Not open to trying new foods!

[superbaby]

My DS who is almost 23 mths whilst a reasonable eater with 3 -6 main meal selections, is still reluctant to try new foods. E.g. Tried him on vegetable risotto for lunch of which he ate one spoonful and refused any further. This was followed by a plate with cut up avocado (which he loves), cubes of cheese and cucumber both of which he constantly refuses.
Besides offering new foods regularly what else can I do? Do I only offer a new food and if not eaten he goes without? or is it ok to then offer something I know he will eat?? Am just tired of trying with little success.
Developmentally is he likely to improve on this front with age? If so, should I just be content with what he eats now and not stress about things?
Thanks :)

Please PM anyone if you have any ideas!!

[the pero clinic]

Dear Superbaby,

Some children will grow out of their food fussiness, while others can become worse with age. It is good that you are trying to get onto things early.

It is important that you don’t stress about his eating (or let him see you stress!) as this can exacerbate the issue.

If your little guy is a genuine “fussy eater”, keep in mind that different food tastes, smells and textures can be quite overwhelming –and be much stronger to him than to you. It is great that you continue to offer the same foods even if they have been refused before. Fussy eaters can take many looks, smells, tastes and small bites of the same food, before it is accepted.

If you have been trying cheese cubes for a while, he really doesn’t like cheese, in just in the habit of saying ‘no’, or there is something about the taste or texture that is too strong. Try offering cheese in different forms or mixed or melted into different liked foods for a change - from soft grated cheese or cheese on toast to cheese mixed into meatballs.

Try to mix new foods into other foods and present them in a variety of ways to encourage just tastes and tries. Avoid routine presentation of the same foods at the same times in the same way - refusal may become a habit. Continue to offer foods that are rejected, just try to find some slightly different ways of doing it.

And finally, squishy foods such as cucumber and raw tomato are typically disliked foods with fussy eaters. There’s little to no nutritional value in cucumber, so perhaps leave it and find a new target fruit or vegetable to work on - perhaps a less squishy one!

the pero clinic