Fussy eater - meal ideas

[BlueBritish]

Hi all, my DD is 18 months old, she is a particularly fussy eater and will only eat the things she’s had before. Getting her to try new things is nearly impossible. I was just wondering what sort of meals you all have as a family that is tasty and not too adventurous. I also have a slow cooker which is my best friend on busy days so if anyone has any ideas to put in that too would be a massive help.

This might work when she's a little older - we 'eat' movies. Eg. The food from Luca, Beauty and the Beast, Moana etc. Today we're 'eating' Encanto.

We started this when DC was about 2 and one of the first things we started off with was porridge like Belle eats, fish like Ariel eats (tuna jacket potato) etc.

What does she like (or at least tolerate) currently? I'd try things that are only a small step away from what she already knows, so sort of gently expand her repertoire, e.g., if she likes spag bol, try the sauce on different pasta shapes, then a different mince-based sauce (potentially something like a suitably mild chile you can eventually move to trying over rice). If she likes yoghurt with chopped strawberries, try it with a mix of strawberries and raspberries, etc.

She’s tiny and still learning. I’d cook what you like for yourself and give her a small amount of your food along side her familiar foods. It’s a long game, keep it relaxed and make the food you enjoy.

I'd try to offer a variety, always making sure there are things that she will eat there. I'm not sure what she will eat but I'd just cook what you eat with a few extra bits on the side for her and see if that works. If you are making a curry and she isn't keen on the sauce, she could eat rice, bread, and vegetables or salad she likes, and then if she doesn't eat the main part, it's not the end of the world and her seeing you eat it might make her interested without needing to say "look at the tasty curry Sophie, yum yum" etc.

Thanks for all the brilliant replies. I will be trying these ideas