Mom of a Very Picky Eater

You may want to try this cookbook, written by Jerry Seinfeld's wife who also had kids who wouldn't eat veggies, the title is "Deceptively Delicious...

http://www.deceptivelydelicious.com

My brother ate nothing but peanut butter sandwiches 3 times a day for years. He's now a 6' 4" athlete who will eat anything. But it wasn't until junior high that he started eating other foods, so just hang in there.

As long as she is healthy and gaining weight let her eat what she likes. It's better than wasting the food she won't eat. They do to through stages like that and as long as it is not harmful to the child let her be happy and less stress on you.

J., There are many reasons a child reacts the way they do. We tend to want to put them all in one category and say they should all act the same way without communicating with them as to why they are acting "abnormal." It may not be abnormal for her. Those are healthy choices and a good mutivitamin will be helpful. Also, there could be a sensory disorder going on. My daughter for years would only eat pasta with spaghetti sauce morning, noon and night. Come to find out she had a sensory disorder in the mouth. Meaning, the food that felt fine in our mouths felt like gravel in hers. She would scream if I forced her to eat anything else. There are a couple of tools out there to fix it. There is a nub, that is what the occupational therapist called it, and it is a rubber tube that goes over your thumb and she chews it. It has different texture to it, a rough one. It really helped my daughter. She is eating much better now. She still prefers spaghetti but will eat most of what I give her. And all along I thought she was being stubborn. It helps to communicate with the child to find out what the problem is. They are people too. Good luck and God bless.

Children will not starve themselves to death. You prepare your dinner, put it in front of her, if she refuses, she gets nothing. Don't fix her 'her favorite' or anything different as she knows you will eventually do this. They are stern little things. My 21yo son did this as a child and my pediatrician told me what I just told you. My son would eat a huge breakfast & nothing for lunch or dinner. Eventually he learned that mama didn't run a restaurant and he began to eat.

Rest assured she'll start to eat when she sees you are determined and mean what you say.

My son is almost 8 years old and I think he is/was the pickiest eater ever. He has gotten better but it took a lot of innovation and patience. Our success has been with two different tactics. The first one we used was reverse psychology. When he wouldn't try something my husband would tell him that he didn't think he was big enough to try it so he better leave it alone. Miraculously, since daddy didn't think he was a big boy and he couldn't try it he would fight us to let him try it. Most times he didn't like it but he alteast tried it and did find a few he liked.

The other tactic we used was we played restaurant. My son and I would go to the grocery store and he would "buy" the dinner to serve to daddy. When we got home we roleplayed and he was the host, waiter, and chef's helper. He had so much fun that when it was time to eat he just sat down and ate. Maybe it was the thrill of helping or maybe it was daddy saying how much better of a cook he was....but it worked.

I feel your pain. I have three girls. One eats everything just to be done and go play, one hates everything and one is in between. RE: your picky eater, she's 6 years old and you can now communicate with her effectively.... I hate to place blame on the parents every time, but she has learned that if she resists, she will get to eat what she wants. If I were a child, and all I had to do was throw a fit to eat my favorite foods, I would too. I never liked to hear that "they won't starve", but they won't if they skip a meal and feel what hunger really is! I would have a short order kitchen if I catered to my kids wants. I do 'make' them eat certain things around here, before they get up, before they turn on the TV, they have to earn those things by finishing a meal. One of my common things is I'll make them eat a small salad before they can have their mac and cheese. I never give my youngest the 'good stuff' until she's done with her veggies, etc. Take control of it, make her try everything. As soon as she figures out that she cannot control the situation anymore, you will see an improvement. Dr. Oz or Phil or one of those guys said a child has to be exposed to a certain food a dozen times to actually develop a taste for it, so start exposing her to veggies, etc. to let the process begin. If she just looks at it, make her at least try everything on her plate once. Let her get hungry and don't give her a snack-of-choice out of guilt an hour later. I have dealt with this forever with my picky one, I still never go without a complaint, which is still annoying, but she eats everything now at least. Good luck...

