My 2-year-old son's picky eating is extreme.

My two-and-a-half-year-old son is an extremely picky eater.
So, I consulted a nutritionist and got some advice.

I'm putting this together as a note for myself, and in the hope that it might be helpful for other moms and dads struggling with picky eaters.

First, let me organize my son's situation.

Looking at it again, my son is in a bad way.What on earth is he living on for energy?That's how it feels. Yes, my son isn't just a picky eater; he's a picky "drinker."

He won't eat his meals and just says, "Boob, boob!" Also, since he doesn't talk much yet at two-and-a-half, he points at my breast and demands it while saying, "Hmm?" At his worst, he does this 3 to 4 times an hour. (How is it possible that he's nursing more often than a newborn?!)

So, as for the advice I received...

① First, stop breastfeeding!

At two-and-a-half, breast milk alone is nowhere near enough energy, so I was told,just stop breastfeeding!

I know, right! But with my 3-month-old daughter drinking right in front of him, I feel like it's impossible to stop just him, so maybe I should just stop for both of them.

② Give him follow-up formula

I was told that follow-up formula is useful for supplementing missing nutrients.

I already knew this and was giving him 200ml a day, but I was told tomake it a little more concentrated than the amount written on the formula can, to get as much nutrition into his body as possible,とのこと。

③ Give him SAVAS

You can give protein to a 2-year-old? That was the biggest shock.

Apparently, one pack is too much, so aiming for half a pack is good for supplementing protein.

Q&A Corner

Wait, what about actual food?

The question popped into my head: "Follow-up formula and SAVAS—that's just drinks! What about food?" But apparently, my son is in a state of severe nutritional deficiency. He needs to supplement his nutrition with anything he can get. That's why I'm usingfollow-up formula and SAVAS.

Of course, it would be best if he could eat a nutritionally balanced meal, but that's a high hurdle for my son, so for now, the strategy is toget nutrition into him with things he will definitely eat.

Is it okay to let him watch YouTube while eating?

When my son refuses to eat, there are quite a few times he will eat if I let him watch YouTube (he's not really paying attention, and I'm the one feeding him).

I had been wondering, 'Is this really okay?', but I was told, 'That's fine, just get him to eat somehow!' which made me feel a little less burdened.

Is it okay to just pack fried chicken and fries for his bento?

We have bento days twice a month. I dread these days so much. That's because my sonwon't eat rice balls or sandwiches. I have no idea what I should put in them.

In the case of a bento, since there's nothing else for him to eat, it's better toignore nutritional balance and just pack things he will definitely eat.

If he won't eat rice balls or sandwiches, it's okay not to include rice or bread at all; in extreme cases, if he'll eatfried chicken and fries, that's perfectly fine.

Should I prioritize vegetables or protein?

My son isn't getting enough vegetables or protein, and when I try to get him to take 'one more bite!', I've been unsure whether to encourage him to eat meat or vegetables.

The answer to this question is 'protein'! If he won't eat vegetables, it's okay to give him vegetable juice or something similar, so first, let's focus ongetting him to eat meat and fish.

(Well, he's stopped drinking vegetable juice lately too, though... haha)

I'm so glad I consulted someone!

This was my first time trying a nutritional consultation over the phone, and I'm really glad I did.

Talking about my worries helps relieve stress, and I also received concrete advice, so it was killing two birds with one stone.

To all the moms and dads struggling with their children's picky eating, let's do our best together! (And if they still won't eat, well, what can you do?)

Wishing you all the best.