Have we created a fussy eater somehow?!

[nelliestar]

Hi Everyone,

Our DS is 16 mths and I am worrying about his eating lately. He's getting fussier it seems. At the moment the only veg he will eat is peas and sweetcorn on the side but he will eat other stuff like carrots and mushrooms when they are in things like spaghetti bolognaise or moussaka. He has a thing for sausages (meat and veggie) at the moment and we seem to be giving him things we know he will eat lately as he has been teething and off his food. Is this wrong? should we be offering things he has previously rejected?
Fruit -  he will eat bananas and occassionally apples but loves dried fruit and humzingers. Doesn't seem to like anything potatoey like mash, new potatoes of frozen potato products. Will eat pasta and rice.

Should we be worried do you think? Need some reassurance.

Thanks,

Nell and DH xxxxx

[anna*]

They go through a huge fussy stage - I'm sure a big part of it is about exerting their will, and learning about what happens when they refuse to eat!

Definitely keep offering previously rejected foods, and keep and keep offering (especially if they are 'staples' for your family). Even if he never ever eats them, they will stay familiar and chances are he will give them another try.

Keep portions really small, they are easily 'overfaced' and it is better to finish off a tiny portion and then have another helping.

Oh the other thing is, if he eats something 'new', serve it again very soon afterwards and keep it in heavy rotation so that it stays on the 'will eat' list. My LO hated potatoes until he turned 2, he loves mash now.

Frozen blueberries, cubes of ripe pear, you can experiment with different shapes too.

[*Liz*]

ATM I can see nothing wrong at all with your LOs diet  . And I think they all go through periods of being fussier and more accepting of new tastes etc. Teething does influence as well.

I have a very very fussy eater though so I certainly have no real answers for how to keep a wider range.

All I can say is no I wouldn't be worried with a list of foods like that, and say that despite how little J seems to eat (in terms of quantity and range) his GI and dieticians have always reassured me that it is normal and fine for his age. Both in terms of meeting necessary nutrients and developing feeding skills. Basically they say that managing a full range of textures and a diet that includes the major food groups is all that they are asking for at this age.

[anna*]

Oh, should have said, Totally agree with Liz - he's really eating a pretty good range.

[nelliestar]

Thanks Anna and Liz!

I will worry less now (yeh right ; )) He eats well at Nursery - this week veg and barley soup and bread on tues and veg and chickpea curry and rice on Weds. I will keep offering stuff he has rejected before and not always order sausages and peas or Spag bol when we are out!!

Thanks again - great advice as always,

Nell xxx

[*Liz*]

 

I would love for my DS to eat any of those things - but the only thing on that list ATM is sausages  .

[anna*]

Stan won't TOUCH sausages... unless they're in a sandwich. Then, he loves them.     

[nelliestar]

; )  Aren't out LO's funny? Bram doesn't do cold food really. Went to a christening party today and there were tons of cold sausages that he wouldn't touch but I know if they were hot he would have eaten the lot!

N xxx