Almost 2-yr-old still on baby food!

[bright sparks]

I would also play on your experience with other children versus a dietician who has likely had little experience weaning children. Textbook learning is not the same as hands on and while the dietician would have done an internship it's highly unlikely it would have been with multiple under 3's with a multitude of eating habits. Even mothers of a few children likely haven't been exposed to fussy eaters as much as a home daycare provider. Also, hiding food for a 2 year old is really an insult to their intelligence. That's something that could be said with some humour as 2 year olds are not stupid. This isn't a food issue but a power and control issue. I agree with you completely. I think you could say it to the parent in the exact same way you did in your original post. I think what would be a good idea, and a good way of wording it to the parents is that you would like to wean the child. Instead of a full meal of mixed items, pick one or two foods, a savoury and a sweet like fruit. Cut into small pieces and spoon feed a few times and leave him to it. Yes you are busy with the others but if this was a 1 year old the spoon feeding wouldn't be an issue. This is a means to an end where in the next few weeks the spoon feeding will possibly result in a positive outcome so makes it a worthwhile action to take. Hand mom a menu a week in advance and suggest that you both feed the same foods as you would when newly introducing foods to a weaning infant. You would feed the same foods several days before introducing a new food. If there is no other option eventually he will be forced to try it and then will eventually eat it, but if mom is caving into him at home with crackers and cereal, etc then she is enabling his fussiness with food. If she is not willing to work with you then you are fighting a losing battle. Our days are busy enough without these kinds of situations where we bust our balls in the best interests of the child but parents are not on board.