Fussy Eaters - Real Mum story on MoM

7 Comments

I have a wonderful cousin, my aunt had him late in life and so, I am technically old enough to be his very young mother. Because he is the last of my aunt’s children he was always treated as more precious than his older siblings. He breast fed till 3, wore nappies till almost 4 and always gets his way. I observed this behaviour a lot because I would often babysit him.

To this day, he is a very fussy eater. His diet consists of chicken nuggets, Milo, chocolate yoghurt and ice cream. Our families spent Christmas together and while the rest of the family dined on roast lamb and veggies, his meal consisted of chicken nuggets. That was it. I sometimes wonder if he would be less fussy had his parents not pandered to his every whim and allowed him to try different foods. I can’t imagine such a limited diet would be good for his health in the long term but I can’t dictate what he should or shouldn’t eat.

However, I am now pregnant with my own baby and I do wonder, will my child be a fussy eater? Are fussy eaters JUST spoiled kids or is there more to it than that? I’m really hoping to have the kind of child who loves vegetables, I know that’s entirely wishful thinking but I grew up eating everything. I do look at my cousin and think, I hope my child isn’t spoiled like him. I hope my child will be adventurous with food and not be the type of kid who only wants McDonald’s or cereal or something riddled with sugar. So again, I wonder are fussy eaters made or born?

Posted anonymously, 9th May 2015

7 Comments

- - coastalkaryn said
  - 23 Jan 2016
    12:27 pm
you do what feels right for your family, and just accept we all parent differently. my brother for example would only eat grilled chops and chips – no veg. food wasn’t important to him. he is now a 6foot policeman! Healthy, and eats well. Don’t make food a stress is my advice!

- - EllenG89 said
  - 15 May 2015
    7:19 am
I find it you start them on good food from the beginning the problems are less as that is all they know. My kids never had processed foods… it was always fresh and handmade. Yes they had chicken nuggest but I would make it myself with fresh chicken and crumb them myself. They never had takeaway until they were school age and it was once a month on a friday night. Do the hard yards from the start and I believe it will pay off

- - mom135828 said
  - 11 May 2015
    11:43 am
My oldest is quite fussy and it’s not through lack of trying. She ate everyone under the sun until she one day developed an opinion and a desire to gain control over what she ate. Through persistence I am gradually increasing her diet but it’s taking time. There is no prouder moment when your child who refused to eat broccoli after a couple of weeks asks for seconds!
- mum4107 replied
  
  11 May 2015 , 9:29 pm
  That was us 2 days ago with the broccoli lol
  - mom57522 replied
    
    13 Jun 2015 , 7:04 pm
    
    Our motto at the dinner table is to at least try it before you say you don’t like it!
- - nictate said
  - 10 May 2015
    1:04 am
toddlers go through fussy stages as do older children. I went to a dietician About my fussy toddler ( who used to love every food) I was told never make a fuss over them eating as that causes anxiety over food. Keep offering foods they don’t like, tell them it’s ok if they don’t eat it. Talk about the colours and shapes of food at dinner and set a good example of eating the good foods. My daughter is becoming less fussy and now eating vegetables she had stopped eating.

- - BellaB said
  - 09 May 2015
    6:25 pm
I think all kids go through a fussy stage, but you can influence them by sticking to your guns and making them try new things. It isn’t easy, though.