Fruitarian toddler?

[Janice83]

Hi,

Just want a little advice.

I've been friend with one of the mums in my area for quite some time and she told me that her 15 month old son is on a fruitaria diet. I've heard about vegans or even raw vegans but never about fruit only diet before. What is even more strange is that not she or her partner are fruitarians, they eat meat a processed food everyday. The little boy has always been small for his age but I don't think that this is the best diet for a child to thrive a gain weight properly. He is only 17lb and not walking yet. Not much eye contact or smiling. It seems a bit antisocial. I know every baby is different buy after knowing more about his diet I started to look more his behaviour and can't help to think that is somewhat related.

I'm being too oversensitive on the issue? I feel that is none of my business but on the other hand I worry about it. Shoul I say something? And how?

I'd just ask 'what is that? And why?'
Simple 😁

Are you sure she didn't mean he's fruitarian, as in all he ever wants to eat is fruit? It would be unusual for people who weren't particularly rigid about their own diets to be so extreme about their child's.

I'd ask what he eats. If it's only fruit, veg and seeds then it's not suitable for a child. I'd probably then phone their dr or social services I think.

Are you sure she wasn't joking/fed up/being sarky about her child's fussy eating, and him only wanting to eat fruit.

Social services!! Bit extreme

I used to say this as a joke as ds would basically only eat fruit (and biscuits)... I highly suspect it's the case here

Sounds like she made a joke about her son's eating habits and yes he may have some developmental delays. They won't be connected.

Oh no, the boy can only eat fresh fruit. They're not even started on nuts yet because he can't chew them. We usually go out on outings and baby groups and all he is eating is mashed avocado, banana or blueberrys. Some moms have noted this and offer her LO some potato mash or rice cake or whatever and she refused. I ask her why when she told me and she said that she had read about this diet being the most healthy one.

Ask her what she means. Maybe she was being flippant and joking as her child is a really fussy eater.

If she is actually choosing to only feed him fruit and seeds then no I doubt that is a sufficient diet for a toddler. If mum is open to getting advice on it you could recommend she sees an NHS dietician, in my area they drop into playgroups and have self referral for parents. If she isn't, yes I would contact social services, the child probably isn't being fed sufficiently and the parents are not being sensible.

It is weird if the parents eat a full diet and the child is only fed fruit.

There is no way this is true.

Either the mother was joking or the OP is!

If you sure this is true then I would consider an anonymous call to social services TBH

I would think it was a joke first tho - you'd have to be pretty sure!

Yeah ok op.

Woah.
Social services would not be too extreme.
A bit of "advice" from a social worker might be just what is needed.
She sounds good intentioned but so misguided.

If this is actually true, and she actually thinks it's a suitable diet, you could try asking her where he's getting enough protein, fats, vitamins and minerals from. And ask her to speak to her HV about whether they think it's suitable.

Can you imagine the state of his nappies? vom.

More seriously, do you know the health visiting team in her area? Talking to them might be more useful and less dramatic than going straight to social services.

Is he having milk still?

Can you have a talk to her about it and the health visitor

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fruitarianism

Is he still breastfeeding a lot?

Children have died

I completely believe this has happened by the way.
So many people don't seem to understand that infants and small children need a diet with plenty of fat.
A low fat diet that is healthy for a grown adult will cause malnutrition in small kids.

I though about talking to HV team but I'm afraid of her knowing that I spoke to them about it. They really are a nice little family, they love their son just seem very confused on what is healthy for a child. I tried to offer her suggestion about healthy food for toddlers like hummus or sweet potato.

The thing is that I'm normally a shy person and I'm scare of making a confrontation or upset her.

For those asking the boy still breastfeeding a lot.

I wonder if they have fallen into it because it seemed appropriate/easy in the early stages of weaning (at 7 months) and sticking with it now means they don't have to cook properly or re-evaluate the way they eat. It's very worrying. You need to talk and get help somehow.

It sounds like they need proper nutritional advice and cookery lessons.

Perhaps he is a fussy eater

If she doesn't understand basic nutrition, it might be best to try and help her understand somehow. Maybe you could tell her that you're going to ask your health visitor to help explain as you're struggling. Then ask your health visitor to talk about nutrition needs.

You've a choice. Feel a bit awful about dobbing in your friend or see a child's dietary needs/health neglected.