Hello!

My middle son is almost 3 and refuses to even taste food. He will only eat cereal, bread, fried chips and nuggets and of course anything sweet. If I serve up anything else to him he throws a tantrum and leaves the table. I’ve tried everything I can think of. Does anyone have any tips for getting my toddler to eat?


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  • I just say its cake. He’ll at least try it.


  • My 3 year old daughter used to eat nearly everything, now she has become a total nightmare to feed. She is very fussy in what she eats but the good thing is she really loves her peas, corn mashed potato etc, I struggle to get her to eat meat which I get worried about


  • I would give him what he likes then, he will change when he gets older


  • u might have 2 wait till his hungry … it mean but it might help


  • not let him leave the table tell hhim he needs to eat or he cant go play


  • there are some good comments here


  • Try placing food in the middle of the table like a smorgasbord. Kids like to reach for their own food. Stick to this kid of serving for a few weeks see how that goes. Learn to pass plates and offer food to each other. Get some kids cook books and choose food from them and cook from scratch with their help. Tell them you need their help tonight. Have the kids sit at the table with carrots, Zucchini, potatoes, sweet potatoes and a peeler and teach them to peel veggie’s. You can talk to them about food. Cut it up into interesting shapes. Place on baking paper spray a little olive oil and have the kids watch them bake. Let the alarm bell sound every 10 minutes. Make it their job to come tell you they are ready. Kids and food preparation is a easy way of learning about food. Make your own ice-cream. Get them involved in where food comes from not just Coles and Woolies.


  • Whoop his arse and make him sit at the table with the family while they enjoy their meal. He will eat anything when he is hungry enough. Pander to his every whim and he will continue with the tantrums.


  • My daughter would only eat yoghurt , rice bubbles, mashed potato, apple, strawberrys, banana and milk, for over a year. I would mash potato, grate fine carrot, mash peas, add fine cooked mince and finely chopped steamed broccoli heads into it, make potato cakes, but in oven. Also did them in paper cake cups with sausage strips sticking out top as treats, and intentially say they were special and leave in fridge. She would wait till i was busy, and eat them, thinking i not know..haha… i would just keep making them…Breakfast or lunch was yoghurt and rice bubbles mixed. She loved that one. We mixed weekly in large container, chopped fruit up real fine into it. We didnt stress.. paediatrician and dietician all said… if she eating something, give her lots…. if she not eating, she will eat when she hungry or thirsty. A child that age will not starve…they just finding what they like, and what buttons they can push. This has since worked with grandson, who is same as his mother…. and now eats everything… miss 3 is now the same, so out come all my ways with her mother.. working… remember , force not work.. use subterfuge. If they think they are pinching it, they will keep eating it..just keep topping up the tray in the fridge.


  • Following


  • stop giving him options of chips etc, and also do a weekly menu and ask him for suggestions… works like a bomb


  • You need to do the best for your child and that means providing the best food for him to put into his little body. Having treats and naughty foods should be in moderation and they need to be made aware what is good and why the other foods aren’t. My kids always ask for stuff in the shops and i say to them ‘let me read the label’ and they know if i say it has too much sugar then its a flat No. Mine would like to eat white bread and chocolate or have a drink of fizzy drink everyday if their choice…but if i don’t have it or my reply is no that they aren’t having these things , they sometimes get a bit niggly but i tell them the reasons why they can’t have it and that there are healthier choices. Kids will have tantrums and refuse things…only natural, but you are the parent and you need abit of tough love and just offer him the good choices and perservere through it. Giving in to him is not helping him at all…


  • I feel your pain..at least you have bread…


  • that’s a hard time!! I do the “if you dont have it now this is what you will eat for tea” well if you dont want it or not hungry you will just have a peice of fruit then! or if its new I will say just one mouth full and I will leave you alone! one mouth full tell mummy if you like it…. eventually he will have it slowly chew I walk away peek around the corner and hes gobbling it up haha lmao! if not i say oh well you can just have fruit!.. this was 2yrs old.. he is 4 & a half.. eats everything!! unless he truly doesnt like it! ! if not no desert (fruit and yogurt/ice cream)


  • Id say THE earlier u introducé healthy eating in a early stage as in from breast feeding to introducing fruit n veg plus seafood n red meat or lean meat.mix n match with been decorative with bright coloured healthy breakfast lunch or dinner,Kids Will love it.Ive got a single 6year OLd plus twins which r 5yrs OLd n with intro from sweet potato n corn to carrots n broccoli not forgetting capsicum,they love it.they also get fussy at times but then I remind them to be greatful for wats been served as other kids don’t have dat much food to eat so give them something to think about plus you have to always have to be honest with them.And doesn’t matter whether they’re 2 or 3yrs old,they smart at that age n they know,they just need dat encouragement n boost.u can make nothing into something creatively colourful to their liking n taste:)


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