4 year old won't eat!

[edinburghlocal]

My 4 year old daughter has a very limited diet....mainly survives on maccaroni cheese and satsuma's! She is very headstrong and will not try anything new. Although she did used to have a more varied diet she has progressively refused all meals except mac cheese. Dinner time is always stressful. We have tried everything we can think of.....getting her to help make dinner, reward charts, giving a choice of two different meals. Breakfast and lunch usually ok, although also limited...porridge and cheese sandwhiches. Any suggestions would be gratefully recieved!

Don't make it into a big deal (easier said than done I know!)

If she likes macarroni cheese how about other food covered in cheese sauce?

Cauliflower cheese?

Roast potatoes and sweet potatoes covered in cheese sauce?

Lasagne?

Rice and veg vcovered in cheese sauce?

My nephew was like this until a few months ago (so three and a half) and my sister called in a child psychologist.... he now eats alomst anything. i think it took about three appointments and involoved no stress, eating what he wants, stepping back a little. Look up a local CP to see how much they charge,
I cannot recommend it enough.

Thanks, have tried just grated cheese on other meals but will definately give the cheese sauce a try

Also, remember it takes on average 15 tries before a new taste or food becomes an acceptable taste for a child.

I would try to not comment at all about how much she does or doesn't eat, don't reward, don't punis, don't coax, don't bribe. Basically don't show her that it is important to you what she eats.

Just put the food in front of her, eat at the same time as her (as a family if possible), enjoy the food, make it obvious you enjoy the food, and leave it at that. If she eats she eats, if she doesn't she goes hungry until the next meal.

Someone suggested a snack box on a thread I started the other day, allowing the lo a bit more control over what they eat & when as they can select something to eat. Maybe that might work a bit, letting her just pick something out as and when she wants to try it. May also be a waste of time but I thought I'd suggest it. Am going to try it myself starting nxt week