Picky eater all of a sudden

My son all of a sudden the foods he loves doesnt like anymore and we try different foods with him and he goes eww and wont eat it doesn't like sauce or gravy now either just plain like chips i give him veg he goes eww i say yummy he didn't eat his pasta which he usually loves i dont give him too much snacks before dinner so idk i need tips if he doesnt eat i turn the telly off or say if u dont try eat u wont get a treat sometimes that works but he used to love veg he loved his carrots and peas now doesnt i tried to give him a new veg i had a salad he grabbed some and said eww idk if its the texture on his hands but ye i need help cux if i mix it with veg he picks it out now and if he doesnt eat i give him a yogurt but sometimes he wont eat that either so i give in and give him a biscuit cuz i think at least he's ate something but then i go no u need to eat its frustrating tbh i give him adventurous food like we had hunters chicken and he would not eat it at all 😭so i feel well i know if i give him chips and chicken or fish fingers he will eat them or noddles or pizza lol but i feel guilty abd think its not healthy 😭but then i think at least he's eating he also will eat but has to run around the living room why do toddlers do that

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Also forgot to add we all sit down at dinner time and eat together

So "picky" eating is often genetic and has very little to do with the parent or child. Frankly I think it's not a helpful term because it either implies blame on the parent for feeding incorrectly, or on the child for being obstinate. You are not to blame. Your child is not to blame. He's likely learning his independence and working through possible sensory issues. I will say that it is entirely up to you what your child eats. If you don't want him to eat chips and fish fingers, don't give it to him. You give him options you are comfortable with and let him decide which ones he wants. He may, he may not, and that's fine. Don't give him alternatives after the fact because it creates the expectation of "if I don't eat, then I get something better." Yes, it is tempting to just get them to eat something, anything at all, but this stage is quite normal for toddlers, and they survive. Let him decide if he wants to eat what you give him and if he doesn't, end the meal, try again later.

No substitutions. No exchanges or refunds. You either eat or you don't. No pressure, just options. Most kids will eat what's put in front of them eventually if they are hungry enough. If he's underweight, then it's a different story, and worth checking with your doctor, but as long as his growth is on track, roll with it. Remember that you set the menu, not him. If you let him decide what to eat you set that expectation for the foreseeable future and will be making alternate meals for him for a good long while. Lastly - the last bit you said about him walking around - I would try to put an end to that. It's a choking risk. I don't let my kid walk around with food, and if she eats something, I make sure she shows me her empty mouth before I let her walk away.

https://solidstarts.com/when-to-seek-help-picky-eating/ https://solidstarts.com/10-steps-to-prevent-or-reverse-picky-eating/ https://solidstarts.com/preventing-picky-eating/

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