Hello!

Getting quite frustrated and need of help and ideas. My 2.7 y.o will not eat anything new. His diet at the moment consists mainly of jam sandwiches, cheese, yogurt and fruit. During the day is not so bad but come dinner time he doesn’t want a bar of anything. I have tried making foods that ‘hide’ the veggies but he just won’t try anything, getting him to eat meat, even sausages or chicken is an extreme task. I feel like I’m failing somewhere when it comes to dinner! How do I get my toddler to eat better?

Posted by Mary 7.1.2013


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  • I’ve always had a rule in my house. You don’t have to like it but you do have to try it!
    I also tell them that once upon a time they had never tried their favourite food but when they did they loved it.
    That’s all it’s ever taken. The not having to like it line takes some of the pressure off of them. They are now willing to try new foods automatically. My middle child often struggles with trying new foods (he never used to) but the reminder really helps and if my kids don’t like something, I don’t force it on them. I’m really fussy myself so it helps with them


  • Keep offering different things, He may eventually give it a go


  • Lots of different options for him!


  • Keep offering him the healthy options at regular meal times stop any junk and eating at non meal times. He should get hungry enough to hopefully at least try something different


  • most are fussy, im sure its a slight phase. try different options, avoid snacks before meals


  • oh i hope that he is past this fussy stage


  • Make some shapes like a car with things, a face etc. :)


  • Oh I feel you! At least toddler is eating fruit and yogurt during the day. Can you try mixing some of these things with something for dinner, :) I give my toddler watermelon for dinner in amongst cucumber,r tomato, cheese, etc and normally he will at least try a bit of everything, :)


  • The most important thing I want to say to you is that you are not failing, you are doing a wonderful job because you are constantly trying to get your little one to try new things. You’ve even sent in your question to us! Believe me after 5 toddlers, and number 6 nearly there, there will always be hard times when it comes to meal times. Some things that have worked for us…have them eat at the same time as the rest of the family if possible, keep offering the food they’ve rejected before again and again, less snacks during the day. All the best, this time will pass!


  • I would not be concerned, our family GP of many decades always said that no child who has access to food has ever starved, I would offer different foods and make nothing of it if it is ignored, I would probably use a multi vitamin, but eventually your child will eat other things, and remember make the food interesting with patterns on plates, let your child prepare the meal themselves as this can help, but worrying about it only stresses you and the child.


  • I found my kids started to eat better once they started daycare/kindy because they were eating together with other children. (our daycare/kindy supplied the meals so they were all healthy)


  • hi there, how is he going now is he eating better


  • you could try 2 hide veg’s in other foods. meatballs ect


  • My daughter is the same, so at the moment she is eating salad every night which is not bad, she loves Crunchies (cucumber), tomato and lettuce and cheese because she pretends to be a rabbit but won’t eat anything else


  • I hope he is doing better for you now.


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