Dd has always had a tiny appetite. She is petite, but I amwas too, so I've never been massively concerned.
She's always been fairly fussy, but we've managed her eating fairly well. She would not eat a massive variety but would eat mince, so we could make cottage pie, spah Bol, meatballs etc...
But then she stopped liking mash; so we allowed the mince and booked potatoes. It wasn't any extra work.
But now she's gone off mince, and near, and cheese sauce.
Basically we're downtown chicken and potatoes. Preferably in the guise of chicken nuggets and chips; but also as roast dinner and any variation really.
I've had enough of the food refusal and her lack of eating.
It makes tea times a pain.
So I'm coming down hard.
I cook dinner; you either eat it or go and get bread and butter.
But I know she'll just not eat.
AIBU
AIBU?
To effectively starve my 7 year old?
zumby · 23/06/2014 10:18
Op do high know what.
All of mine have been fussy eaters. I spent hours and hours worrying about what to give them, whether to be strict it go with the flow amd over the years have done both.
Ff now they are 23.22,15,14 and yet slim fit and eat most things.
Life is too short to worry about food. Honestly. As long as they eat something that's fine.
Far far bigger worries at sea 
She certainly seems to be eating enough imo - and i agree with all those who say to relax about it.
If you're worried about getting her to eat a greater variety you might try a bit of reverse psychology - eat with them but eat something different and healthy - or add some interesting and healthy veggies to your meal (eg sautéed red cabbage with onion, apple and garlic). When asked what it is you say "it's ..... I love it but it's a very gown up taste, I don't think you two will like it". If they demand a taste you say "only a tiny bit, because I've only made enough for me and I don't want it wasted". Just keep doing that - eat stuff yourself that is interesting so that they have to ask what it is. (nettle soup, pizza and pasta are all still family favourites now even they are adults).
Mine all went through the nuggets and chips phase (it's very common) and that was the way I got them to begin to be adventurous - contrary little beasts, small children . Of course the downside is that you'll produce young teenage foodies who drop smoked salmon and jars of sunblush tomatoes into the shopping basket - and try to convince you to switch to shopping at M&S and waitrose because the food there is more interesting than the co-op.
Somebody mentioned tongue tie further down the thread.
This, plus reflux was the root cause of ds1's fussiness. I had no idea that he was suffering from reflux until he complained one day when he was around 6yo of a burning in his chest. Looking back, he had probably been suffering it for a long time but there had been no visible symptoms.
His tongue tie was a hard to spot posterior one. It meant that the back of his tongue was restricted and he was unable to chew and swallow properly. He was also swallowing down a lot of air which would come back up and bring the stomach contents with it.
The doctors were useless and just handed out medication and gave me the 
face when I said I thought it was related to his tongue tie.
I dug and dug for information and finally found people who could help. 20 months or so on, he is still a bit fussy, but nothing compared to how he was before we had his tongue revised aged 7yo. He has also had orthodontic treatment to expand his narrow palate and wears headgear to bring his upper jaw forward, opening up his nostrils. He now can breathe through his nose when he is chewing and doesn't swallow so much air from mouth breathing and eating at the same time.
When I realised there was an underlying cause, I was really glad that I had not listened to the "he'll eat when he's hungry" brigade.
There are pics on my profile of his tongue/mouth, but appearance can be deceptive. It's all about the function of the tongue. How did milk feeding go with your DD zumby? I'm guessing it was not straightforward if she was failure to thrive 
Another fussy eater here. Mine is nine years old and also had silent reflux as a baby. The foods she refuses are similar and I know without a doubt with my dd it is all about the texture. She doesn't like rubbery textures at all. She also has Aspergers. She is also very lean.
Cut the afternoon snack and push dinner back. Make sure she is properly hungry. If she doesn't eat she doesn't eat. Don't engage at all. Soup and sandwiches is perfectly fine for dinner. I have four dc and I will not cook separate meals. So I make sure that some days are meals she likes others are tough luck days 
She eats all of her packed lunch, which today is cheese wrap; salami; olives; tinned peaches and a smoothie. I normally meet her from school with a banana and a biscuit.
Blimey, I wouldn't want an evening meal after that lot 
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