So..DS is generally a good eater. He has an allergy to dairy and eggs but eats a varied diet of soups, sandwiches, pasta, casseroles, cottage pie, fish fingers etc. We did a mixture of spoon feeding and finger food when weaning but he's never been one to pick up a vegetable (other than carrots, corn on the cob and sugar snap peas - and possibly raw red peppers!) and eat it. So if you plonked a "meat and two veg" type meal in front of him he would just look at it and say "no" but if it was all part of a casserole he'd eat it all up. Similarly with fruit, he tends to be very faddy - eating one fruit only for weeks before switching to another favourite (generally a cycle of banana, melon or pineapple!).
I've tried hard never to make mealtimes an issue and continue to offer bits of fruit/veg that myself and DH are eating or put the occasional broccoli floret on his plate. However, I met some friends with similar aged DCs today and they were horrified, as their children will eat tomatoes, cucumber - you name it! I explained that DS would eat those - just not naked (so to speak!) and they were even more horrified and said I was getting DS into bad habits.
So... I would appreciate some wisdom! Should I be taking a more firm approach? I didn't see any point, given that he is so little and not able to be bribed yet but now they've got me worried. All experiences and advice welcomed - including tellings off if I need one!