hard to feed

Hello, My son is very very hard to feed baby.  we are vegitarian, I cook all kinds of indian food for him, but he doesn't eat.  he eats only rice puffs and apple bites.  he drinks milk 3 to 4 times.  somehow he doesn't like soft taxtured food, but he will eat some crunchi food, but he also is very picky in that also.  He drinks PediaSure once a day.  can someone help me what I should do to feed him and get all his nutritions?  Also, as soon as I put one spoon in his mouth he starts crying outloud and ask for milk or apple bites.  he is not at all spoiled.  please help me.

[Renee Radenberg]

His weight is just below the 5th percentile for his age. Suggest giving him Pediasure in place of milk for additional calories and protein. At 17month old he can feed himself and he seems that he wants to from what you wrote. Have you tried fingering foods, and giving him foods you eat, cut up smaller? As a guideline for a 17-24 month old child should eat the following: Dairy 4 feedings a day –Milk or breast milk (4oz), cheese (½ oz), yogurt (½ cup), or cottage cheese (¼ cup). Starch 4 feedings a day – Cereal (¼ cup), pasta (¼ cup), rice (¼ cup), bread (½ slice), or crackers (2). Fruits & Vegetables 4 feedings a day – Fruits (including 100% juice limited to only 4-6ozs) & Vegetables (¼ cup). Protein source 2 feedings a day – Meat or fish (1oz), egg (1), or beans (¼ cup). He should eat 3 meals and have snacks between meals using the foods above to be spread out throughout the day.  Relax at meals and let him eat what he wants. Try introducing new foods. Sometimes it takes 5-9 times to introduce a food that he will accept, however, if he do not want it you have to not make a fuss and let it go. Give him the food he likes. Hoped this helped you.