How old does a child need to be for you to "insist" they try a food?

[~Kaz~]

We never insist DS eat anything. Lately, since he was over 2.5 years we have been asking him to try (because he started saying he didn't like stuff) and telling him that he doesn't know whether he likes it or not until he tries it. He is a really logic based thinker so because that makes sense, he will usually try something. I always serve him what we are having but we dont' insist he eats any of it and he rarely finishes his whole plate.

I was forced to eat revolting stuff as a kid and also to finish my plate every meal and I tend to overeat now and I think it's because I never trusted myself to know what I felt like and when I was actually full. My parents decided that for me I know that's a little off topic from your OP but to me it's all related. I make a conscious choice to let DS decide when he is hungry, how much he wants and what (within reason) he eats. We don't do rewards or punishment in other areas though so even if he doesn't eat much of the main meal, he can still have a small amount of dessert (DP and I don't really eat dessert). DS eats a wide variety of food voluntarily so when he doesn't want something I don't push it. I will often given him a very limited range of choice if he doesn't want any of what is on his plate for dinner - because I think a lot of the time at his age (2.5-3.5yrs) it's about having choices and having some control (not that he actually doesn't like the food).

HTH. I really think that how parents handle food issues is a direct reflection of how they parent generally and what their style is so just try a few different approaches until you find the one that suits you and your son.

[shellbell3]

DD2 had a very limited diet til about 3. I always dished her up what we were having and encouraged her to try, nothing for years, got to 3 started push bit more and eventually one day she tried a piece. Now 6 months on shes still fussy but huge improvement to her old diet.
How small are the pieces you offer? We started with sizes of 5c piece so not too scary.

[meow]

Thanks so much everyone for all of your input.

The first thing my son ate was broccoli so it's not a new food, and fried zucchini or green beans used to be a favourite but he wont eat them anymore either.

I usually put just one piece of every vegetable we are having with dinner on his plate, so it's not a lot but the pieces are more like finger food size so perhaps I'll make little pieces to see if he likes them. He generally wont eat anything that has lots of small pieces of vegetables though- I can't get him to eat bolognaise or meatloaf for example and I put a lot of grated & small chopped veggies in those. I have no issue with "hiding" vegetables in those things as adding vegetables where ever you can is just normal cooking as far as I'm concerned.

I would like him to eat green vegetables because they are the one thing we should eat the MOST of and he eats none! I know these stages can be normal toddler stuff but I remember seeing a friend gently "insist" her son ate some of his salad when he must have been about 2 1/2 to 3 and he did it with no stress so I'd love to be able to do the same but I know it's too early now. I would never insist he finish his plate or continue eating something he dislikes, but I want him to at least try a bite.

My eldest son is a resistant eater and it's been one of the hardest things I've ever dealt with so I guess I'm pretty anxious second time around. My eldest did the same decline of dropping off foods that just got worse and worse so I guess I'm also nervous about seeing that happening again.

Thanks for sharing what worked in your family.