6 year old fussy eater

[RhubarbRhubarb23]

My 6 year old is a really fussy eater. He eats: pasta, grated cheese, cucumber, peanut butter, pomegranate seeds, chocolate, biscuits, waffles, fish fingers, tuna, baked beans, boiled eggs, pizza with no cheese. Nothing else.
It's been suggested that he may have some sensory processing issues that we're getting looked into.
In the meantime, his lack of food flexibility is making me feel really stressed. He barely eats one portion of fruit / veg a day, let alone the recommended five. Should I challenge it or just keep making him the same stuff over and over? Mealtimes are so stressful. I've read about 'safe foods'. When I make him new stuff with his safe foods he only eats the stuff he likes. I'm really embarrassed about it too - I hate it when people ask me what food he likes in preparation for a playdate etc - I don't know how to respond without sounding like a total pain in the arse.

I have a baby I'm weaning and she eats so well at the moment. I'm worried she'll see what he eats and act similarly at mealtimes soon because that's how she'll think children should eat.

Keep making the same things in rotation served in different interesting ways, and serve on the table alongside whatever you're having. Put everything out so people are serving themselves onto an empty plate. So everyone's plate is empty to start with and then load up. Take something of "his" on your plate.

Then it's just the food that's available for everyone. Not your food and his. Make no mention of it whatsoever. This will help your daughter too as it takes the spotlight off his plate being different.

As for play dates, say "oh he's a bit fussy. You know what they can be like. He'd be so happy with fish fingers, waffles and beans or a tuna sandwich though". No one will bat an eyelid. That's standard 6 year old food and people like an easy kid on play dates.

Try not to worry. His diet could be faaar worse. He's doing well and so are you x