I can't remember most of what I fed my 3 1/2 year old when she was the same age as my little one is at 17 months. Nattalie who is the older one would eat everything in sight, my younger one Emily is very picky and doesn't seem to know how to chew yet she just sucks and gums it up even though she has 6 teeth. She doesn't like bananas, she loves yogurt, anything salty, like chips and pretzels, and she loves bread. I know the saying to introduce things over and over to get them use to it and I've tried everything that anyone has ever told me. She is getting more interested in table food just not chewing.
The weird thing to she's not a big fan of cheerios either. She'll eat some, but not enough to make a meal out of it.
I tend to order from Schwans. They have a variety of food and lots of kid friendly meals to choose from. My kids love their chicken fingers, chicken casserole, fries, onion rings, breaded chicken and breaded pork chops (something I personally haven't learned how to cook myself). There really is a range of food and the quality is higher than you can buy from any grocery store.
My daughter loves the fruit and cream oatmeals, cheese, crackers, a little bagel with cream cheese, any kind of fruit (strawberries, blueberries, mandarin oranges, peaches, pears, etc., etc.), macaroni and cheese, soft pretzels with cheese. My daughter is 21 mos., but has been eating these things for awhile. She is also pretty picky and the things I listed are about the only things she will eat ;)
I suggest not making her, her own meals. Just let her eat what everyone else is eating. She is at a great age to imitate what everyone else is eating/doing. An idea is to put things on a kabob or make a funny face on the plate. A piece of chicken & a pea. A piece of hotdog & a fruit, etc. For breakfast try scrambled eggs, french toast sticks, pancakes, oatmeal. For lunch try mac n cheese, hot dogs, peas, corn, ham & cheese sandwiches cut up in tiny pieces, grilled cheese. Let her gum & suck all she wants as long as she is swallowing, if thats a problem get it checked out. My kids never liked cheerios but they love sushi, calamari, lobster etc. Also maybe a little "incentive" for eating ALL dinner like a cup of sherbert. Kids pick up on what they need to do real quick when dessert is involved. Good luck
J.,
I subscribe to the philosophy that your kids should eat what you eat as early as possible. If they're picky you offer a little and have them taste it. If, like your daughter, they have a hard time chewing, cut it super tiny so there's no possibility of choking, and then let them see what they can do. If they learn to eat your food earlier you have fewer problems with picky eaters later. They're used to what you make already.
At least that's the theory, my daughter is a bit picky but growing out of it at 10, and my oldest will eat nearly everything because he was given whatever we all ate (including calamari & other odd stuff!).
My guy is 19 mos and has eaten our food since he grew out of mushy stuff - he LOVES avocado, tomatoes, rice, pasta, diced up pizza (so cute when he says the word!), berries, Trader Joes fruit bars (particularly the fig ones!) you get the idea. Start offering her what you're eating and go from there. She'll figure out the chewing part soon, I'd not sweat it, and if your instinct tells you something is up, ask your doc.
If you're worried she's not getting enough to eat (you mentioned cherios), you can give her some yogurt and a some milk after she's eaten some, to wash it all down and fill her up more.
Good luck!
D.
