How to get my 18mo to eat more?

[Birdistheword]

My 18mo DD loves bread, and occasionally pasta, and thats it. She eats with us at the dining table in the late afternoon, she is definately hungry, but she won't eat what we put in front of her (she just has a small portion of whatever we are eating).

What is the best way to deal with this? Should i just take her meal away when she refuses to eat it, and not give her anything else? I don't want her to learn that if she plays up long enough she will eventually get some toast!

She will put some food on her fork/spoon and put it up to her mouth, and then change her mind and chuck it on the floor!

Thought we had had a breakthrough last week when she ate some sausage, but the next day she was back to eating nothing again.

Sorry this is long, any advice would be much appreciated

The food throwing is partly a game and partly done because she knows it provokes a reaction in you. Beyond saying, "We don't throw food", don't give her one. And, yes, take away her food after a set period of time if it remains uneaten. Don't throw it away; she might be hungry enough to eat it later, especially if she gets the message that she won't be offered toast in an hour or so's time. During meals, concentrate on talking about non-food related topics with perhaps the occasional comment to DP about how yummy what you're eating is. She may get curious enough to try something new - and even if she just tastes it and then spits it out, it's still a step in the right direction. Also, if she wants to try something from your plate (even if it's the same as what's on her's), I'd let her.

One other thought: what about trying a picnic in the garden or park? My unadventurous, fussy 2yo often eats surprisingly well at "picnics", even if he's the only one picnicking!