What happened to my Non-fussy eating 3yr old!?

[pigleychez]

DD1 is 3.5 and in the past month have started to see a big difference in her fussiness with food.
She was always easy to feed and would eat everything including veg. Roast dinners were always a favourite.
Now however we fight to get her to eat a roast at all. She seems to have developed a dislike for vegetables (where Carrots used to be her fav) and potato's too. Its a nightmare.
Any dinner with potato's we struggle with.

What has happened? Is it just a phase?

I really want to knock this on the head if I can as its starting to effect her 18mth old sister who is starting to copy her! She's usually a complete gannet so dont want her following.
Plus I dont want a major drama at the table at Xmas day in front of the family (inlaws) as thats obviously a roast dinner.

Today she ate a tiny amount and has gone to bed with just that. But the trouble is she doesn't seem bothered by it at all. We even sat and ate Ice cream in front of her tonight but that didn't phase her either!
Dh and I are starting to argue about it now too which isn't great.
Ive suggested giving her more dinners this week with carrots and potatoes to try and get her used to them again but DH doesn't want a drama every night... Of course id rather not too!! He doesn't come up with any other suggestions though. Obviously dont want to turn dinner times into battles but potatoes obviously play quite a part in meals plus theres her sister to think of too.

Oh what to do, what to do?! Any suggestions, advice!?

Personally, my approach is to disengage. I serve meals that I think DD could eat (eg not hot & spicy), I put a bit of everything on her plate & leave her to it. I try not to comment on what she is/isn't eating... It's hard! Sometimes she eats loads & tries new things, sometimes she doesn't. She has fruit & yoghurt afterwards regardless, & has never yet woken up hungry in the night...

I second RillaBlythe my DD stared getting fussier at 3. I tried to ignore and not make a fuss (though difficult at times) and she has in the main returned to her usual non-fussy self with regards eating. I think it is developmental and they all go through it to a certain degree. Try not to worry - it will turn out fine.

I've been told to try to turn a blind eye to what they eat/don't eat at the table then it can't turn into a 'getting negative attention is as good as good attention' type situation, which can/does turn dinnertimes into nightmares. Have you tried other foods rather than trying to get them to eat what they seem to have gone off of? hopefully its temporary... but maybe try other things they do or might like? my DS (26m) loves pasta in all forms and not many other foods right now, hoping its just a stage as he is 26m and used to love potato and won't touch it all of a sudden! this month though with the new pasta obsession we have been able to all eat lasagne as a family for example, or pasta shapes with tomato-based sauce with loads of diced veg in and garlic, or cheesy pasta sauce with diced onion/mushrooms in works too. Or you could, as yours is older than mine, try getting a blank pizza base and making/cooking the topping together - you can make a healthy version with tomato puree and veg/cheese. Have you tried a baked potato or sweet potato? she might enjoy scraping the soft potato out of a small baked shell. Mine will sometimes eat scrambled eggs/slices of omelette too. Its very frustrating though isnt it, when they eat little or nothing...... keep smiling :)