I went vegetarian when I was 4 years old and ate nothing but peanut butter for months. My mom had tried to trick me into eating meat by lying about whether or not something had meat in it. I knew peanut butter didn't have dead animals in it and would eat that. It wasn't very healthy but my pediatrician assured my parents I'd be okay during this 'phase' and to help me make healthier choices by being honest with me. Maybe you could tell her that she can't have peanut butter BUT she can pick anything else to eat. And then the next day say that she can have anything but peanut butter or what she had the day before. My daughter is pretty picky she goes through phases where she prefers to eat certain things and then gets sick of it and stops eating it for a while. Its typical 'kid' behavior. All grown-up I detest peanut butter because of the phase I went through as a child.

One suggestion that another mother used was to get her children involved in the preparation of the meal. She said that her son would never eat salad but she asked him to help her. I believe that he was even involved w/ what items were purchased from the store to put in his salad.

On the evening that he had helped prepare the salad he asked everyone during the meal about 10 times "How is my salad?" The mother said that in addition, her son ate 2 bowls of his salad (which he had never eaten before)

Maybe if you ask her to help you prepare something and even get her involved in the planning, purchasing and preparing of the meal then she also may step out of her comfort zone.

There are a lot of things that little kids can do safely in the kitchen as long as they are supervised. It can also bring bonding for the parent and the child.

My brother and his youngest son have watched cooking shows and then would get up and try the recipe immediately. Now, my nephew has joined a cooking club in college on his own.

I believe that my brothers and I all learned a love for gardening and grow things from playing in the edge of the garden while my father grew our food. It's amazing what kids will enjoy if we just involve them in something.

Good luck!

Lots of kids seem to go through a "one and only food" phase periodically. For weeks, maybe even months all they will eat is pb & J sandwiches, then maybe only banannas, then a favorite cereal, then applesauce, then potatoes... If you let them do this, it tends to even out in the long run. They usually do not suffer from this dietary quirk, if all the foods they have to choose from are healthy nutritious foods. The important thing is to only have healthy nutritious foods around the house and to always serve balanced meals. The rule in my house when my kids were growing up was that starting around first or second grade (not as young as 4, although each kid reached this level of maturity at a different age), we would all take turns cooking supper, (kids younger than that, were my helpers, when it was my turn) They could cook anything they wanted for supper, with 2 requirements
1. they had to eat all of the dinner they made, in other words, they couldn't choose a selection just because it was the easiest to cook, they had to actually cook something palatable.
2. it had to be a balanced meal; a protein, a vege and a starch.
No one was forced to eat all their supper, but if they didn't, they were not allowed a snack that evening. If they were hungry, they could go back and eat the leftovers. Kids usually will tend to fill up of sweets, if allowed, but when only healthy choices are allowed, they will not suffer from temporary food fads.

Hi J.,

Before I had kids myself, I thought you just made them eat what you gave them. Not so easy. I had friends whose kids only ate one or two things and I thought they were crazy to give in until one of them told me the Dr. said to just give it to them and they would eventually get tired of it and move on to something else. For one of them, it was a 2-yr-old who ate only popcorn and ice cream, not that bad for you, actually. Peanut butter and yogurt are healthy choices. Don't stress yourself out. She will grow out of it. What does she do when you go out to eat? I had one friend who ordered her son french fries and fixed him his "meal" when they got home. She wouldn't make special accomodations for him, he would just have to wait while everyone else enjoyed dinner. Don't make a big deal about it. it shouldn't be about extra attention or a power struggle. Fix dinner for everyone else and tell her if she doesn't want to eat it you will fix her meal after everyone else is finished. maybe she'll get hungry enough to try something. Be very low-key. It will pass. What does she do at her friends' house? My 10-yr-old eats a lot of things at her friends house that seh doens't eat at home - peer pressure. Relax, it will pass. Good luck, L.

she is 6, and this sounds like a control thing. you need to take control of this. offer her what you have prepared, and if she does not want that, she can leave the table. never fix her a separate meal. dont offer peanut butter for any meal for a while, that way she will get good and hungry, so that she will eat. she will not starve. if she gets hungry enough, she will eat. i know that it is hard to think about letting your baby get that hungry, but she will be fine.

