losing the plot at meal times.

[Eva's Mummy]

They drive you potty don't they. I'm quite confident that my food is yummy 

[creations]

I'm not usually devious when it comes to food, I like to tell DS exactly what he is getting, but a little devious trial for you perhaps??
Put down a plate of food and tell her Barbara sent it over?  You could even mention a package has been delivered or put the food in an air tight container or covered in tin foil or something, with a note on it, "Dear E, I made you some yummy food. Hope you enjoy it, hugs B"
I mean, I say I'm not devious but I think I'd be trying this if it was my DS eating someone elses food and not mine.

[Eva's Mummy]

Oh now there is a sneaky idea. I'm going to try that tomorrow.  So let's say she eats it, what do I do then?

[clazzat]

I would be wary of trying that - I had a friend who did it with her son when he would eat what I made but not what she made and it didn't work as a plan.  It seems to me that it would be very easy to get to a point where you have to do that with every meal which hasn't actually solved the problem, yk?  You could ask Barbara for the recipes that she uses and then get dd to help you make it from Barbara's recipes - not because yours isn't good, but because it will seem more like Barbara's and that could be a better starting point to get dd eating your food.

[creations]

You could ask Barbara for the recipes

Sounds like a good plan.

[michaeljacknnugg]

On that point, around her age was when we started cooking together (and invested in a Kenwood to keep down the mess!). Annabel Karmel does a lovely range of cookbooks aimed at kids, and there is the I Can Cook range at Lakeland too.

Does she have her own tools? Maybe getting her involved with a mixture of recipes she's chosen from books and some from Barbara would pique her interest.

[weaver]

Being involved in the prep and in the choice of what to eat seems to boost interest in eating massively.   I don't have any toddler specific cookbooks, mine just help out with whatever we're doing.  Also, the classic one of serving yourself from a sharing plate, helping set the table, and all that sort of thing.  Just getting involved in the interesting bits.

[stuckunderhere]

I second the Annabel Karmel books. They are great.

[clazzat]

The sharing plate is a really good point - if there is a dish in the centre of the table that she can serve herself from then she is more in control.  Sometimes getting the portion size wrong is all it takes to put a child off - and I know myself that if I go to a restaurant and I get a plate that is piled high with food I often find I lose my appetite because I just can't see how I am going to eat it all, yk?

[stuckunderhere]

Oh, yeah, the portion sizing is very important at this age/stage. My DS2 wont eat much if his plate is full. I have to give him a few bites at a time...