Win an Organix hamper or £50 Love2Shop voucher! Join Q&A on children's eating habits and fussy eaters - ANSWERS BACK

[LucilleMumsnet]

This week we are running a Q&A with Organix who are offering you the chance to ask feeding expert Lucy Thomas about children's eating habits and how to help fussy eaters.

Inspiring fussy eaters to enjoy fruit and vegetables is Lucy's passion. As founder and author of 'Mange Tout', her methods have been recommended by doctors, nutritionists and Great Ormond Street hospital. Lucy has also featured on BBC TV and Radio and is a spokesperson for the Taste for Life campaign, brought to you by Organix.

Post your questions to Lucy before 9am Monday 20th January and we'll send over a selection to which she will provide answers to help you better deal with fussy or unusual eating habits. There is a £50 Organix hamper and a £50 Love2Shop voucher up for grabs for those that post questions. We will post up Lucy's answers on Thursday 30th January.

[jelliex]

My 21 month old does not eat her veggies, even when I try to sneakily hide them in her food! What is the best way to encourage her to eat her veggies and try new things?

[badgermum]

What would be a portion size for a two year old say of sweetcorn or grapes to count towards their five a day?

[rainbowvalley]

Do you think in general, this is a parenting issue? We were encouraged to eat all our food especially vegetables when we were younger with a zealous enthusiasm by my parents, who constantly explained how extremely good they were for you! We even helped out in the garden growing our fresh vegetables which was a big inspiration too.

[rainbowvalley]

Do you think in general, this is a parenting issue?
We were encouraged to eat all our food especially vegetables when we were younger with a zealous enthusiasm by my parents, who constantly explained how extremely good they were for you! We even helped out in the garden growing our fresh vegetables which was a big inspiration too.

[maryandbuzz1]

My son is 18 moths old and still won't eat lumps. He chews biscuits and spits them out! Any advise?

[CheekyChimpsMummy]

I would love for my DS (4) to snack on raw vegetables (& widen the variety of fruit that he will eat) I've tried taster plates and always offer 'a bite' of mine when I'm eating them, always to be greeted with the same urggghh noice and disgusted face. Should I just give up?

[fluffyblueberry]

My children are quite good with vegetables but not with salad. Is there a way I can encourage them to like salad, I have tried it with a marie rose type dressing but they weren't keen on that! Thanks!

[RedKites]

DS1 ate well until he was about 18mo, then stopped eating lots of things. I think he's getting all the nutrients he needs, but doesn't eat, for example, any meat/fish other than chicken nuggets or fish fingers. He also doesn't eat cooked vegetables and will only eat carrot, tomato and cucumber raw. I've been taking the approach of continuing to offer him the foods we are eating, always having something he likes and praising him when he does try something he doesn't normally. But progress is very slow, and I'd be interested in other suggestions.

Also, DS2, 15mo eats pretty much everything ( even more than his brother did at this stage) but I am conscious it could all 'go wrong' in the next few months. Is there anything I can do to make it less likely he becomes a fussy eater?

[ThemisA]

If you were advising a new mother what would be your favourite first weaning foods?

Some babies find lumps in food a strange sensation and are slow to like them - have you any suggestions how to gently help them to adjust?

[rosemac6]

My grandson has become very fussy whereas in the past he would eat just about anything. Apart from fruit toast sandwiches and spag bol he will hardly touch anything else is this just a phase he is seven

[sweetlouise]

Can i ask what you thoughts are on rewarding a child on eating a new food? My son is 5 and it is only now we are making progress with vegetables. He gets to select a new vegetable each week and for that week we have that veg with every meal. Some with success, some without. If he does well on the week he is rewarded with additional pocket money (we are also teaching him the value of £1). He does not eat many other foods but we thought prioritising vegetables would be of greatest benefit.

[LEE88]

My son is 4, and is fussy when it comes to eating veg, I would like to ask What is the best way to encourage him to have his 5 a day?

[CMOTDibbler]

Do you think that theres an age where fussy eating can't be turned around?

My nephew is 19, and still only eats beige food, and makes a big performance about this and it just makes me wonder!

[MinesAPintOfTea]

Should you try to trick children or just present a balanced diet in a "take it or leave it" fashion? DS is given what we're having but tailored such that he encounters something he actively likes from every food group every day.

[Fillybuster]

How do you recommend dealing with babies and toddlers rejecting new foods and textures? Do you keep on trying (as some of the weaning specialists suggest) or give up and move onto something else?

Also: what is your approach when a child rejects a meal? Do you believe in offering an alternative, or still giving dessert?

Thank you :)

[couldsleepforahundredyears]

My 16 month old refuses most healthy foods, he is especially disgusted by wet or "slimy" foods (for example fruits such as oranges, mango, strawberries etc) and also refuses most veg, he will only eat potato in chip form, and occasionally he'll have a bite of a waffle. I don't want him going hungry so I just give him what he wants. Is it okay for me to offer him his veggies and fruit, and if he doesn't eat it, he doesn't eat anything at all? Am I being too soft by giving in every meal time?

[JoJoY]

I love incorporating healthy fun eating ideas that I find on Pinterest into my childrens everyday meals. If you search for Fun Kids Meals lots of great ideas appear!

[littleme96]

My 5 year old loves eating dried fruit, smoothies and juices, but I struggle to give her wetter fruits, such as kiwi without her gagging and being sick. Is this something that can be overcome or will it make it a bigger problem if we keep trying?

[tinam1]

What is a child's portion size of fruit and veg?

[BellaVida]

I have never made my children clean their plates, but do encourage them to eat a reasonable amount if I suspect they are just trying to rush away from the table. They eat a very varied diet and are the right height and weight.

I always thought children were quite good at self-regulating and responding to what their bodies tell them, or is that not the case?

[WitchOfEndor]

The only vegetable I can get DS (3.6) to eat is cucumber, the only fruit is banana. I despair of ever getting him to try anything else, he turns his nose up immediately. Should I keep trying or give it a rest for a bit?

[cherish1]

my 4year old loves salami, peperami... and would eat several times a day if allowed.How much would you allow?

[FanFuckingTastic]

How do I encourage my children to eat hot food? My DD especially will refuse to eat food if it is more than lukewarm. She also has issues with wet foods, if it's not easy to eat she doesn't seem to want to eat it.

My son has a great appetite, but he gets terribly constipated, despite eating high fiber foods and more than his five a day. What am I missing in his diet to help with this issue?

[StillNoFuckingEyeDeer]

My almost 3y old DD1 loves fruit - bananas, apple, grapes, tomato, blueberries, mango, but won't eat vegetables (apart from mushrooms, peas & sweetcorn). Does it really matter if she's eating 5 portions of fruit a day?

[Ikea1234]

Which foods help with growth?! I just want to check I have the balance of foods right and make sure my son has all he needs, as he's at the far smaller end of his range?