dd1 2.6 refuses to eat anything at lunch, desperate for desert or biscuit, what do I do?

[MinkyBorage]

DD2 generally eats very well, and then gets desert afterwards which causes huge tantrums in dd1 understandably. I don't waant to bribe her with sweet food, but don't feel like giving her desert or biscuit if she's refusing to even try her main course. Generally she refuses things I know she's going to like,a nd depending on her mood will ofetn try them after a long tantrum, but mostly nothing at all. grrr

Dont fret.

she will eat if she is hungry, but in our house if you havent tried your main course or given it a good go, then there is no pudding!

My boys then try and negotiate at how much they have to eat to get pudding!

I would offer fruit and is she tried her meal I would let her have dessert.

Pretend you're not bothered either way, difficult I know

if

I don't give pudding either unless they've eaten their main thing. I'd stand firm or there'll be trouble later!

For lunch I find the best thing to do is put a little of everything on the same plate so ds for instance will have, cheese spread on a sandwich, chopped cucumber, cubes of cheese, chopped grapes, strawberries, maybe a few crisps.I find this way it looks appealing to him rather like party food and he will often eat the sweet things first but everything ends up eaten. It gives them back a bit of power.

dd never really eats much for lunch, presumably because she gutses it right up at breakfast. she'd faint at the thought of two courses, and almost certainly plump for some dessert if it was available.

Thanks
I'm not really worried about the amount she actually east, because she has a big breakfast and generally eats either lunch or dinner, it's just that I'm fed up of the awfulness that ensues after an abortive lunch, mainly because she is hungry and dd2 got a gingerbread man. She is refusing all offers of fruit and is still begging me for a gingerbreadman.
Catchingzeds, I am quite good at pretending it doesn't matter, then (today is the worst yet) we've ended up me saying it's perfectly ok for her not to eat her lunch, no pressure etc etc, but no she can't have her gingerbread man if she doesn't at leats try it. We have stopped there. SHe is begging and begging me, tantruming, screaming, if I give in now......... I've tried distraaction, but she's hungry and it's all she can think about so it doesn't last long.
Aitch, I'm a bit crap at pudding really, I generally offer a biscuit or fruit or a yoghurt.

i'd call a halt to any kind of dessert bar fruit at lunchtime, i think. can't see what the alternative is, tbh.

yes, you're right. I'll do that. My earlier posts were disjointed nd confused because DD was stropping whilst I ignored her to come on mn.
Stupid of me really to continue with it, but felt a bit sorry for dd2 whho is a great little eater and loves a yoghurt after her meal. She's harldy going to fade awy though! Thanks