Sudden Picky Eater in 4.5 Year Old?

Okay, well with the info about you being a veg and your husband talking about it a lot, I think the first thing you should do is ask her why she's suddenly stopped eating so many of her favorite foods. She's 4.5, she definitely has an opinion about it and can hopefully verbalize it to you.

Then I'd maybe ask her if she has questions about being a vegetarian and if she's ever though about being one like you. It does seem like you've talked about it with her, so maybe this is all repeat info, but if you think husband's comments are making an impact I think you need to revisit it.

In the end, maybe she's just exerting some independence. I mostly agree with you about making separate meals, etc., but I really try not to turn food and meals into a battle. I don't make separate meals but I do always allow my kids to supplement their dinner with applesauce, yogurt, a cheese stick or ready to eat fruit. You may consider that as an option because I would hate for my kid to go to bed starved.

As far as the sweet things...I think your approach is fine. It doesn't sound like it's a big problem in your house. My opinion is that you shouldn't make breakfast contingent upon dinner, to me that's just another battle.

This is really hard though. As a mom you want to see your kid eat the stuff you made, stuff that's healthy, etc., but sometimes it's less about you being their parent and more about them just being a person too. And sometimes people don't feel like eating their favorite meal or are tired of certain foods.

Hope it gets better!

How you handle this is a very personal matter. I don't think there is "right" or "wrong" and it depends on your parenting philosophy. I am not a "militant mom". I do have expectations for my son's behavior. I expect him to be attentive, focused, and respectful. Unfortunately, he also has some minor sensory issues related to food. So I do try to give him a variety foods but he mostly has a limited (but healthy) menu. Your daughter is at the age when lots of kids get "picky". I don't believe in punishing kids related to food. I would never send a child to bed with no food. Instead, in your case because there is nothing sensory going on and your daughter is just realizing that some foods just simply taste better than others, I would compromise and plan menus with her. If she refuses the dinner, you will make her something else acceptable to you, but sorry, no desserts or treats.

Big sisters like to be good examples and big helpers.

Maybe have a conversation with her alone and explain that, little brother needs to eat healthy so he can grow up big and strong.

Let her know you need her help to set the good example for him.
That when you serve dinner, the 2 of you need to eat healthy, so little brother will understand, he needs to be a healthy eater.

Maybe find a children's book about healthy eating and have big sister "help you" read it to brother.

I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato by Lauren Child

Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban

Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens

You are way over thinking this. Serve your meal, if your child doesn't want to eat something.....ask that they just take ONE bite......if the child does not eat.....fine....NO dessert.....NO nothing.(even at other homes) STOP giving any extras before dinner with the exceptions of WATER.

Things will change SOON.

Keep trying.
Find their new favorite foods, too.
Tell your husb that his overreacting doesn't help the situation any.
It's most likely a stage.
Don't send them to bed hungry, however.
That doesn't teach or sovle things.
Maybe they are getting too much sweets?
Try changing things up a bit.
Are you sitting down to eat too late?
Try to shoot for 5 or 6pm.
While your dtr is too young to be a food critic, she knows what tastes good to her and what doesn't.
Since their tastebuds are sensitive & their food tastes DO change, try fixing new things. Keep some staples you know they like (certain veggies, salads if they like etc.).
Don't worry so much abt the veggie thing, she's too young to make it stick just yet.

i agree with the no complaints rule. i enforce that at our meals sometimes, UGH it gets frustrating putting together a meal, all the thought and hard work it involves, and then "ew." or icky faces...pet peeve! can't stand that.

it seems our lives are pretty different- sooo not vegetarians here, and my son was literally an eating machine up until about 5 - still is if it's anything BESIDES green :(

he would eat green beans, peas, even broccoli, celery...now he eats corn. that's it. that's the only veggie i can get him to eat. it's SO frustrating. because he DOESN'T go to bed hungry. he has no problem eating anything else, just not veggies! i don't know what we do....i'll come back and read your responses and maybe i'll get some inspiration lol...

So they go from having lunch to having candy and then ice cream. No wonder they aren't hungry for dinner.

I would cut out either the candy or the ice cream in the afternoons. One is more than enough. I also do not allow ANY snacks after 4:00. We have dinner around 6:30 - my GD is ALWAYS hungry for dinner! If she has a snack after 4:00, she doesn't eat much dinner.

Other than cutting out one of the sweet treats and putting a time limit on when they can have a snack, there isn't much else you can do other than what you are doing. Keep putting it in front of them and they either eat or they don't. Eventually they'll get tired of going to bed hungry.

Also, I would cut down on the sweet breakfast. With that, candy and ice cream all in one day, it's no wonder they're not eating dinner!