Don't listen to anyone who says "no child will ever starve themselves". wanna bet?? Agree with a pp who says it just makes you feel inadequate that "even the bomb proof failsafe method of just waiting and they will eat eventually won't work with my child".
ds (2.5) only eats cream cheese, toast, berry flavoured yogurts, petit filou type things, apples, sometimes mum's little pastry turnovers with ratatouille in, maybe banana and chips. (And any amount of biscuits and crisps given half the chance, which is very infrequently). It's been the same for over a year, and doesn't look like changing any time soon. I give him vitamins when he hasn't eaten any ratatouille or fruit, and the paediatrician I saw in a gibbering heap a few months ago said that although his diet is not ideal, he is healthy, fit and very active, progressing OK in all areas, happy, stable, sleeping well and no behavioural probs so I am not to worry that his diet is cocking up his development.
My best advice for mums of fussy eaters therefore is get them checked by a healthcare professional and if they confirm that all is well, you can relax a little.
Should also point out that I have not gone straight in with the laissez faire approach, this comes after months and months of trying EVERYTHING in the book.