Fussy ... or just a normal toddler??

Jake has become a bit fussy with his food. I guess I just want to know if this is normal and if there is anything you think I can do to improve it?

He is a big eater, and will eat heaps of things he likes. But the child would live on fruit, raisins and crackers if I'd let him! He will eat any and every fruit, and as I've always encouraged it, he now has fruit with most meals / snacks (you should see our fruit bill!!). He will eat almost anything out of jars - usually Only Organic 1 year +, but still has some favourite 8-9month jars. When I went back to work it was easier to give him a jar at nights if I got home at his dinner time - and when he was sick (which he was for the whole 5 months at his old daycare!!!) and off his food it was easier to give him jars. And less annoying than cooking something he refuses! This could be part of the issue with getting him to eat "real" dinners. His old daycare resorted to tricking him by putting their cooked lunches in jars!! But then he was onto that after a while if it didn't have a label! He ate better after being there a while but still refused some meals ..... then was so sick (and off food) we have taken him out for 6 weeks, so things seem to have got worse. Hes just starting a new daycare and did a 3 hour session - and flat out refused the macaroni for lunch. They have things like nachos and vege bakes with a potato base and fish and chips every second friday. So I'm a bit worried he won't eat much of their lunches, as he won't eat mince now and rarely eats potato either, and won't eat fish and chips. Crazy as it sounds, the only thing he will eat from McD's is the apple slices!?! He will eat plain veges - peas carrots corn beans, but thats about it now (used to eat a good range).

He eats a good breakie - weetbix with fruit or yoghurt, marmite or jam toast and a piece of fruit. Morning tea was fruit and toast at his old daycare and I usually do the same at home. Lunch at home will be half a jar of 1year + "baby food" and/or sometimes yoghurt, plus veges as finger food, fruit, crackers, cruskets, sammies (if he feels like them) and sometimes some meat (about 3 thin bits of steak, chicken or sausages are about all the meat he will eat) and not often "salad" (tomatoes, cheese and cucumber). Afternoon tea is usually more fruit and raisins, plus crackers or a bikkie. Then dinner is similar to lunch. He will also pick up plain bits of pasta as finger food (but I don't do that often) and eat a few bits of fried rice sometimes. Oh and he will eat fish fingers too (well, about half a fish finger!).

It doesn't seem like enough variety to me, or enough meat / veges. And I really want to get him off the "baby food" ... but theres just not enough other stuff he likes. I've tried baked beans, spaghetti, chicken nuggets, fries - all the stuff you'd think he'd like. and tried alot of other meats and veges, but he just refuses. And also tried alot of things from our meals.

I'm hoping going back to daycare sorts him out!! (either that or he will starve there!!?!) Do you think this is all normal and will pass? I don't want to make a big deal about it .... and I know from other posts on here he eats alot more than some toddlers! He certainly doesn't seem malnourished ..... but it is so frustrating!!

so long as you keep offering him the baby food then he will keep eating it. he wont starve...

Daniel either eats what I give him or he goes hungry. That's how we got him off the baby food. It didn't disrupt his sleep if he chose not to eat it. But now he's really good except when he's unwell. He eats almost everything.

They start to have strong likes and dislikes with food at this age, just keep offering to him and try not to offer multiple choice meals and i'm sure he'll be fine.

I actually think he's eating fine but IMO at his age you should get him off the baby food. Just keep offering all the other things you are giving him, and you could offer sandwiches/toast/etc and a piece of fruit for lunch - instead of jars. I'd put the jars up on the top shelf (for the next bubba ) and tell him they are all gone. Then if he refuses whatever else you offer, just let him go without until he's keen for "grown up food". He really won't starve, he's getting plenty enough.

He does eat meat and veges as finger food - just not enough for a whole meal.

Busymum - he doesn't always have the jars at lunch - but it has been a good way of getting veges and meat into him at lunch - more nutritious than having bread every day. And they are organic "junior" meals (for 1 year +, not the "baby" ones).

Thanks for the advice guys .... I got him off the jars originally by mixing them into real food, and have mixed his mashed potato into some jar food the last 2 nights and it went down OK (wouldn't eat it alone). Also I kinda do what you do with Ella - he has his meat and veges as finger food first, then a bit of jar stuff, then fruit / dessert. So may have to keep trying with more of the real food first. I would rather have a gradual transition, than make a big deal about eating then have major issues!!

I would normally have been OK with the theory or letting him starve - but he lost 1.5kgs about 5-6 weeks ago with a gastro bug and couldn't hold anything down for a week. Its really since then that we've moved back to the jars as that was all he would eat (plus all the finger food above) and we had to get a decent amount into him. Hes only just put the weight back on now!! And as a baby he had a major heart defect (and open heart surgery), so we've always had the mentality of getting as much into him as possible when he was younger (went from just over the 50% line for weight, to the bottom 3% by 2 months old! and took him til over 6 months to catch back up and not look like a skinny runt!). He also is a great sleeper - but does sleep better if hes eaten well (or sick) - so I don't want to risk him going down and waking starving.

He picked up some cauli tonight and ate it - not much but we're getting there!

Good to hear it sounds "normal" ....