Why won't my toddler eat normal food?
But they eat at nursery but not at home…
There’s a lot to be said for peer pressure even at a young age. If you are unsure about new or unusual foods it is helpful to see your peers all tucking into the same food. For some children food refusal behaviours will be an element of pushing boundaries but at nursery they’re less likely to bully the staff into giving them a banana or toast instead to stop them being hungry
But won't they go hungry?
If children are given an adequate supply of foods they consider acceptable they should still grow nicely. Unless they have major existing health conditions only eating their meat but no carrots or gravy until they outgrow this phase or learn to trust won’t cause them any lasting harm. Sometimes food refusal can be a behavioural strategy for children to try to get something they like better (like holding out for desert instead) but if it is foods that they are fairly familiar with then giving them a deal – eating half the food before they get anything different and standing your ground can be fairly effective. Many parents unknowingly serve up bigger portions than their child needs so don’t worry if they don’t always clear their plate.
You can find more Information about portion sizes for children & food refusals through these links.