DD's eating habits have me at my wits end

[beansbeans!]

hi all;

Miss M is a great eater, she loves almost everythng we give her... Well until dinner time comes anyhow!

Every night I make dinner; I always include at least ine of her favourite things, I serve it to her. And nope, she wants something else. When this first started happening I decided that the only other option that I would allow would be fruit, well for ages now she eaten 3 mandarins each night, or a bowl of grapes, bananas, any fruit so long as it wasnt what I served.
The other night I just couldnt be bothered making something that would be yet again thrown out, so I made fruit salad, everything she prefers to eat normally...
But she didnt want it!!!
Im going crazy as to how to solve this. I am tired of the nightly act that happens. Tonight, Im fed up, at my wits end. She just wont eat her dinner. I even tried the but look Miss H is eating hers, so it must be yummy. But nope. Im that fed up that tonight I am seriously considering not giving her an alternative and sending her to bed. Why? Because I just cannot face peeling another mandarin. Im tired of the battle to feed her. Im tired of having to cook dinner during the witching hour, then having it thrown out. Sure the dog is getting fat, but she has her own food to eat.

What on earth can I do to get her to eat? Tonight, its the 'well thats all there is, so eat it.' Sure shes whinging and carrying on, but I just deal with it anymore. Im over it.

What can I do? How do you all battle dinnertime?

Cheers
Justine

[Lulu]

What on earth can I do to get her to eat? Tonight, its the 'well thats all there is, so eat it.' Sure shes whinging and carrying on, but I just deal with it anymore. Im over it.

Do that and keep it up!

and I don't do dinner time battles, it does my head in. Never regretted it for a second.

[Spring Angel]

I second lulu. My eldest is almost exactly the same age as you DD and we have you eat what you're given rule. The only time I make an exception is if it's a totally new food or a spicy food, then he can have fruit or yoghurt but he has to at least try it first.

[beansbeans!]

Thank you Lulu and Spring Angel;

Im just wondering though, what do you do if they dont eat dinner? Do you give them something else before bed? or let them go to sleep without anything? Also how long do you reckon it will take to get her used to the idea and start eating again?

Cheers
Justine

[Lulu]

depends on the tenacity of the child! It might only take 2 days - or as soon as they realise you are serious.

It's hard to know if to give something else...cos it's sort of like giving in again but haaard to do. I gave mine a piece of buttered bread (i'm not sure how to make gruel ) but nothing else.

One thing that is BRILLO (imo) is that she will eat everything otherwise.
Another good tip - Nelle gives her boys dinner at lunch time so she knows they have had a good hearty meal at least once a day.

GL

[minimatron]

I had this issue tonight with dd1.... although we had the screaming, the grabbing the food in her hands and squeezing it... so we sent her to her room and she continued to scream.

I kept her food in the fridge until she was hungry again and heated it up. She ate it finally.

Thats the first time I have done this... usually I give it to the dog and she will get a banana or custard later on. I am over cooking for nothing, so now this is how it will be. I hope it works!

[kungfubecca]

I've been researching fussy eaters latley. My DS isn't overly keen on dinner either, but it's because he is too tired, I think I need to bring tea time back about half an hour. but anywho, it sounds like she's fighting for control.
We have an eat what your given rule too, and if your hungry enough you will eat it.
She might be old enough for you to start geting her to help choose what is for tea before you make it, then she might eat it, because it was her choice already?? after all she is already showing you she wan'ts to choose, but it's after you've done all the hard work

[Heaven]

I read something good in Pinky's Toddler tactics book last night. She says it is your responsibility to provide a range of healthy foods and your child's responsibility to eat. You can't make them eat and turning it into a battle can cause lots of issues. They will eat if they're hungry, if they don't, that's ok!

I agree with just giving her the one option and if she doesn't eat it, too bad. Hope you keep seeing improvement!