Post Punk Kitchen Forum

I have a 15 month old who used to eat so well. He would eat bowl fulls of mashed avocado, quinoa, beans, green veggies, orange veggies, flax, hemp seeds. Now he won't eat a flippin thing. Out of the clear blue sky he is just rejecting everything. Over the weekend he was eating one meal a day. He does still breastfeed, so that is a plus. Breast milk has to be where he is getting the bulk of his calories because it is not from food! He literally sits in his high chair and sucks his thumb. he totally ignores the plate of food in front of him. It is like it is not even there, he does not even look at it. If he does decide to eat it is only a few bites. This morning though he ate a big bowl of cheerios with coconut/soy milk. I was thrilled!

Has anyone else went through this? I can't find a thread about this. if there is one please point me to it. Or do any of you have any good ideas. I am so worried about him. He is only in the 5th percentile for weight. So it makes it even more difficult to watch him not eat much. Just to clarify, he is eating, he is just eating very little. it is like he seeks out the lowest calorie food I offer and only eats that. He won't eat beans, nut butters, ground seeds, or avocado anymore. Every time I put one of these high fat foods in his food he will not eat it. He can't live on cheerios. Help!

Will he eat finger foods? Maybe he's just not digging the feel of mashed stuff. How do you present the food? I know it sounds silly, but maybe finding a fun way to feed him (using ice cub trays and putting a piece in each area) will help. Will he drink any green smoothies? If you can get him to drink some, it may be a way to get a little extra calories into him and you could hide avacado, nut butters, etc. into them.

My oldest daughter refused to eat most things and was underweight and it turned out she had food allergies. She would refuse a lot of stuff because it just made her feel bad. I know that avacado and beans are not really allergen foods, but I maybe something else is bothering his tummy and that's made him just leary of foods. That was my experience, anyway. Does he show any kinds of discomfort, weird poos or anything after eating nuts or grains?

It's hard. I don't have much advice, but I can commiserate. My 19 month old LOVES fruit and veggies, which is great, but she also needs calorie dense foods! I've had good luck with oil-rich pasta sauces-- pasta is the only thing she reliably eats, and pesto or a rich cheez sauce can be full of healthy fats.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. My son is 23 months now, but a few months ago he went through something similar. He just wouldn't eat. He was also in the 5th percentile, so I genuinely know your frustration! I just kept offering a variety of foods, and crammed as much fat and calories into anything he would eat as I could. And nursed. A LOT. Sometimes if I could get him distracted by the TV I could spoon-feed him more (terrible, I know, but I was desperate!). He still has days/weeks when he doesn't eat as much, but his appetite did eventually pick up a lot, and now he's in the 25th percentile for weight!

Oh, and I noticed a lot of his refusal to eat at one point coincided with his molar teething. He was cutting all four at once, and I think it just caused him a lot of discomfort. Could be related?

Hey all,

Thanks so much for making me feel less alone.

He will eat finger foods. BUT it is all pretty new to him. He just started eating only finger foods about 1 week ago. He abruptly woke up one morning an refused to be spoon fed mashed food or purees. So I was a little shocked. So I had no choice but to give him finger foods. Also, somedays he will have a green smoothie and other days refuses. I have to spoon feed him it he will not drink it.

I think he is cutting molars. I believe he is getting 2. He just got 2 a few weeks ago....now the two more are coming in. It could be that. He has been very lethargic, clingy and weepy. I took him to the doctor and they are not concerned at all. Thank god!

Today, I am happy to report that he ate like a champ! I am feeling much better. He won't touch the veggies I put on his plate but he did eat fatty things like a sunshine burger, high protein sprouted bread with sunflower butter, almond butter and eb (all at different times). He also tried a few different things. Snacked throughtout the day and drank tons of milk.

I bet he will eat well one day and not so well for the next day. From what I read that is typical toddler behavior.

Thanks again everyone!