J., Picky eaters are difficult. My mom never fixed anything special at meal time for us & none of us died from starvation. When she is home & on week-ends, make a grazing tray. Use a muffin tin & fill each muffin with different fruits & veggies. Chop them in small bite size pieces, don't overload the muffin tin & make it overwhelming. Don't even make a big deal about it. Place it in her play area & if you don't give in with the peanut butter & yogurt between meals, she will begin to nibble on the fruits & veggies. Also J., Juice Plus is a great addition to the daily diet. It is recommended by 1000's of doctors (especially pediatrician Dr. William Sears askdrsears.com). It is a good way to get the nutrition of 17 fruits & vegetables in your childs daily diet via capsule or chewables. Also, children between ages 6 to 15 can get theirs FREE. Check out the clinical research & the professionals at www.17fv.com Call me or e-mail me for more information & find out how you can get them Free for your daughters.
Hope this helps,
J. C

Give her what she wants. If all she eats for the next week is yogurt and peanut butter sandwiches, she won't be missing out on much nutrition. And the chances are that she'll get tired of it and ask for something else. By fighting her, you're unintentionally reinforcing the behavior.

She probably will always be a picky eater. I am too, and so is my oldest son. When he was ten and refused to eat what I had made for the rest of the family, I told him to fix himself a meal. He learned how to cook that way. And now he's a strong, healthy man whose wife is still trying to get him to try new foods.

Dear J.,
Well...you've had a lot of good advice that I've been reading. First of all...let me tell you about myself. I am a mother of 3, a stepmother of 2 and a grandmother of 15. As far as our children went, they ate what we ate. Now having said that, we never forced them to eat something that they didn't like, but that came from experiencing it at least once or maybe even twice. Once they tried something and they really didn't like it, then of course, we didn't force them to eat it. I think variety is the key. For example...try serving two veggies at meals. When I was a little girl...I didn't like peas and still don't...but my Mom would fix peas and green beans, which I loved. First you are going to have to figure out what she likes, because more than likely, she's not going to like everything, but she should be expected to at least try what you've fixed. I have a grandson (who is 10) who doesn't like mashed potatoes, but will eat his weight in french fries. (I believe it's the difference in texture) You may want to bring up the issue with your doctor that one lady advised, which was the texture of food may bother her. I mention that because I have a daughter-in-law who doesn't like certain things, mainly certain fruits, veggies and some meats, because of the way it fills in her mouth. Her son, my grandson (who is 12) is the same way. Now her daughter, my granddaughter (who is 5) doesn't have that problem and will eat just about anything. Now having said all that, I still have to wonder if it could be a control issue since she throws such a fit if she doesn't get her peanut butter sandwich and/or yogurt (which both are good for you by the way) and how she reacts and controls what she gets. It's hard to say not knowing you and your daughter. It's something you and your doctor need to sort out and I think it should begin at home, by having her try the foods you fix and then ask why she does or doesn't like it. Make a game of it if you want. Get her to participate and tell her you need her and the rest of your familie advice on how the food taste, what it lacks, what it needs...etc. Another person/persons advised you to let her help in the preparation of the food. I have little aprons for my grandaughters and grandsons who love to wear them and help out in the kitchen. (you can purchase the aprons at Wal Mart in the craft area) They really enjoy it when we eat what they help to cook and really love the praise. They enjoy eating it as well.

Not sure if any of this helps, but do hope you have great success with your little girl. God Bless You in your endeavor, hang in there and don't give up.

S. E.

shes getting her protein in the peanut butter her starches in the bread and milk in the yogert and fruit usually in yogert the only thing shes not getting is vegatables.you might try carrot sticks,celery with peanut butter or chease,tomatoe slices,cucumber slices and see if she will eat some fresh vegatables.she probably will out grow this and eat other food but until then shes eating a fairly balenced meal.you can ask the doctor about this but if shes growing good and healthy he will probably say let her eat what she wants.questain if you go to mcdonalds or out to eat out does she eat food with no problem?my son eats french frys only at mcdonalds so we buy him a large order or if we go to a chinease restrant he eats crab ragoon only or the regular restrants he eats mashed potatoes,macronni & chease,and a chicken leg nothing more or different and hes nine.

J., My son is going through this too! I have had to become quite creative.

1) If she like yogurt, try making a smoothie. Just use yougurt, frozen strawberries (or whatever frozen fruit and add some V8 fruit jusice (whole serving of fruit per 1/2 cup!) Blend and enjoy!

2) My son likes things wrapped in tortillas WARM! So like chicken, mozz cheese, and a tad bit of sour cream.

3) Put peas in alfredo sauce - is a great idea! Don't forget the whole wheat pasta! Angel hair is the least grainy!

4) If she like PB try making celry sticks with pb & Raisins!

Hope this helps!

