HELP! Dinner time is a nightmare

[babygirlisla]

I need help with my little girl and her dinner
She is 19months old and has become fussier and fussier with her food now all she will eat for dinner is Sausage peas and/or sweet corn and potato letters or waffles.
Anything different and she will turn her nose up and say no
I have tried just putting food down and leaving her to it but she won't even touch it without gagging or pulling a face.
For lunch she has the same everyday of toast (as she won't eat sandwiches) with grapes, blueberries & strawberries and some hula hoops.
How can I get her to try different things?
Advice is very much appreciated
Xx

Maybe try one thing she likes and one she doesn't at each meal? Maybe try some strong flavours / spicy stuff to try and tickle her taste buds?

Think I read somewhere that you need to offer a new food around four times for a child to try it (sounds about right actually - took our two to Yo Sushi for the third or fourth time on Monday and our two year old, not having been much bothered before, decided he now likes it; cost a flaming fortune ).

Having said that, they go through phases so try not to sweat it too much and I'm sure she'll come through it.

Good luck - it is stressful, but I'm sure you'll crack it.

This might sound mad but there is a link between keeping a child clean whilst they eat and becoming fussy eaters.
I would try a different tact and do messy food play.
Put different foods in bowls start with one at a time. Put toys in the bowl with it. Encourage her to ya with it, make a right old mess. Try a new one every couple of days. Use yogurt, jelly, cooked pasta with a bit of ketchup in it. Etc

When she eats her meals don't clean her till the end of the meal.
When she has her meals give her what she likes put put one spoonful of a new food on the plate too. Don't ask her to eat it just leave her to decide.
Let her take food from your plate- it is instinctive in a child to eat a parents food as they know it's safe. That's why kids always want to eat what their parents have.
It's going to take time. Good luck.

I have a fussy eater (now 10) and I've jumped through all the hoops. I wish I knew then what I know now.

Just put the food out, whatever it is. Let her eat what she wants. Sit and eat your meal with her, even if you don't want one. Chat about everything but the food. Clear up when you've finished unless she's still eating.

Get her to help with the washing up or setting the table or preparation if she wants to.

No fuss or stress. She won't starve.

She's controlling this because it's the only thing she can control.

That's great thanks, I will try the messy play with food as she has always been funny about touching foods that are not dry or clean so I have maybe avoided giving them to her ... Made a rod for my own back there!

I don't eat my dinner with her as I wait for partner to get home from work which is about half 7 - 8 so far too late for lo to eat as she has long been tucked up by then. Maybe I should sit down with her and have a few bits that she doesn't usually eat on my plate?

I do wait for her to finish what she is eating before washing her hands but she is never really that messy anyway lol

Thanks for your responses much appreciated :))