I have not provided a preferred food at every meal but we are doing that today....I am wondering if I shouldn't...IDK.
I just asked as sometimes LOs learn to expect something preferred at every time. I would vary it though. Maybe 2/3 meals a day give something preferred and one don't. You may find more success as if he's very hungry he'll try something new. At the meal where you aren't giving something preferred give something he's likely to try (like a handful of cereal or a plain biscuit) as then you can praise him for eating something new IYSWIM even if its not totally healthy!
The nutritionist said to "try" to get him to stay at the table and engage him but if he leaves don't make a big deal but don't let him leave the table with food.
Thats a great plan. If you don't find an improvement you could set a timer for a few minutes intially and get him to stay there for just that length of time but I'd leave that a few days!
One more question.....DH says that he keeps getting up and throwing the food away on his plate that he doesn't want. I probably shouldn't let him do that, right? Make him keep it there until lunch time is over and then have him throw everything away?
No I wouldn't let him throw anything away. I'd tell him food stays on the plate and mummy/daddy will deal with clearing the plates at the end of the meal. Letting him throw it away is his way of maintaining control over what he eats. I would also probably keep the meal for a while after (in the fridge or wherever) so if he says he's hungry you can reoffer his meal but after say an half hour or whatever I'd just get rid of it and wait until the next meal.
Oh and he tried a banana at snack....he NEVER eats banana's...he tried it once at school but not for us.
WOW!!!!! Great boy!!!
Keep up the hard work. You and DH are obviously being very calm about it all if its all starting to pay off already...good for you!!!
