Hello!

My son who is 2.5 years old doesn’t eat a variety of foods. I cook various meals and try making them interesting for him to eat but still no luck. He only eats a handful of foods and NO vegetables apart from cucumber. Is this normal? He very rarely would eat red meat and sometimes chicken. I’m worried he isn’t getting the proper nutrition he should be getting. Help?!!


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  • My daughter was the same… still very fussy but I would just slowly introduce her to something new to try each time. If she didn’t like it, that was ok, I’d just the same thing again another time.
    You can also try hiding veggies in some dishes like puree’ing them and adding to pasta sauce or grating them into something.
    I think the best thing is not to worry to much, they do go through phases. You can also speak to your doctor if you are concerned about their nutrition and perhaps the doctor could recommend a supplement.
    Good luck and hang in there!


  • Perseverance works here. You just have to keep offering things over and over again, and eventually he’ll try some – and maybe like them.


  • I find tasting plates great, heaps of small amounts of different foods on a plate.


  • Don’t worry too much, your don’t have an exceptional child, fussy eaters are normal in this age range. Try involve him in the meal preparation as a way to interest him. Eat a wide variety of goods yourself, if he sees you eating something new, he might be tempted to try it. A veggie garden would be ideal too, get him excited right from paddock to plate


  • My daughter went through the same thing, the only thing she would eat was cheese. I tried hiding vegetables in the cheese, to no avail, she could always pick it out. I was worried about her too, however in the end I kept persisting on the normal foods, and refused to let her have anything else if she declined my original meal. She eventually ate when she got really hungry, kids will not allow themselves to starve, encourage by saying you only have to have one bite and dont have to eat the rest if you do not like it. But do not pander to him and make him something else just because you are worried, believe me I learnt the hard way.


  • If u can get hold of a juicer or “bullet”
    Try making your own juice for him with fruit and veggies and get him involved in helping put the fruit in it.
    Try not to say I’ll make you something else then either
    As children will work out as soon as you do it once they will all ways want you to do it.
    It seems hard but they will learn if I scream and get upset I can get what I want.
    My boys love making their own juices now esp if they don’t know what they want for breakfast or afternoon snack they will do a juice up


  • well i think that you could try to hide his vegies and maybe even let him hep you make things. Make lasagnas and rissoles which are great for hiding finely chopped or blended vegies in. try to make fun vegie shapes or call them fun names. My fussy daughter hates vegies but i tried to make honey carrots for her to try and then gradually just got her to eat normal carrots. Also i have tried to grow a garden with my children and so they can help with that. Don’t stress too much and he will gradually want to try more things. Sometimes you can make up a plate that has small portions of cubes of cheese, sultanas, olives etc and let him try them out. Show him that you eat these things too. i wouldn’t force him to eat his food or go without but try to encourage him to try things. Even if he has a bite and nothing more, that is a step in the right direction. Keep him trying these foods. If he doesn’t like mashed potato, then roast it etc.


  • It does seem pretty normal kids especially toddlers are extremely picky with food. they seem to put everything in there mouths except food sometimes… grrr.
    one thing to try is not to give him choices at meal time, eg. a piece of meat all cut up so he can eat that or nothing, or mash veg so he can eat that or nothing… ect.
    you get the picture, one thing at a time so he cant turn his nose up at some something, don’t worry he wont starve himself he will eat when he is hungry. if he does try something and really doesnt like take it away and give him something else or if he eats all of one thing and is still hungry give hime something different to try

    hope this helps


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