Does anyone else have a pre-schooler (DD is 3) that has recently taken to gagging and picking their food?

[Monkeyandbooba]

DD (3.3) was always a fantastic eater, varied diet and would eat all sorts of vegetables, meats, spicy foods etc. Recently mealtimes have become a real chore for all of us.

She takes ages to eat a plate of food (I give small portion, particularly if it is something unfamiliar or not a favourite), sometimes up to 45mins and then will gag and retch if she has a miniscule portion of anything she doesn't want - which at the moment is most things

I am fed up of having almost everything I cook rejected or picked at/moaned about. She makes such a mealtime of mealtimes I now dread it when we sit down to eat.

Where did my good eater go!!??

Monkey - my DS1 is now 3 and was like your daughter for ages... he's finally getting better at eating after we introduced some new mealtime rules. I think it was a control thing for him and food - he is now getting more interested in food and less interested in independence. He is given a small portion for his meal, where possible we give him a choice between meals (so he is involved in deciding what he gets to eat), if he wants more when he finishes his portion he is given more and when he says he's finished we remove his main course and offer him his dessert and he only gets a snack between meals (fruit) at set times so he doesnt over feed between meals. He also only gets one cup of diluted juice at mealtimes and only water between meals. His eating improved miles after a couple of weeks of the new rules - and a star chart (with smiley faces) for every day when he ate all his meals nicely. Its miles better if you dont respond to what they're doing (hard when you've cooked their meals) and can get them interested in what they're eating - could you get her involved in helping with shopping for and making dinner?

Hope all gets better for you soon.