I have a fussy eater. whenever she eats something new or eats all her meal, we put a smiley stamp on her hand. She loves it and it encourages her to eat more. Never turn food into a battle ground or there could be more problems in the making. Kids go through many stages and this is just one of them. He won't be like this forever. Keep offering and eventually he just might try it!

Um, I can tell you now that even the best eater in the world will turn fussy at some point.  All kids go through it, it is a part of them making choices about what they do and don't like.

I would say that your son is in a slow growth phase, that means, his energy requirements aren't as high as when he has a growth spurt.

I can't really advise on how to get your child to stop being so picky, but can provide a few tips on how to not make the problem worse.

When you serve his meals and he refuses to eat, please don't go rushing around to find something he will eat.  By getting his faves, you are enforcing that it is ok for him to be picky and that you will always get him what he wants.  Just look at some older kids, all they say is 'I want....' when it comes to food, and if they don't get it, they throw massive tantrums.  I'm talking ages 3+.

Be creative with your food presentation.  Pretty pictures are more interesting to young children so making faces with the food is acceptable if it helps to get him eating.

Let him feed himself.  No harm in him learning from an early age how to use a spoon, though the mess factor might be a little higher.  A little bit of independence in young toddlers is good, it makes them feel they are bigger.

Have things he can dip his food into.  Sauces or cream cheese are good for this.  Kids love dipping their finger foods into sauces and eating it.  Again, can be messy but is worth it.

I hope I have provided some useful tips for you and other mums of fussy eaters.

My daughter did the same thing.  Atleast he is eating. She stopped for 2 days at a time. What I did was offer blended juices with her favourites until she eventually decided to try something new.  The key is making sure that the other foods are available so they can try them.

Just keep offering them to him!!! You can't MAKE them eat them ( although a little bribery and corruption goes a long way! ie: You want to play with Mummy outside then you need to eat your lunch!! Yes, they do understand!) At this age they are discovering that they can assert their independence and go through crazy stages of refusing all but one or two foods. Just remember, if they are REALLY hungry, they will eat it! His favourites will change over time and each time it will drive you mad if you let it!!! If you let him stick to his guns, you will end up with a finicky eater! Sometimes it takes you sitting down and eating at the same time and declaring it delicious before they give in. My cherub would tip her dish on the floor and then demand mine..I would resist for a while, then give her mine ( which was exactly the same!) If she had refused what was offered, I would pop it in the fridge. I found that when she was hungry, if I started peeling a  banana or cutting up fruit for me to eat, she would want it. Persist and remeber they will never get to the point of starvation! It is just frustrating to have all the things you spend time cooking and preparing continually rejected! Good luck! ( PS...my cherub now even loves brussel sprouts, pumpkin, avocado, sweet potato, etc.. etc... there is light at the end of the tunnel!)

Kids like to test the limits. If you know he likes the food you give him then, yes, be firm. Try making the veges more appealing by arranging them into a face. Make other things with veges in them....

Patties - just mash up what veges you want, mix with an egg & bit of flour, & fry.

Quiche - put things like spinach & grated carrot in it

Vege bake - potato, sweet potato, pumpkin, carrot are the best to use here, but guess you could add anything. You can get the jars of sauces to make it easier. You could use veges alone or add veges to pasta bake.

Spaghetti bolognaise - many people add grated carrot & celery to the mince

Rissoles - as with the bolognaise, add grated carrot or whatever

Add a little food colouring to mashed potato to make it different. Tell him they are 'magic potatoes'

The idea is that he has a variety of foods but they still have the veges in them.