Fussy eaters-help!

[BourbonBiscuits20]

I've got three kids 6, 4 and 1.
Over time they are just becoming fussier and fussier eaters! I think about the only dinner they all will eat is sausages, beans and chips (though 4 yo sometimes being picky about the beans and doesn't eat much in the way of chips/waffles now!) or mince and tatties but even that's becoming bit hit and miss.
Looking for advice/reassurance from anyone who's come through it now with children who will actually eat some foods!

I think that DS only reliably ate a cheese sandwich at age 3 and will now eat almost everything.

I'd give them new foods. So if they like mince and tatties try cottage pie but put sone thing you'll know that they'll eat on the side, like maybe a couple of chips or a sausage, cut lengthways for the younger two.

Thank you for replying! It's sometimes just nice to have the reassurance of some who's been through the same! Cottage pie is a great idea we've not had that in years so I will try that. Thanks!

Similar boat here.

• 5 yr old will try anything and has broad enough taste.
• 3 yr old is fussy and stubborn, so I'm interested to see what advice folk have

3 yr old loves pasta, but won't eat bolgnaise etc. I do what they do at nursery and mix it through and bake it. Suddenly, it's pasta bake, and that's all good? Fussy wee midge 🙄
Since he's started having hot meals at nursery he's become orw adventurous / more accepting of what is on the plate. So maybe peer pressure is a tactic?

I never thought I'd be that parent, but I am now fully converted to "kids in 3rd world countries don't starve when there's food around"

I got more and more stressed out with my child getting fussier with eating. One day something just snapped. I binned every single crappy snack food and started serving what I wanted to serve for all meals. He went to bed hungry for 3 days in a row (he had eaten plenty earlier in the day, just refused dinner), and then he started eating.

He honestly immediately started eating everything. I could tell he knew I meant business. My rule is that I will never force him to eat anything but the food is there and it's his choice. Eat it or don't. I don't care. He does eat it.

Of course he has his preferences, I don't mind that at all. And some days he eats more than others. But I have transcended caring about it any way shape or form. It's his choice what he eats, but the food on the table is all that's on offer.

You're at the worst ages for it - 6 was hardest but as they got older it got better after that.

We have things that each kid won't eat and we don't expect them to but as they are older I have tell them that whilst I won't make them eat those things ever and provide alternatives, I will also make meals that I like for us all to share that I know won't be popular but I know they can manage well enough. Also crudités / veg / fruit first to know they've got some goodness in whisky they're hungry and on particularly beige days I'll often give them a smoothie too.

I hate fast food but we do have it once most weeks so it's only fair I get to pick I want too.

They’d be very hungry in our house as we don’t do freezer food or offer alternatives (no SN)

Yes I didn't know if popular opinion or not but they don't get alternatives! I would allow weetabix or bread and butter if it's like something in a sauce they didn't like and therefore didn't have anything on their plate they liked. But that's only allowed if they've at least tried it!
The only time I make separate for us and the kids is if I want to make something properly nice for me and DH (like steak) then we would eat later because I'm not wasting that on them when it won't get eaten!!