DS was generally a good eater but has been going downhill since about 13 months old. He's been turning his nose up at his long time favorites, and I haven't been able to get him to eat hardly any meat or cheese for the last month. He used to LOVE sliced cheddar and lunch meat. I can sometimes get him to eat quesadillas with cheese and meat in it, but that's about it these days besides the occasional hot dog, spaghetti, and lasagna.
To make matters worse, my ped thinks his food texture aversion has to do with his speech delay and wants me to really try to get him to eat better varieties and food mixtures/meals. We are getting no where fast.
So I guess this is more of a vent and need for sympathy. I understand that you need to expose them 10-15 times to a new food, but it's SO much harder now that he's a toddler. I feel like I'm making two meals every night and wasting so much food! It was easy when it was just a single ingredient when he was a baby -- broccoli. Doesn't like it? Put it in the fridge and try again tommorrow (and the next and the next). But sandwiches and dinners with multiple ingredients don't keep as long or reheat as well.
And most time he won't even taste the food! He touches it to his lip and says "sssssss." Or sticks out his tongue for a tiny lick, and "sssssss."
Some things I know he'd LOVE if I could actually get him to take a bite!
And when he doesn't eat the first meal, do I just go ahead and give him something I know he'll eat (hence the title of this post)? Or am I just teaching him to hold out for the good stuff?