My partner has 2 fussy eaters... one being way worse then the other with not eating any fruit or veggies. Will flat out refuse to try anything no matter how long we try with him. (His diet consists of Oates, honey sandwhiches, yoghurt, muesli bar (only particular brand) and nuggets.
His other child is slowly trying new food but picks at it, spits it back out, or just nibbles on it. Says he likes it but then I serve it next time and he refuses to eat it.
My two children eat pretty much everything I give them so I'm making 2 or 3 different meals which as a working mum I bloody hate!
Please someone give me some advice I'm pulling my hair out over this!
Fussy eaters
Fussy eaters
Posted in:
Kids
14 Replies
My son is the same, terribly fussy eater. As a baby/toddler would eat anything and everything, but as hes grown hes gotten more and more fussy. I find with my son he tends to at least try things when i make the food fun and i get him involved in the kitchen and we have our own little fruit and veggie garden that he gets to water/weed them
My son was extremely, extremely fussy and would spit everything out too. As he has gotten older, he is much better, how old are the kids? Hopefully they will grow out of it. During those difficult times, I gave him what he wanted as he is also painfully skinny. Thank god that phase is over lol
Get your partner to cook there meals!
Don't make different meals. Include something in the meal everyone will eat, but serve everyone everything and eventually they will try it
If the children have sensory issues then they won't eventually try it. My son is autistic with major sensory issues, and he would starve before eating food that he is unable to.
Read about sensory processing disorder, SPD. They could have sensory issues with food taste or textures, it also goes with high anxiety about trying new foods, it could help you be more understanding and helpful. They can be easy to cater for if theyre happy with the same thing every day. If hes that restrictive he should probably be getting therapy or professional advice.
My little one is bad but not that bad so we just roll with it and hope she'll try something. The way we do it is this - theres always something on the plate she will eat that will fill her up and a small amount of parts of our dinner for her to try and if she likes it she can have more, sometimes we score and it goes on the list of ok food. Sometimes she doesnt like it, we praise for trying and talk about looks, flavours and textures, lately I can make her eat three pieces anyway but there was a time I wouldnt have recommended that.
This. All 4 of my children eat different things. My son is very sensory with his food. So many things he just can't bring himself to eat, but he's slowly getting better now he's older.
This. All 4 of my children eat different things. My son is very sensory with his food. So many things he just can't bring himself to eat, but he's slowly getting better now he's older.
The best advice I ever got...
COOK 1 meal, and 3 sides!!
Yep! 3! Main meal like bolognese for example, and then 3 sides...so maybe a garlic bread, a side salad and mashed potato.
Yep, looks misjointed but everyone gets some of everything. They'll eat what they like and leave the rest. Eventually they'll surprise you and just eat it.
Another example, cook nuggets, vegetables, pasta and and a bread roll.
It seems daunting to start with, but it's not. As long as they're s something on the plate they like.
I've just dropped sides to 2. Last night we had chicken Snitzel, salad and a bread roll. He ate the bread roll and half the snitzel. That's a pretty good effort.
Give it a go for a few nights and see if everyone keeps happy and full :)
That's pure genius right there, wish I had your advice when my son was a toodler 😂
I was sceptical when someone told me - but I tried it one night when I was at my wits end... and he ate just the pasta... I was annoyed with the wastage but I have dogs so just fed the dogs, and now I find he eats more and because everyone has the same on their plate no-one is "special" or "privileged" and everyone gets something they like.
Is there a sensory issue going on ? How old are the kids ? Its easy to say they will eat when hungry but my son has ASD & sensory issues & he would starve rather than eat - literally. Maybe see GP or Paediatrican & go from there.
If it's not a sensory issue then I'd just say too bad. My niece was like this and unless there's a good reason for it, I told her I won't have kids who don't eat fruit and veg stay at my house. My son doesnt like ice cream or whatever as deserts, he likes mango or strawberries. So when my niece would come to stay she would say she wanted maccas or chips with ice cream for desert and I'd just tell her if she wasn't eating what everyone was eating (6 nights out of 7 we'd have veggies) then I'd just ring her mum to come and get her. Truth be told I wouldn't be that nasty. But she ate those veggies like no tomorrow lol. Now she knows if she wants to come to my house she doesn't get chocolate or packets of chips if she wants a snack, she gets fruit or vegetables and dinner is mostly served with veggies.
My son doesn't like capsicum, mushroom or onion, but I don't leave them out of meals, he just picks it out and he's happy with that.
I would not be cooking 3 meals instead of one for fussy kids, But I would cook 3 meals if there were sensory issues.
This has all the signs of a sensory issue. Would definitely look into SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder), and ways in which to work with this - possibly even an OT assessment if you think that may be warranted. My son (autism with major sensory issues) has had a limited diet for his entire life (he is nearly 13), some foods have remained staples, a few have dropped off the list and have been replace by another food item. I offer new foods regularly but make sure that they are of the same textures as the food he currently eats.