Children who are tired, grumpy, or full of energy may find it hard to sit down and eat. They might eat slowly, refuse food, or even throw a tantrum.

Some medications, such as over-the-counter pain relief or antibiotics, can affect appetite and cause digestive issues like nausea or diarrhoea. This makes mealtimes tricky, especially if new foods are introduced while your child is on medication and feeling unwell.

Stress can decrease appetite, as stress hormones can interfere with a child’s desire to eat.

Pain from teething or dental problems can make eating uncomfortable and lead to less interest in food.

Common childhood illnesses, such as the flu, gastroenteritis, sore throat, and ear infections, can also affect a child's behaviour at mealtimes.

Fresh fruits and vegetables can vary in taste and texture, which may cause your child to like a food one day and refuse it the next.

For example:

• blueberries in the same punnet can taste sweet or sour and feel firm or squishy
• bananas can go from firmer and less sweet to sweeter, softer, or even squishy with brown spots as they ripen.

This can lead to your child liking a food one day and not the next. If they have a negative experience with the taste or texture of a food, they may start to refuse it. 

Packaged, processed foods, such as nuggets and chips, often have a more consistent taste and texture, making it more likely for children to develop preferences for them as “safe” foods. Continue offering a variety of foods regularly to help them have a balanced diet. 

It can take a child 15 or more tries to accept a new food. To help expand their diet, regularly offer new or disliked foods alongside healthy options they already enjoy.