I am a fan of Supper Nanny. She says it is normal for kids to go through a picky stage and if you don't make a big deal about it all will pass. But give her what you are eating and let her know this is dinner if you don't like it or at least try it there is nothing else for dinner. She will get the idea after a few days and slowly start eating.

My oldest will tell me she doesn't like something and I just tell her thats dinner and nothing else. She eats it. My youngest daughter is a social eater (doesn't like to eat by her self). I have to sit with her for her to eat. She has been like this since she was a baby.

Best of luck. Its hard on you nerves when they scream at you.

My mom is a dietician. One of my kids was a picky eater. Mom said to cook dinner, put the food on a plate in front of the child, make sure you always include one thing on the plate that they like. My son liked peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, yogurt, chicken nuggets, french fries, tater tots, bananas, and rolls. So we always had a roll with dinner. If he ate nothing else he at least ate the roll. Eventually he learned to eat everything that the family eats. It took time though.

Try not giving her anything but what you fix. A friend who was fed-up with her kids being picky did this. She had fixed lasagna or something like that and they refused to try it. She said fine, you're not getting anything else until you eat it. She put the leftovers in the fridge and offered to them the next day. Eventually they broke down and tried it and both liked it. (I think she only let them have cereal or something, no snacks, until they tried it.) Since then she hasn't had a problem with them being picky.

Try telling her she must eat what you give her or go without. It may sound cruel, but really she won't starve by missing a meal (my brother had to do this with his toddler - my nephew is just fine and he eats his vegetables now). Your daughter will be healthier for it in the long-run if she learns to eat a greater variety of foods. Perhaps you need to just really be firm on this.

She appearantly has learned that this behavior causes mom and dad to do what she wants. You are not in control as long as you allow her to change you by behaving this way. The screaming and crying should not be tollerated. If this is allowed to continue it will take place in other areas of your life and she will "rule the roost" so to speak.
That being said, Do not, under any circustance, prepare the peanut butter sandwiches and yogurt for her in place of the meal you have prepared for the family. She is to be expected to eat what the family eats. When she realizes bad behavior will not get her favorite meal, she will eat what you put on the table. She may have to go to bed hungry once or twice if she refuses to eat other foods. (Do offer the same food when she says she's hungry.) This is just a temporary phase. It is a matter of who has the stronger will, and as a parent, losing this battle is NOT an option.
Win on the small stuff and she will yield more easily on the big ones.
Stick to it, you can get past this.

Sincerely,
L.
Happily married (21yrs) -Mom of 4 great kids, now ages 20,20,16 and 14.

P.S.
I wouldn't dare give advice about the test of the wills if I hadn't been tried (multiple times!) and found that this works. It is definitely no small undertaking when you decide to retain leadership of your family in every circumstance. - Leadership... It's a major objecive in parenting.

dont give in. get the pb out of sight. maybe yogurt too for a while. if you give in every time she will never get used to the fact that she cant live off pb and yogurt. be ready for some tears but it will pass

I wouldn't give in to her. Try to be strong and tell her,

"We are having chicken for dinner if you do not like it you do not have to eat it, but you will NOT cry and scream, you will sit there until dinner is over with. Do you understand?"

Don't give her anything else to eat except what the family is eating. Also it helps my 5 year old when I let her help with dinner. simple things like fill the pot with water, pour the milk into the potatoes, stir. I also have a great chicken recipe that my kids and everyone loves, I will attach it below. And I have a recipe for Cracker Barrel's Cinnamon Apples I will also attach. Try making her part of the meal preperation. I have attached a few recipes for your family to try. But make your daughter help with at least one thing every meal. My daughter always picks out one vegetable to go with dinner. (we like the steamers) Good luck and hang in there!

Cracker Barrel's Cinnamon Apples:

Ingredients
2 cups apple juice, plus
1/2 cup apple juice
4 large golden delicious apples, with peel,cut 1/2 inch wedges
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon apple pie spice
4 tablespoons sugar
Directions
1
In a medium skillet, combine the 2 cups apple juice and sliced apples.
2
Simmer gently until apples are fork tender but not mushy, turning apples frequently.
3
Remove apples from juice using a slotted spoon and place in an oven safe dish.
4
In a blender, combine the remaining 1/2 cup apple juice, cornstarch, apple pie spice and sugar.
5
Blend a few seconds until smooth.
6
Whisk mixture into hot apple juice in skillet and cook, stirring constantly on medium high heat until it bubbles and becomes thickened and smooth.
7
Pour thickened mixture over apples and serve.
8
Please note the cooking time is an approximate.

