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Original poster

Food advice

18 replies

Suenamee · 12/04/2025 22:03

I have a 2 and a half year old daughter. And ever since she switched to regular meals instead of ready baby meals she has been extremely reluctant to eat anything other then snacks. The few meals she likes she'll have a handful of bites from and leave the rest. Sometimes just refuse all together. I've been forced to continue nursing her just to make sure she don't go to bed feeling hungry because I can't for the life of me or her get her to agree to her dinners.

A bit of background that may or may not be useful. She isn't diagnosed yet but she is suspected to be on the spectrum and is currently on a very long wait list to get a potential diagnosis. She doesn't speak yet and I don't know if she understands much more then a handful of words. She has some dental issues that she's getting treated for but doesn't show signs of discomfort as she has no problems devouring snacks.

I don't know what to doher dad says not to worry about it. "she'll eat when she wants to" he says. But he isn't much for giving two shits unless someone's dying.

Anyone with similar stories who can possibly give a lady some advice?

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BunnyRuddington · 13/04/2025 09:30

Unfortunately if she doesn’t have ASD she simply won’t eat the food if she’s hungry. Has anyone mentioned ARFID to you?

Original poster
Suenamee · 14/04/2025 15:49

BunnyRuddington · 13/04/2025 09:30

Unfortunately if she doesn’t have ASD she simply won’t eat the food if she’s hungry. Has anyone mentioned ARFID to you?

No never heard of it

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Sirzy · 14/04/2025 15:51

Did she eat the baby meals happily? If so I would be tempted to reintroduce them.

what does she eat in a typical day?

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MissyB1 · 14/04/2025 15:55

Ready made baby meals aren't "real" food, so she got used to upf artificial tasting food. Now she's struggling to adapt to real home cooked food, it's very different. You have to persevere, offer a small selection of items on the plate and try not to make a song and dance out of it.

BunnyRuddington · 14/04/2025 15:58

Suenamee · 14/04/2025 15:49

No never heard of it

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I would look it up. My DD has it and at that age we hadn’t heard of it and just though she was being extremely fussy.

shellyleppard · 14/04/2025 16:00

Can you just give her small portions of whatever you are eating?? Do you eat at the same time together or is she fed at a different time?? Giving her small portions and letting her feed herself might help x

Original poster
Suenamee · 14/04/2025 16:02

Sirzy · 14/04/2025 15:51

Did she eat the baby meals happily? If so I would be tempted to reintroduce them.

what does she eat in a typical day?

Edited

Yes but I doubt the 7+ month baby jars would be very nutritional for a near 3 year old

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Original poster
Suenamee · 14/04/2025 16:03

MissyB1 · 14/04/2025 15:55

Ready made baby meals aren't "real" food, so she got used to upf artificial tasting food. Now she's struggling to adapt to real home cooked food, it's very different. You have to persevere, offer a small selection of items on the plate and try not to make a song and dance out of it.

She's been off those foods for 7 months atleast by now. She should have learned to get used to differences by now?

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Original poster
Suenamee · 14/04/2025 16:04

BunnyRuddington · 14/04/2025 15:58

I would look it up. My DD has it and at that age we hadn’t heard of it and just though she was being extremely fussy.

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I will do thank you

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BunnyRuddington · 14/04/2025 16:05

Suenamee · 14/04/2025 16:04

I will do thank you

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It’s also more likely if she’s ND Flowers

Original poster
Suenamee · 14/04/2025 16:05

shellyleppard · 14/04/2025 16:00

Can you just give her small portions of whatever you are eating?? Do you eat at the same time together or is she fed at a different time?? Giving her small portions and letting her feed herself might help x

I usually make myself an extra large portion that she gets to share with me to try and entice her to eat. Sometimes she will have some sometimes she refuses all together. And when she does choose to have some she only has a few bites before refusing

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shellyleppard · 14/04/2025 16:07

@Suenamee definitely a difficult one for you x

Sirzy · 14/04/2025 16:07

Suenamee · 14/04/2025 16:02

Yes but I doubt the 7+ month baby jars would be very nutritional for a near 3 year old

Show quote history

They are more nutritional than nothing though.

what is a typical days diet?

MissyB1 · 14/04/2025 16:10

Suenamee · 14/04/2025 16:03

She's been off those foods for 7 months atleast by now. She should have learned to get used to differences by now?

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But if you think about it she was on them a long time, if you stopped them about 7 months ago she must have been nearly 2? Was there any reason she was on them that long? Had you tried her before that on your food? Did she have any medical issues?

Original poster
Suenamee · 14/04/2025 18:27

MissyB1 · 14/04/2025 16:10

But if you think about it she was on them a long time, if you stopped them about 7 months ago she must have been nearly 2? Was there any reason she was on them that long? Had you tried her before that on your food? Did she have any medical issues?

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Before that we had a very rough patch financially. We were sat on cheapest micro meals every day me and my partner for a long time and i didn't want that for her. And she liked the baby meals that we got deals from the shop for so I stuck with them longer then intended

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Original poster
Suenamee · 14/04/2025 18:28

Sirzy · 14/04/2025 16:07

They are more nutritional than nothing though.

what is a typical days diet?

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Right now it's the usual meals. Pasta bakes, lasangas, Stroganoff is one thing she usually enjoys and we have that once a week because of it. We have a pizza day each week and she'll have a little bit of that. Fish fingers and such

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Petrie999 · 14/04/2025 18:39

Usual advice would be to cut snacks and milk and offer a mix of healthy things she would like and may not eat together, she will eat if she is hungry and not pressured. Try things together and let her explore. Dont make a fuss if they dont eat just take away and try again at next meal. They won't eat if they know snacks will come. However, that would not apply if the issues is asd/arfid. It may not be though, if she's having a few bites of things. It sounds more like she was on fairly untextured and bland baby meals past the point where she needed to be trying new textures and solids and so is still learning. They need a lot less than you would think after age 2 as their growth slows and if she is filling up on snacks perhaps she just doesn't feel a need to eat more.

Original poster
Suenamee · 14/04/2025 19:10

Petrie999 · 14/04/2025 18:39

Usual advice would be to cut snacks and milk and offer a mix of healthy things she would like and may not eat together, she will eat if she is hungry and not pressured. Try things together and let her explore. Dont make a fuss if they dont eat just take away and try again at next meal. They won't eat if they know snacks will come. However, that would not apply if the issues is asd/arfid. It may not be though, if she's having a few bites of things. It sounds more like she was on fairly untextured and bland baby meals past the point where she needed to be trying new textures and solids and so is still learning. They need a lot less than you would think after age 2 as their growth slows and if she is filling up on snacks perhaps she just doesn't feel a need to eat more.

This actually made me calm down a little bit more... Thank you

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