Help - ideas needed - not really eating much!

Hi there

Looking for ideas suggestions on how I can get Mr 2 to eat again. He has had a cold since last weekend and has pretty much gone off eating since then. I know that they can dramatically reduce down the amount they eat when they're not well and that they won't let themselves starve. But it is starting to stress me out now as its been going on for almost a week so am worried about his nutrition. I would probably be more relaxed about it if he was a bigger child but he's a skinny little thing and in my mind doesn't have any fat reserves to see him through.

He might take a bite or two out what we have offered him but then shakes his head and says no to having any more. I've tried all the normal dishes that he likes as well as new ones and nothing seems to make a difference. I'm also more than happy for him to graze for the day if that will make it easier for him but isn't really interested in having anything.

He is drinking fluids so I am not worried about dehydration but am making sure that he is not just filling up on milk/water rather than offering him food.

Basically today (coming up to lunch time) he's had a yoghart (140g pouch) 2 mouthfuls of scrambled egg 1 cruskit with avocado cheese spread and his morning milk. If lunch goes like yesterday he might have two/three bites of a sandwich and that will be it. Again if it goes like yesterday won't eat anything for snacks and literally nothing for tea.

Any suggestions on what I can/should do? I so don't want to make this a battle but hate getting stressed out when he won't eat.

TIA

Will he eat some custard?? Maybe give him some custard with fruit? Does he have a favourite food?

Hopefully he starts eating soon. Good luck.

NW3, if you take away the yoghurt then that is about what A eats on an average day! About half the time she will eat about 1/4 cup of something at tea time though.

Try not to stress lovely, he will eat more when he is ready. We do give A a milo before bed just so she has something in her belly. You could try Complan until he ups his intake :hug:

smoothies?
full fat everything dairy

You do have my symapthy and empathy. 2yo are hard. Mine went for a full fortnight and would only eat frozen peas once. I kid you not.
What helps here...ummm
how good is his comprehension/language? Choices work well here, between a couple of options (we've always done BLS so he's used to this and they surprisingly usually pick what they need) or where do you want to eat (amazing what a change of scenery will do, be it a picnic somewhere random, at a different table, outside etc)
cut up stuff really small - DS will eat tiny sandwiches, but not a whole one.
give them less than you want them to eat. DH was horrified when I gave DS a tiny amount of dinner last night, but ate his words when he came back for more (eating dinner is something new here....for the longest time he didn't eat any)
sometimes a multi vitamin will help boost their appetite.

GL. :hug: