I wonder how old this little boy is. Has he always been fussy or is he just now coming in to the 'neophobic' stage?
This tends to peak at about 15-20 months, and can lead to refusal of new foods as well as some foods that were eaten before. Children grow out of the neophobic age by about five years of age.
In the meantime, the best methods when trying to get him to eat new foods are those based on exposure and imitation; not 'tough love'. Give him the foods he likes, to keep his energy intake up and his growth on course.
Try extending the range of foods that he'll eat from those that he already enjoys; if he eats a salmon fish finger try a cod fish finger, and if he likes crackers try other foods with a similar texture.
It'll be easier for him to move on where the new food is visually similar to something he already eats.
Don't hide or disguise food, or put new foods on the plate next to foods he already likes. Keep other new foods in sight on the table and eat them in front of him.
If he looks interested, ask him if he wants to try the food but never go beyond a gentle suggestion.
Keep getting him to help in the kitchen, but don't expect this to work miracles; it will just keep him desensitised to the smell and sight of foods he hasn't yet tried.
Many children go through a fussy phase in the toddler years, some children remain very fussy. Most of them develop out of the phase as they get older and seem not to have been harmed by their odd food habits.
Answer by: The Infant & Toddler Forum (Admin) on 12 Jan 2015 16:44:52