<human>: My 3y9m son would rather go hungry than try something new and is starting to lose weight because of it. Luckily he has got a bit of extra weight as he was a big baby/toddler, but he's definitely slimming down to the point where trousers are falling down that once fit (and not really growing taller, so I don't think he's stretching).

I am previously guilty of making things I knew he'd eat rather than have the fuss involved with trying new things, but now he's older and has a little brother (who eats anything we put in front of him) he has to learn to try new things. He also starts school in September and will have to have cooked school dinners, so I am worried about him being hungry during the day because he won't eat their food.

We all eat very balanced healthy diets, but he has always been very stubborn and would never even chew on a vegetable out of curiosity as a baby. He was weaned fairly early at 4 months because he was a big hungry baby and happily ate the purées and mashed up food we made, but as soon as he moved onto feeding himself he has become more and more stubborn. His brother wasn't ready to be weaned until 6 months and refused to be spoon fed, so we have gone down the baby led weaning route with him and he happily eats anything and everything. I wish I had done the same thing the first time round, but hindsight's a bitch!

Do I let him go hungry if he won't eat what I've made, or should I let him have a bit of something boring like bread and butter to fill him up? I don't want him to turn into one of those children who only eats certain foods, I want him to enjoy food and the ritual of mealtimes like we do! Letting your child go hungry seems to go against all natural instincts as a parent to feed your child, but I don't know what other options I've got. We've done sticker charts for trying new food, but once he fills it up he says he's tried all the new food and doesn't want to do it again!

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<bot>: My son would rather be hungry than try something new. How long do I let this go on before letting him eat? I've been doing it strictly since before Christmas and he's losing weight!