Two year old fussy eater

[HDG1234]

My two year old seems to be fairly typical in becoming more difficult about what he will eat, so I tend to stick to firm favourites and just offer the odd new thing when I’m having it. But what do people do when their LO refuses something they normally eat? It’s maddening and if it’s lunch time I just say there is nothing else and he goes down for his nap without eating anything if he still refuses (he generally eats well and is a good weight so don’t worry!) but I don’t want to do this at supper time as I worry he’ll wake hungry in the night. How do people deal with food refusal at supper time?

My normal approach at this age would be to offer several different items at each meal. If he usually likes at least some of them and refuses all of them, then I’d assume he isn’t hungry. Also, I never make him have to eat his main course before having pudding, as I don’t agree with the message that sends him (that savoury stuff is ‘good’ and pudding is ‘bad’ - they’re all just different kinds of food). So at least I know he’s had a yoghurt or some fruit or whatever.

My ds is 2.5 and also fussy although improving.
I offer him the food, he tells me he doesn't like it 90% of the time. I say okay and give him fruit/yoghurt as usual. Most of the time once he's had the little yoghurt or the fruit he then eats some of his meal. It's like he wants a battle but I just don't engage any more and it works much better. I also don't watch him eat. I serve the DC then potter around the kitchen looking busy, he is more inclined to eat if I'm not paying attention!