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With it getting colder maybe you should try  grilled cheese. You know with single slices of cheese(not cream cheese) and some good old fashioned chicken noodle soup.   I went the thru the same thing with my son but with him it was ham and cheese, only ham and cheese and finally one day........... he decided he was tired of it.    Ask her to help you make the sandwiches and use cookie cutters to make different shapes  !!!!    Good luck !!!!!

what about a delicious chicken salad with sliced grapes? You could make it real simple with just miracle whip canned chicken and red seedleess grapes. Its still really good without all the other stuff to maybe be a bit more kid appetizing.

Or the classic pb with sliced bananas and honey, then for fun eat it open faced!! (maybe that can help slowly lay off the jelly...)

I also think making lunchables is fun for kids, if she eats lunch meat just not on bread maybe you can try it with bits of cheese on some wheat thins!!

my personal favorite to eat with my neices are cheese crisps!! a little tortilla with some montery jack cheese in the middle microwaved and cut into strips then let them eat plain or dip in salsa if they like it.

you can also make a little mini pizza pocket especially if you have one of the snacksters, if not you can still try to grill it like you would a cheese sandwich and just pinch the edges.  Basically put a little pizza sauce on white bread a little pepperoni and cheese or whatever toppings your daughter likes then put the butter on the outside just like a grilled cheese and place in the snackster or on the stove! Vwalla!! pizza pocket nice and warm :)

Good Luck!! Hope this gets some creative ideas going!! dont give up!!  :)

It's very simple...put it in front of her and she will eat it when she gets hungry. She is 3 now and is controlling you...wait till she gets older and you are going to have a spoiled brat on your hands and you will wonder where you went wrong when she is throwing a monster tantrum in the store because mom won't get what she wants when she wants it. I have 2 children, an 18 yr old daughter and an 11 year old son. Both tried that and failed horribly. Try it. You are not depriving her of food...you are just showing her that you are the boss and the mother.

Hi bigpaws- I sympathize with you, I went through the same thing with my two kids. I kind of agree that she might just be a little spoiled, however, she is not my child, so who am I to say.  One of my kids just kind of outgrew that, but what I did was I gave the sandwich to him with everything separated on the plate.  For instance, if I gave him a turkey sandwich with mayo and tomatoes, I put the mayo on the bread, very lightly, then put the turkey meat of to the side, and then a couple of tomatoes.  To finish it off I gave him a small fork.  At first he tried to use the fork, but he did not like that.  Then for about a month or two he loved to eat it as finger food, which was fine with me, at least he was eating.  Shortly after that though, I guess he figured that it was easier to put it on the bread and eat it that way.  Do not even act like you notice, just continue to serve it to her the way you have, separated.  Sometimes she will eat it as finger food, but more and more she will start making it into a sandwich, particularly if she wants to go and play or watch TV.  She will realize that it is faster to eat it as a sandwich.  She needs to make the discovery and decision for herself.  It may take her longer than it did mine or it may not take as long. As you know, each child is different.  Now, my other one was playing me like fiddle!  I had to make her sit there until she ate it, as finger food.  Yes, the same as the other child, just a different approach.  Only, just make sure she eats the turkey and the bread.  That will take some time if she is as stubborn as mine was.  At any rate, eventually she will grow out of it!  Good luck!!!!

chicagosinger

Hi bigpaws12,  it's me chicagosinger again.  I just read your post again and realized that what I've suggested to you to help your problem, is your problem! I am sorry, but  I thought about.  And in thinking about it,  I don't really think it's such a problem.  At least she is eating!  I misunderstood you, I thought that she would not eat anything but PB &J.  So I apologize.  I do think she will grow out of it.  Perhaps you could could make it a rule that cannot leave the table until she everything on her plate.  She might decide that it is faster to eat it as a sandwich, than to sit there and argue with you.   I bet she's adorable sitting there fussing!  I can almost picture you trying to hide the amusement on your face.  Anyway, good luck to ya', sounds like you will need it.  Even if it's for just trying to keep a straight face!

chicagosinger

What about hummus?  I love it on any bread form! If she has any favorite vegetables, I would add them to it the sandwich if you can.

You can buy store bought or make your own.

If you are introducing the spread for the first time- it might be cute to get a handfull of Goldfish and have them diving into the cup hummus. If she likes it- then make it into sandwich form.

Good luck. And please let us know how it’s going! We are curious!

Sincerely, Cate

No big deal. Her tastes will change and she will want to try other things. So until then, well, peanut butter is a protein, jelly is a fruit, so get the low sugar/more fruit types. My granddaughter does not like bread much either,, so she opts for a lightly toasted waffle,( frozen foods section)  with p butter, strawberry jelly and sliced bananas. Or when you make pancakes, save the leftovers in a sandwich bag and let her eat that, rolled up with p butter, jelly and fruit of choice. ( microwave the pancake to warm it up some)  Really,, its no big deal,,, lol kids are funny that way. They may only want pasta with no sauce for a few months, and then the next few months they want scrambled eggs with cheese. Ok,,, so theres a thought. A pancake, served wrap style with scrambled egg and cheese in it. Even a little spritz of syrup. If you get her involved with the "making and choosing" process, you will not have major issues. When my kids were little, I kept small plastic containers of sliced friuts and veggies in the fridge on lower shelves for them to "create-a-snack" This, along with slices of luncheon meat, cheeses, and crackers were very popular with them. Try whole wheat or veggie crackers , served on a plate with cottage cheese, fruit, and veggie slices. DO NOT stress. This is a fun age, Enjoy it.   ( If you are really worried, make sure she eats her vitamins) Also it may be the white bread she is objecting to, the texture of white bread can be at best, sometimes " mushy" , try rye or pumpernickel, they are fascinated with different breads like a rye-pumpernickle swirl, or even cinnamon/raisin bread. ( also great with peanut butter and jelly, or apple butter) Hope this helps!

