4 year old meal time struggles

[Tippytips]

My daughter has just turned 4 and meal times have got progressively worse to the point where I am now at a total loss.

She is a picky eater but her list of foods is now minuscule. All day she constantly complains of being hungry and wants snacks. I offer something ant set times and unless it’s chocolate she says I want something else. Of course I ignore this and if she doesn’t want the snack that’s it until mealtime.This evening i gave her curry (accepted food) and she point blank refused to eat it. I put on no pressure and say fine, but that’s all there is, and she proceeded to scream for 1 he 15 that she wanted pudding. 1 hour 15! I didn’t give in and left her to it and she went to bed in a state and hungry. I feel awful but don’t know what to do?

Should add eats everything with zero issues at nursery! Also, I don’t bribe/beg to eat, just leaver her to it and chat but I constantly just get shouted at and told my cooking is all yucky!

Any advice welcome 🙏🏼

Please have my deepest sympathies. We thought my youngest was super fussy but it turned out that she had ARFID.

Have you read the book My Child Won't Eat by Carlos Gonzalez? That might help?

Thank you, I will have a read.

have looked into ARFID but it’s solely a behaviour at home, she eats everything at nursery?

Sorry to hear of your woes. For what it is worth I think you are doing the right things. If she eats at nursery without issue, there clearly isn't any actual problem with her or the food - it is more psychological, and sounds like she thinks she can manipulate you. My daughter used to be similar, and would always be at the table ages, forcing her meal down like it was the worst food in the world. Fortunately she grew out of it and will now try almost anything. So things can improve. GL