Fussy Eaters

Many toddlers go through a stage of being fussy. This can be a worry to parents when their baby, who used to eat anything and everything they were offered, starts to limit themselves to a small range of foods all of a sudden. 

There are many reasons for this but most toddlers grow out of their fussy eating phase fairly quickly, particularly if their fussy eating behaviour does not provoke a reaction and positive behaviour is praised.  

Difficult as it is try to remain calm at mealtimes and don’t make a fuss about them not eating, keep exposing your child to new foods and encourage them to play with their food to make it more familiar to them. 

If you are concerned, it can help to keep a food diary and look at what your child is eating over a period of a week rather than focusing on specific meals or even a day.   There are also some basic tips in our local Food for Tots booklet (see below). 

If you are concerned that this is lasting and that your child is not growing well or not getting a good balance of foods, you can self-refer to the NHS Western Isles Nutrition & Dietetic Department for an individual assessment and support. 

If you are concerned and would like to make an appointment please email wi.dietetics@nhs.scot

Food for Tots (Biadh dha clann bheaga)

Food for Tots (Biadh dha clann bheaga) is for parents and carers of children aged between 1-5 years.

It includes information on healthy eating, portion sizes, snacks and drinks, good routines, play time, fussy eating, vitamins and useful links and support.

To view the booklet click here.

Happy Meals Sessions

Do you find mealtimes stressful? Does your child refuse to eat? Are you concerned about their nutrition? Then perhaps ‘Happy Meals’ can help!

The ‘Happy Meals’ sessions are aimed at parents/carers of children of any age and are led by a dietitian, occupational therapist, and speech and language therapist.

The sessions assist parents/carers with a unique opportunity to benefit from the team’s expertise and learn handy tips to deal with their family’s fussy eater(s).

Look out for adverts on the NHS Western Isles Facebook page for announcements about future ‘Happy Meals’ sessions.