children are very selective in what they tell you. There are lots of threads on here about popular children coming home from school having played with "nobody" and children with a full timetable who did "nothing". Agree that packed lunch is not really an option if nobody else has it.

at nursery I would expect a full report of WHAT had been eaten and I've always got this for both of my children (e.g. chicken and pasta, ate 1/4 chicken, ate all pasta - repeated for each meal)

Lunchboxes are a bit of a health and safety hazard in nurseries (storage/allergies etc)

To avopid tears, they started offering him plain pasta, ot plain mash with boiled veg. This worked well, so now I think they don't bother offering him what everyone else is eating, hence them saying 'he ate all of his lunch'. To me, that means what was on the menu!

Since they've started doing this, I've noticed that he's started up his picky whining at mealtimes, not eating much then whining for biscuits later on. Grrrrr......

I am a cook at a child care centre.

1. I cant belive people who serve up plain pasta are employed as cooks.
2. We have a vegetarian for religious reasons child who brings in her own lunch.( The other kids deal with it)we do cater for vegetarians(I am 1) but the parents are more comftable with that.

If the food was fine It would be a great experience for your child to try diff. foods. My child hardley ate untill he started child care. Learning from his friends and gentle encouragment from staff. It sounds like you have a good way of gettin your child to eat at home, sorry but I cant imagine the staff havin the time to follow it through. Also it dosent sound like fussy eating it sounds like bad cooking. Is there such thing as the perfect child care ????

You should be able to take your own food. (but this intails more work for you and I can imagine no discount.
or
go and have a chat with the cook. The door should be open to the cook just as any other staff member.
Good luck

I just realised how old this message is. Woops.

I would second the "chat with the cook" comment.

We have a part time nursery attender. He eats VERY well at nursery and its not just that they are making it up.. honestly, he does! Much tougher going at home still though!

If I was you, I would try to have him eat what the other children are having and so he is encouraged to eat along with them and doesn't stand out as being different. It may take a bit of time, but maybe it could be the key to cracking his fussy eating.

I asked at our nursery and was told that they find that kids eat better when surrounded by their peers eating the same thing. I guess a bit like "mmmm johnny is eating fish fingers... so i will eat mine too" type of thing.

We had a fussy eater who would NOT sit at the table & had a compler meltdown at the mention of food.

We started her off just staying for mornings & leaving before lunch, then staying but just sitting on a careers knee. When she did that without a fuss we started laying a place at table for her & she just sat etc etc. The food thing wasn't introduced for ages & we literally started with ONE pasta twirl-making no fuss lots of chat & she gradually relaxed & by the time she left for school was eating a (small) proper meal AND pudding !