Would I be mean

There’s a saying in the Latin culture with hunger they’ll eat anything. So no she thinks she’s in charge when she isn’t. Don’t let her get anything till she eats real food. She might need a cleanse for parasites because parasites loves sweets. Btw I’ve done this to My younger daughter and she doesn’t do it anymore , what is on the table She will eat.

Don’t feel bad when you are doing something good for her.

Don’t feel bad about it. I have to do this with mine especially if she won’t try new food.

I had the same situation with my daughter last night she didn’t want to eat a chicken wrap she that’s her meal for the next couple of days till it’s finished. And she’s 8years old I don’t have money to catering to her liking. So no if the child doesn’t want to eat that’s the child’s meal till it’s gone

Real food first. We have to tell my kids the same thing. Sometimes we will allow if they eat most of their dinner depending on if they are nearly done and saying full (they often want things that aren't filing for dessert like suckers or Popsicles). So if it was a big slice of pizza and they left a few bites before asking, we might say ok or take 3 more big bites. But we won't allow sweets until we think they've eaten enough. Sometimes they'll eat 1 spice and be full, sometimes they're more hungry and eat 2. Sometimes we feed them something one of them may not like. We usual make then eat some of it to ensure nutrition, then we know going forward to limit that particular food item. When we do make something that we know they actually don't like, we usually make other alternatives and include healthy "appetizers" or extra sides, so everyone can mix and match their meals that time But dessert first? That only happens when dinner for some reason is crazy late and we don't want to postpone bedtime even later

But I'm a picky eater, always have been.. and it's honestly been because of me having trouble with the texture, or really struggling not to gag, or honestly not liking the flavor.... so when they tell me those things, i ratch then trying to eat it and look for signs of it being fake or legitimate. Some people honestly struggle with certain foods, but they are forced to eat them frequently any way.... i never found benefit in that. I used to go to bed without eating sometimes because i couldn't stomache things. As a kid trying to relay that i seriously don't like things, it didn't help my self confidence to be just blown off since i was "not the boss" or because the adult decided "i made this, it is what we are eating" Balance your understanding of your children, and learn when they are being honest versus giving the answer they think is right

Gurl get your backbone now while they're young. If she takes one bite then reward her with a cookie, but just giving cookies cuz. And she's old enough to say she doesn't like eating.

@Ari that isn't picky eating, that's a sensory issue. If that's the case, occupational therapy could help those children while young

@Jade it's often assumed to be picky eaters when kids wont eat something, and lots of pepple just put it off to that, and therefore don't try to work with their kids on it..... so as you're statement is more correct, that may not yet be known with young kids since many people don't consider to look into that. In my case, I'm just used to being considered a picky eater, so never considered that! :)

@Ari I'm autistic, so I'm very aware of sensory sensitivities.

I do try and make food that I know they like, but I always tell my kids that dessert is a treat and not must have. 2 night ago, I said no to a cookie because she didn’t eat her dinner, but last night she did so I said she could have a sweet treat. My daughter is in All Star Cheer and I’m always saying “dessert doesn’t grow muscle, dinner does”