Fussy Eating in Children in the UK: NHS Tips and When to Ask for Help

The NHS says not to worry about what your child eats in a day, or if they do not eat everything at mealtimes; it is more helpful to think about what they eat over a week. If your child is active, gaining weight and seems well, they are getting enough to eat. As long as they eat some food from the 4 main food groups (fruit and vegetables; potatoes, bread, rice, pasta and other starchy carbohydrates; dairy or dairy alternatives; and beans, pulses, fish, eggs, meat and other proteins), you do not need to worry. Children's tastes change, and it may take lots of attempts before a child accepts some foods. Source: NHS: fussy eaters.

• Give your child the same food as the rest of the family (without added salt) and eat with them as often as you can, because children learn by copying you.
• Give small portions and praise your child for eating, even if they only eat a little.
• If your child rejects the food, do not force them. Take it away calmly and try it again another time.
• Do not leave meals until your child is too hungry or tired to eat, and limit snacks (the NHS says 2 healthy snacks a day is plenty).
• Do not use food as a reward.
• Make mealtimes enjoyable and not just about eating, and be patient with slow eaters.
• Changing how you serve a food may help: your child might refuse cooked carrots but enjoy raw grated carrot.

Speak to your GP or health visitor if you are worried about your child's eating, growth or weight, if they eat a very small number of foods, or if mealtimes are causing real distress for your child or the family. They can check your child's health and refer you on where needed.

• Dietitians look at what a child eats and whether they are getting what they need; see how to find a dietitian.
• Speech and language therapists assess chewing and swallowing and mealtime skills; see how to find one.
• Occupational therapists can help when sensory differences, posture or hand skills affect eating; see sensory needs and autism.
• Play therapists, child and adolescent psychotherapists and practitioner psychologists can support children who are anxious about food or mealtimes, and their parents.

Whoever you choose, check their register (the HCPC register for occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, dietitians and physiotherapists) and ask about fees, session length and what progress will look like. See questions to ask a private allied health professional. On Therapist Circle, each practitioner's registration is checked when they join, and their profile shows the register and number so you can check it yourself.