Hi Krisha
I think that because your daughter is in the "terrible two's," this has less to do with the food itself, and more to do with her exerting some form of control over you. Maybe she likes to be able to watch TV or play while she eats, and she knows that as long as she makes a fuss, that will happen.
I'm sure it must be terrible for parents when a child won't eat (I'm lucky that - so far - this hasn't happened to me). Actually I was one of those children! My mother used to cry, and I was quite thin (this is around the age of three - so not much older than your daughter). But I remained a healthy child and am now a healthy adult!
I think the to bear in mind is that your daughter will not allow herself to starve. The next question is how much you will allow her to get away with. Will you pander to her, or will you let her know that she has to eat at the table like everyone else? It's up to you - if your priority is to see her eat something and you don't mind playing games to get her to do it, then that's fine. But if her behavior is driving you crazy, then it might be time to stop playing her game, and trust the fact that she isn't going to starve. She might get hungry and upset at first, but before long, she will eat something!
I found a useful question-and-answer online about a child who won't eat and who's about your daughter's age (
http://life.familyeducation.com/toddler/behavioral-problems/41736.html). It offers suggestions for giving your child some small measure of control. It's very frustrating for toddlers to have so little say in their own lives. Maybe you can help your daughter by giving her a choice - instead of trying to serve her a full plate of food, why not ask, "Do you want some dal or some veggie? Roti or rice?" This could help her to feel empowered, so that she actually eats whichever food she has chosen.
Hope that helps! Let us know how you get on
Maddy
PS Your daughter is so cute!
Digg
