He's a Picky Eater, and Over 5.

So I'm looking up stuff, reading Elizabeth Pantley like nobodys business, the standard advice is like so:

Getting Kids to Try New Foods

Every parent knows that some times kids won't eat new foods, but that doesn't mean that they will never eat that food. Kids change their minds often so if you offer that same food again they may decide they like it, gobble it up and ask for seconds.

It is good to encourage a child to try new foods. That's how they develop their taste preferences. Parents shouldn't force children to eat all of a new food, or to clean their plate. A small taste this time may lead to a bigger taste next time.

Here are some tips to get children to try new foods:

• Have a positive attitude. Serve new foods to your child and expect that they will eventually learn to like them.

So, Item 1: I'm more positive than many of his other carers/feeders. However, I am loco el coco sometimes and have yelled more than once, or been snarky and not helpful with the comments muttered sotto voice. I'm human. It's been FIVE YEARS people. I was positive unfailingly for FOUR years.

• Don't force your child to eat. Children sometimes do not like to eat food they have never seen before. Keep serving the food to your child. As they become more familiar with it, they may decide to taste it.

I've never forced. I've tried bribery, tried telling me how I was force fed and how I don't want to disrespect him like that. I've been there for him when he has tried, tried, tried so hard to eat something knew but 'couldn't' at the last moment or gagged.

• Let your child help prepare the food. This can be something simple like tearing lettuce for a salad or stirring pancake batter. This will help your child become familiar with the new food. As you prepare it together, you and they can talk about the color, shape, and texture of the food.

This worked well with bread making, Iain and Jaan made and ate bread. What happened to that?

• Serve new foods when your child is hungry. Let the new food be the first thing your child eats. He might not want to try something new if he has already filled up on his favorites.

OMG. That sounds v cruel.
Is this sound advice?
I know from experience, like when we have not had what he wants and have offered alternatives, he's just chosen to go hungry or beg us to go out and get the right thing. We don't always go out to get the item he wants, specially not if it is late. He sometimes agrees to just have milk and sleep, wait for the next day when I will get the item requested, or even wait till it is back in stock on Ocado, or till it is time for the shopping to come which could be days away. He is even able to wait till he's finished one fave cereal or ice cream or yoghurt or juice stash before I'll get the next one.

• Serve one new food at a time. Don't overwhelm your child by serving a plate full of new foods. Instead, try offering one new food on the plate with familiar foods.

I do this. Always done it. Never made a bit of difference. Won't put it in his mouth.

• Respect your child's food preferences. There may be some foods that your child doesn't like no matter what you try. That's okay. Just be sure to offer your child other foods from the same food group at other meals and snacks.

I do. He's a vegetarian. He does not want cooked, mixed up mush - like casseroles or pies. Fine. But he's SO RIGID, so inflexible and won't believe me and trust me enough to chew and swallow a mouthful or two. So he's not really got an opinion has he?

• Be a good role model. Eat a new food in front of your child and let them see how much you are enjoying it.

I do. I even show him food I think looks nice "I'm not asking you to eat it, just look, I love this". Sometimes he looks. Sometimes he comes downstairs and says the cooking smells good but he doesn't want to eat it. Ok I say, thank you, I think it smells nice too and Daddy and I are going to enjoy it. If you want some too, you are always welcome.


WTF do I do?

OK, perhaps more clues here: