hi S.
first off to introduce myself, best way it with this: i even dream about what will i feed my girls tomorrow. they're 2 (27 months) and very picky eaters. i have tried everything even dancing around and did not help. my girls will eat in front of TV but i decided against doing that. it is not healthy. instead i offer a variety of things and if they take a few bites out of each thing there there you go, one meal down.
suggestions
breakfast:
mini panckakes (with syrup or jam, or peanut butter) but it in a fav. plate (mine like nemo one) cut it in half and give her a toddler fork.
-toast with PB and J
-hot cereal oatmeal, peaches and cream, strawberry and cream, or the organic one it has the sesame street characters (and comes in different variety),
- a bowl of cheerios (the fruity/colorful one)
-yo baby youghurt, banana (if everything fails)
- eggs ommelette with cheese (cut it in squares and triangles/ because of shapes they seem to go for it)
whihever they have eaten is followed by some kidn of fruit and they can eat their fruit in the living room
lunch
definitely first choice mac and cheese
-grilled cheese sandwich
-PB and J sandwich
-sweet potatoes, i cut it in cube sizes, microwave for a minute for example then add some butter on top of the sweet potatoes, and microwave for another 2 minutes (try it with fork if they're done). when they're done, add a bit of brown sugar on top, just so the first taste is a bit sweet (i usually serve sweet potatoes with turkey bacon)
-dinner
-brown rice and fish sticks
-if they didn't get mac and cheese for lucnh then for dinner some sort of pasta (they only like white sauce) so either alfreado or one of those organic bunny shaped, starts, shell pasta whatever, with chicken nuggets and mixed veggies. whatever they get for dinner it always starts with some veggie soup. they play a bit with soup and drink some and play some more, when it becomes all play then they're done with soup.
-when my husband is home then some nights he'll make ribs. they love ribs and i offer ribs with some starch even iof plain toast.
before bedtime some kind of fruit.
so basically all this rambling is to tell you is what i offer and then a bite her and a bite there my god 3 meals done :)
i don;t give snacks. my girls fill up with air let alone some snack. so they get fruit for snacks and no juice or anything that will spoil appetite unless they're sick then yes diluted
good luck. you're not alone in this, and neither am i. :)
V.