Daughter won't eat

[olivia1979]

My little one is 21 months old she use to be so good at eating not at all fussy but for the past few weeks she is a nightmare I don't know how she is surviving .
She will only eat a couple of mouth fulls of hot food then refuses point blank if you try to force the issue and feed her she can hold it in her mouth for ages without eating it , she will eat fruit and toast and yogurt but not much else .
I know everyone say's she will not let herself starve but feel like food is becoming an issue how do I get her back into a normal eating routine any help appreciated for stressed out mummy :(
She still full of energy and happy otherwise

If she's full of energy and happy, I'd just ignore it. This won't become an issue unless you let it. If she doesn't eat, try to assume she's not hungry, ignore it and just finish your own meal. Don't comment on her eating and don't offer alternatives. I'd also make sure she's getting her vitamins and the recommended 300 ml of full fat cows milk.

She should soon realise that refusing food only has one result, and that's being hungry. Right now the effect seems to be getting Mummy into a tizz

Yup, ignore it. Give her things she likes for lunch, so she's getting energy in the middle of the day, then offer her the usual dinner. Put it in front of her, eat yours, offer a little encouragement to eat it but otherwise ignore. If she eats none of it, just take it away and if she complains about being hungry offer it again, not in a nasty way in a "Oh, you're hungry? Well I have a lovely dinner here, want it?" If she says no, shrug and say "Oh well, that's all that's there," and leave it at that. Food becomes an issue when it becomes a battle ground and focus of control. If you have the attitude that you'll offer food but it's up to her if she eats then the only consequence of not eating is feeling hungry, which is a good incentive to stop mucking about and eat!

Agree ignore it, try different options and let decide not to eat it or otherwise.

Fruit and yogurt and the odd two mouthfuls of dinner is ok for a bit I reckon.

I dont think you should try different options, giving her a choice. Cut out any unhealthy food like high sugar yogurt and biscuits too. Small children do not need a lot, and if they don't come to the table hungry they can easily miss a meal and not care. Then as JJJ said just offer the meal and if she doesnt eat it take it away. After missing a few meals she will be starving and she will eat.
No child will voluntarily starve.

How are you getting on now Olivia?