Picky Toddler Eating

Destructo has always been a great eater.  We would take him out to restaurants when he was just 12 months old and have numerous people stop by to ask us how old he was and compliment us on how well he was eating.  I always assumed that it was because we skipped right over purees and did baby led weaning.  (See my post here to learn more about this concept.)

But now in the last two months, my son has went from champion of eating to subsisting on bananas, bread, and snacks. I knew toddlers could become quite picky eaters.  I also know that Destructo is currently getting molars in.  But I am not quite sure what to do about it.  I have tried the just try one bite approach hoping that he would try it and be like hmmm this sure is delicious.  Let me gobble it all down.  But he is kind of too young for that approach (and way too stubborn) and is just now understanding what take one bite means.

I have tried letting him have "cookies" if he eats halfway decent.  And by cookies, I mean whole wheat graham crackers of course.  But this just leads to more temper tantrums on the days he doesn't eat well and therefore doesn't get cookies.

We have tried letting him out of his chair and making him go in the living room since he wasn't eating.  This just results in tantrums.  As does the opposite of this approach when we keep him in the chair until the entire family is done eating.  I have tried telling him it was all my food and not to touch it (oh yeah mothering at it's best right there.)  This worked  really well twice and never again since I am pretty sure Destructo is smart enough to know as his mother, I can't actually starve him.

I am not too worried nutrient wise.  He is still nursing 2-3 times a day and nearly always eats a really good breakfast.  I have just started making sure I give him as much as he wants in the morning.  But I would like him to eat more balanced meals.  In a given day, he will eat eggs and toast and fruit in the morning and maybe fruit for the rest of the meals.  Carrots and sweet potatoes are typically (but not always) winners as well.  Protein in his diet is unheard of unless it is of the egg or peanut persuasion.

Just for the record, Destructo is truly a weirdo.  What child doesn't like ketchup?  He actually cries when you show him the bottle or ask him if he wants ketchup.  Lord help us if it actually touches his lips.  This results in an amazingly dramatic tantrum.  He also won't eat ranch dressing, cheese cubes, or mac n cheese (or really any pasta with the exception of an occasional bite of spaghetti with meat sauce.  He is not a normal child.  :)

A face I see all too often at meal time now a days

So what do you guys have to say?  Any sure fire tips, tactics, hints for me? 

Here are some links I found that give creative ideas that I am going to be trying in the near future.  I will keep you guys updated if I have any luck with any of them.

Fun creative kids meals and snack  This lady arranges the food into fun designs or shapes.  I love the solar system arrangement.
Dr. Sears Feeding the Picky Eater article

Wholesome Toddler Food  This link has great information about how many calories your toddler should be eating per day and info about feeding a balanced diet

Muffin Tin Meals This blog has pictures of something that the Dr. Sears article talks about.  Cutting up bite sized healthy foods and putting them in muffin trays.  I am for sure trying this this weekend.  Destructo loves playing with my pots and pans and sorting things.  I bet this will entertain him, but also encourage him to eat.