this is great advice for the toddler with the fussy appetite! Sit and eat with your child too the foods that you want to change her too. Kids copycat bad behavior in food choices. Three year olds are very smart at this! Family time and communication at the table is bonding. Good luck! Have a great summer! 

When my daughter was about the same age we went through a similar problem.  I tried frying the lunchmeat - like bologna or ham - after I talked her in to trying it she LOVED fried bologna.  Still to this day - she is now almost 12,  she loves it.  Her favorite is fried bologna in scrambled eggs topped with cheese with a slice of wheat toast.  I know this is "breakfast", but sometimes desperate times call for desperate measures.  We have this anytime of the day.  She went through a phase where she didn't want anything that was on her plate to touch each other!

I was lucky that my two kids ate almost everything I put in front of them. When I babysat my nephew a few years back I had my first experiences with a kid who was picky like you describe your daughter. I found the best way to get him to eat something was to let him actually make it. I started with a fried egg sandwich. (He was 4 at the time) I let him stir the egg in a bowl then I poured it in the fry pan. I had him put his hand on the spatula when we turned it, and take it out and put on the bread when it was done. He ate every bite the first time and we made these several times a week after that. He wouldn't touch a scrambled egg before, but if he made it he ate it up. The next thing I did was grilled cheese and it worked just the same. Kids love to eat food they have made, just like you and I do. The opportunity to stand at the stove was one he could not pass up, and he sure wasn't going to make something and then not eat it! He's 9 now and he is still picky about some foods, but then he's never had the chance to make them with his aunt since I only babysat him for about a year. Good luck!

I think this a great kid-friendly post on mock sushi: http://family.go.com/blog/shortordermom/mock-sushi-657710/

What a smart way to get in the nutrition.

And if you want to keep going with the sushi theme-For dessert- you can always do this fruit sushi!

If she's happy with it, then leave it alone. I don't think she's spoiled and honestly, who cares if she eats the same thing every day. You are NOT creating a monster!! If she'll eat other things at other times, then I think it's ok to just humor her at lunch. She's eating something, right?

PB&J can be a great lunch.  Go for lower sugar jelly and wheat (or the new white wheat) bread if you can.  Lower fat peanut butter is a good alternative as well. The protein of the peanut butter is helpful for active kids.

What about pigs in a blanket? my daughers love it. just a hot dog wrapped in a crescent roll. and you bake it till the crescent roll is golden brown. even mini ones are good too. maybe if she helps you roll them she will be more willing to try them.

I agree with osmondfan use cookie cutters they worked for my son who only would eat peanut butter sandwiches. He is now 16 and still is picky but not as bad. He got tired of just the same old - he was 10 yrs old when he first tried pizza and now he just loves it. I went to my doctor about his eating habbits (I dont have any bad ones) he told me that the kids will change as time goes on. Just keep trying different ways to make her happy she is only 3 and she will change. Try ketchup that worked with my son but I sort of feel bad cause now he eats it with everything but at least he is trying new things but with ketchup. Eggs with a cookie cutter work too did that hehe. Try letting her make some faces with her food with different types at once.

I hope it goes well for you!

P.S. Let her make a smily face with ketchup and say one bite!

Good luck!!

It's gotta be  "chicken of the sea."  Find ways to make it likable; honey, candy sprinkles, lots of miracle whip & pickle relish, or picante sauce.  Slap it on bread or on celery and see her eyes "water" with delight!  Come on.....let's go..........the wind is dying!!

if she is hungry enough, she will eat whatever you give her.  if you want to stick with pb & j (and do this with any food)let her eat the pb & j - make it healthy, make the jam and bread with her.  let her pick out the bread in the store, picking from your choices so she is getting the good bread, not junk.  let her help you make the sandwich.

Since my son was two, we'd go grocery shopping all the time together.  I make lists for him by cutting out the pictures from the ads and he'd help me shop.  yes, it takes more time than if I went alone or didn't do the lists but he is faboulous in the stores and people comment on it all the time. no fits, "buy me this" now stuff.  it is fun, it's family time and he wants to try the food we get because he is partcipating. They both help everyday in the kitchen -- even if it meaningless to you (because they might not be able to really help), let them b/c it means so much to them. 

I don't battle at all with my kids about food ...they eat what i give them.  they can choose at times and I have the option of saying no.  If you cater to every whim, she might expect this in everything!  My son LOVES cereal and right now, he would eat that for every meal.  So I buy super heathly cereal and throw 5 fruit loops on it and he loves it. 

Read this thread below and thought about this thread. I think the bento box is a cute idea.

http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/recipe-roundup/10-alternatives-to-pbj--109256

Sincerely, Cate