eating

Hi, my daughter is 21 months and we are having a problem with her eating.  She doesn't like but certain foods and it's very frustating everytime that we sit down at the table we have to talk her into eating..VERY STRESSFUL...she will not eat at anyones house or at any restaurant, she will take a bite and hold it in her mouth...just the other day she held a piece of food in her mouth for 1 hour..is this normal??  I have tried letting her help prepare her food, we have cut out all her snacks and we make her sit and eat..we have even bought her a small table that she can sit at to eat..we try to make it fun for her to eat, but nohing seems to work..We take her to my father and mother-in laws house and she will not even sit at there table to eat, very embarrassing..she will not eat fruits, nor veggies and she doens't like milk..we have tried the "she will eat when she's hungry", well after a day and a 1/2 of not eating, we got worried..What are we doing wrong??  PLEASE HELP....

[Renee Radenberg]

It is frustrating when children have no interest in food at this age. Her weight is just above the 25th percentile and her height is just below the 75th percentile for her age. She is normal for her age. She is growing despite her eating habits. Children around 2 years old may become picky eaters. Unfortunately, one of the first foods they stop eating are fruits and vegetables. Introduce fruit in initiative ways, such as, blended fresh strawberries and / or bananas with yogurt to make a smoothie or with ice cream to make a milkshake. Vegetables can be added to the smoothies / milkshakes, too. Sometimes children will eat food they normally do not like when combined with foods they like, for example, peanut butter sandwich with apples or bananas on it.
Mealtimes can be a battlefield when children do not have an interest to eating or eat very little. It becomes the battle of the wits between the child and the parents. Remember meals need to be joyous for you and your child. If she will not eat a certain food, do not make a fuss over it. Give her some other food alternatives. Then let it go and enjoy your meal. Eventually she will eat. I suggest you give her nutrient dense drinks, such as, Pediasure or milkshakes instead of milk to maintain her weight and growth. Milkshakes are a very good snack and children love to be a part of making them. All it takes is milk or soymilk, ice cream and some banana (any fruit). Whip it up in a blender and you have a drink packed with protein and calories (if used regular dairy products). Give her milkshake or Pediasure at the end of her meals so hopefully she may eat the food first. Hoped this helped you.