Need Advice on How to Get Picky Eater to Try New Foods

I have the same problem with my daughter who is 2. My doctor and other moms told me to make sure to try new foods at least 6 to 7 times before giving up because sometimes it takes that long for them to really enjoy the food. I totally agree with what the other mom's say though. It's really good advice!

Keep putting a small amount to try on his plate, don't make a big deal about it or anything or it will be a powerstruggle. Usually after seeing it on their plate over and over they will atleast try it.

Find a dipping sauce he loves, ketchup,honey,ranch,mustard,peanutbutter,western etc. And encourage dipping. My daughter will eat anything with ketchup.

When my daughter was first learning to eat I tried very hard to give her a huge variety and even gave her things I hated in hopes she might like them.

My daughter is almost 6years old. I've been giving her eggs cooked all different ways since she was about a year old. Finally at age 5 she tried them, she will eat a few bites but still isn't crazy about them. So sometimes it can take awhile even years LOL Now if we go to McDonalds she'll eat a breakfast sandwhich with their egg on it. Go figure.

My son has the exact same issues. Meat and veggies are not his thing. He is almost 4 and just last week was willing to eat a little shaved turkey lunchmeat for the first time (still won't touch hamburger, chicken, or other meats). For veggies what turned out to be the saving thing is to give him a bowl of still frozen veggies to nibble while I am cooking dinner...his 2 favorites are frozen peas and frozen edamame (unroasted/green soybeans...a good protein source). He will only eat them while frozen and rejects them as soon as they start to melt.

First of all relax because it sounds like your son eats a varied diet despite the meat and veggie aversion. Don't make a big deal out of it with him, just keep serving a wide variety of foods including some that he hasn't developed a taste for yet. Then also work toward lots of whole grains if you haven't already (brown rice, breads, etc.) And, heck, it is worth trying the frozen food approach (oh, my son will also eat frozen pepperoni and loves frozen shredded cheese).

Good luck.

Its a phase, and if you cater to him you will breed a picky eater. At this age he's just practicing his independence, and seeing what he can and can't control. Make dinner, and if he eats, great! if he doesn't, too bad. He'll eat when he is hungry and he won't starve himself. I ditto just about everything MH had to say in her post.

Both my boys went through this stage and both came out of it fine, and both will eat just about anything you put in front of them, with the exception of one or two foods they truly don't like (my oldest won't eat anything with potato in it, he literally gags and does a little pee shiver/eye roll, its weird!)

But just keep making dinner and offering it ,if he doesn't eat it then dinner is over. He'll eat when he is hungry and won't starve, and dont' give in and make him a seperate meal or you'll quickly become a short order cook.

Please let me know if you figure this one out. My 23 month old is the exact same way and it drives us crazy.

My almost 21 month old is exactly the same way. We supplement with a multivitamin recommended by his pediatrician so he doesn't miss any important nutrients. I also just keep offering the meat and veggies. If he chooses not to eat what's on his tray then he gets down. If he tells me he's hungry later then I offer him what he didn't eat for dinner. Sometimes he'll eat it then, sometimes he doesn't. Kids will not starve themselves and he'll eat when he's hungry. They also go through phases with eating. My son used to like veggies and now he won't have anything to do with them. Bananas used to be his favorite fruit now he just pushes them aside when I give them to him. Just keep trying and eventually he'll eat it.