Garlic Parmesean Chicken:
http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/Recipes/RecipeDetail?recipe_...

Porcupine Meatballs: (I use ground turkey-tastes great!)
http://southernfood.about.com/od/meatballs/r/bl30202l.htm

FRUITED CHICKEN SALAD

3 c. diced cooked chicken
1 c. diced celery
1 c. seedless grapes, cut in half
1 c. orange slices
1 (9 oz.) can pineapple tidbits, drained
1/2 c. slivered almonds, toasted
2 tbsp. salad oil
2 tbsp. orange juice
2 tbsp. vinegar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. mayonnaise

Combine first five ingredients.
Blend salad oil, orange juice, vinegar and salt. Add to chicken mixture. Chill for at least one hour. Drain off any liquid. Add mayonnaise and slivered toasted almonds. Serve on lettuce leaf with crackers or hot rolls.

I too am a mom of a picky eater. I was watching Oprah the other day and Jessica Seinfield was on talking about a cookbook she wrote about putting veggie purees in foods our kids will eat. My son only eats yogurt crackers, peanuts, any kind of juice. All the doctors tell me he will grow out of it. After seeing this program it gave me some hope that I can get some veggies in my child. She made brownies with spinach a cake with beets and cookies with bananas and other veggies. Im going out getting the cookbook and gonna give it a try. I wish you the best of luck and hope you find something that works.

You daughter will eat what you put in front of her, as long as you don't give in and make her peanut butter sandwiches. This sounds like a power struggle to me. She may very well be a picky eater, but this in an incredibly unhealthy diet and it's up to you to make sure she eats more healthy food. When my stepson was little he was the same way. His mom would let him survive on three foods - pizza, hotdogs and hamburgers. When he would come visit us, I told him he could pick three things he would NOT eat, not three things he would eat. He would sit sometimes for hours at the dinner table, hoping we would give in. This was before the days of microwaves and so when he did give in and eat it would be cold. He would cry, beg and even make himself gag. Now that he's grown, we kind of joke about it. I have found out that he never did learn to like sweet potatoes or clam chowder, but he eats pretty much everything else now. I would definitely talk to your doctor - she will tell you the same thing, no doubt.

Just stop giving her those items. She will not let herself starve to death, she will eventually eat something else. YOU are the one in charge, but right now she is controlling everything. YOU decide what you want HER to eat and that is ALL you give her. If you keep giving into her and giving her that to eat, that is what she will eat. I know it is hard to listen to her scream, and be unhappy, but if this is the worst that happens to her she has had a GREAT life. If you are worried about nutrition give her Pedilite to drink.

Deceptively delicious is a new cook book out, it uses a lot of purees in foods that most kids will eat. But if she is healthy and growing and the doctor seems like she is ok, I would guess she will grow out of it. good luck.

There are some very cute children's books available at the library that address picky eaters and a Charlie and Lola episode on a DVD available at the library that addresses picky eaters. The outcomes in these stories are the children eating something new. Perhaps through stories about this she will see that others like her have changed.

My kids are now 23 and 19 both were very picky. They were and still are in the fifth percentile for weight. I never forced them to eat foods they didn't want to and now they eat more things then I do. Everything from mexican, chinese, korean and american. As long as she is healthy then I wouldn't worry about it. Talk to your doctor, keep the vitamins going and keep trying to introduce new items into her diet. Sooner or later she will increase her food choices. Eating time can turn into a battle and it isn't worth it. Once my older child started school his taste buds changed. The other one took longer. He was in high school before his really picked up.
I know it is hard when you are going through the dining hours but hang in there it will get better.
A.

I have a son that is very picky as well. He has been that way since he started eating table foods. I have asked his pediatrician repeatedly and he tells me that he will eat when he is hungry. So, I let him eat what he will eat and leave it alone. He has started trying new things in the last year, so just try to be patient and your child will come around.

Dear J.,
To me this sounds more like a power struggle than her being picky. She shows you "what" she will eat if "You" Do Not comply...she screams.
Honey, You Are the Parent. Stand Now or You will have much worse battles on your hands. I say this from my own experience. I am the Happy Mother of 5 grown daughters and 8 granchildren.
First thing in the morning give her water only to drink. No milk, juice...water only. You are trying to allow her body to be hungary, that's all. Wait until "She" is Hungary and give her food. She screams...ok, take it away, and she gets down and goes to play. Try again later. Still Only water. Until she eats. Remember no snacks....or drinks. You are trying to make her stomach tell her "HEY, I Am Hungary in Here!"
Remember the portion size, too. Her stomach is about the same size as her little fist...so use a teaspoon as portions and do not over fill her plate.
Do this on a Saturday or when you have had a good nights sleep and are ready to be patient. Act as if you have ALL DAY and You Do Not Care if she eats or NOT. Don't listen to her screams or whines...walk away. She is 6? She is old enough to go to her room or get out her coloring books or play if she is not hungary. Be patient and DO NOT Give In. She will Eat. Mine Did! I did not see you were having this problem with her sister. Take notice of the different ways they act and make "you" obey them...I am NOT JUDGUING YOU! Honestly I am NOT!!! Remember I had 5 daughters..each of them had their ways of trying to make ME MIND THEM ...HA!!! They still DO and they're grown...but "You" have to learn their ways so they don't control you and push your buttons.
One word of caution......if say your hubby or grandma or whom ever is around (the first few days you are beginning this)and They Will Give in. DO NOT EVEN TRY THIS AT THAT TIME!!!!! All that will happen is They will Guilt you into caving in or they will go behind your back and give her what she wants. Been there..had that happen...bad day for everybody!!!!
Remember, you are the parent, you make the rules, you buy healthy food and cook it. All she has to do is EAT! You know what is Best for Her...she is a child. You must show her what's best for her. No screaming, no whining. You are the boss and the Mommy period! She must understand, this is the way things are going to be from now on.
I will be praying for you and you family! LaDonna

There is a woman that has a cookbook out. I think she is the wife of Tim the toolman Taylor on TV. Sorry don't know real names... only tv names. Her kids wouldn't eat veggies or fruits and she somehow got creative and started putting the pureed veggies in the foods that they like and would eat. Example: if she like pbandj then you would boil carrots, put them in a blender, puree them and then mix them with the pb and j. I am not sure of the name but they did a test and took them to the class rooms at school and all the kids loved them, for instance she made brownies with spinach and cauliflower...... something like that and the children tore them up.
See if you can google something about healthy snacks for kids or vegetable brownies or find out Tim Taylor's real name and see if you can find his wife's name on the internet and look her up and see if it is her that did that.
Just a suggestion... hope you find an answer.

You know what they used to do? Just stop making them for her and when she's hungry she will eat what is there for breakfast,lunch and dinner. Seems cruel, but that is exactly what was the norm, back in the day. I remember too well hearing "this isn't a diner, you either eat what I put in front of you or go hungry, there are starving children in China!" The other thing I'd like to tell you is, my brother is 50 and your story about peanut butter could have been his when he was little, and he's healthy. If you can't stop buying it or stop giving it to her, maybe you could put raisins, or bananna,sprinkle some wheat germ in with the peanut butter, or even apple pieces in with it. Carrots? Use really good grained bread, or wheat bread. I'm sure your doctor will give you advise. I'm sure she's going to be fine, it's your health that may be more at risk due to all the stress of worry over her eating habits are concerned. Hang in there Mom....and good luck.

J.,

I understand your frustration more than you know. My three year old daughter did not eat solid foods until she was almost two and half years old. After numerous dr. appointments and being seen by spcialists around the country, it turned out she had ENORMOUS tonsils. As soon as they were removed, she started eating Eggo waffles. In the mean time, my two year old son was never a good eater when it came to baby food. He would eat maybe two different things. When he started eating solids, ALL he would eat was yogurt and Nutri Grain bars. Three times a day, every day for about a year. I contiued to offer other things, in the mean time and eventually, he just started eating what I gave him. So, I discovered it was just a phase. I would not worry about this too much. Your daughther eats and is, luckily, eating protein, fiber, and dairy. Just keep offering her what you are eating. She will probably grow out of this.

Have you tried the book by Jessica Seinfeld, "Deceptively Delicious?"

From what I understand, if you keep introducing a child to foods, they will eat it. That, and don't give many options. If she is hungry, she'll eat what is offered her.