Fussy 2 year old!

[abbyfromoz]

DD is 23 months. She used to be an ok eater but now only interested in meat, meat, meat and more meat!!!
This is not good considering we started out giving her a mainly vegetarian diet! (My dh is adventist and was brought up veggie)
I feel like a total failure as today i was so fed up with her whining because she's hungry but then refusing to eat anything put in front of her! I went to the co- op and bought some chicken bites in desperation (and to get a break from the incessant whining!!) told DH i'm at my whits end and he chastised me saying this is my job!
I want to cry help! An please no 'if she's hungry she will eat' NO SHE WON'T! She'll just whinge and whine until i want to rip my hair out!!

Honestly as a mother of a terrible 2 year old, as long as the kid isn't living off a diet of chocolate/biscuits/cake I think you are doing great!

How long has she been doing it for?

Siiigh of relief thanks Milk you have no idea how much i needed to hear that! I think i just look at other people and their kids (sisters DS asks 'mummy can i have a carrot?') and i feel like what am i doing wrong? I tried to do everything right but she has never been that cooperative at mealtimes. We have tried so many things- introducing her to a variety of healthy food from the start, letting her be involved in cooking! Giving her a choice between meals... Just letting her graze... Taking away snacks altogether.... Letting her feed herself, offering help... Disguising veggies in her favourite dish... She is just a very very very...determined...child...
I am sick of cooking. It's really depressing as i previously LOVED cooking and i love healthy food. Ahhh! When will this end?!

That might work :)

To be honest if I had the option to only eat meat I definitely would :) Your DD sure isn't stupid.

I have a niece who from the ages of 2-5 would only eat spaghetti and cheese.

Skeptical but will give it a go! Thank you
I have a feeling she will just be a bit overwhelmed with choice and decide not to touch it at all. Usually the case when i put more than one option on her plate (even if it's chicken, corn and say.... Rice all of which she has been known to eat separately...but will tip it on the floor if she sees them all on one plate!)

abby I'm pretty sure most two year olds go this phase and it's SOOO frustrating.

I've posted on here about my DD and got good advice. She's the opposite of yours and has never been a big meat water but the fussiness escalated soon after turning two (she's 2.3 now).

I have no idea if this will help or not but we are going down a tough route. I only cook one meal for the family and she can either eat it or not. The crucial thing is not to force or cajole, but to be really breezy about it, as if it doesn't bother you. I think it's as much about control as food.

With DD1, if she has a few spoonfuls then she gets a yoghurt, finishes it she gets a treat and gets nothing if she refuses point blank.

I usually leave it on the side and every so often she'll wander over and ask for it. It's so

Also I find giving her main meal at lunchtime is better as she's less stroppy compared to the evening. That way too, I know she goes to bed on a full tummy. There's nothing DD1 won't do for marmite sandwiches and crisps.

Sorry, bit of an essay but as someone said if they're vaguely eating healthy-ish stuff then don't sweat it. It's just a really irritating phase!

"Meat water"? That sounds gross. Meat eater, of course!