Picky eater

My DS was the pickiest eater ever. My pediatrician told me repetitively that "I don't care what they DON'T eat, I only care what they DO eat". So as long as the choices she makes are healthy, I wouldn't worry about it.

I'm not sure exactly what your post was asking, but I thought maybe about lunches for school??? I NEVER in their 12 years of school sent things like cake or pie. I rarely sent cookies. I sent 3 things......First a sandwich. Neither of my kids were crazy about lunch meat either so I sent DS peanut butter sandwich, and DD PB & J. Then I sent a fruit or veggie of some sort....a banana, a baggie of baby carrots, etc. And the third thing I'd send was a treat, but it was usually like snack crackers or a granola bar. You could also send a yogurt or cheese cubes with crackers, etc.

My DD is was a picky healthy eater, too. For her second birthday we had to teach her to eat cake just so we could get pictures. Carrot cake is her favorite, BTW. When she went to other kids' birthday parties, the moms all told me that she refused the cake and ice cream in favor of grabbing a few more raw carrots off the veggie platter. One mom told me, "She even ate the raw broccoli - without the dip! I've never seen a kid eat raw broccoli before."

 

The biggest problem with her healthy eating was she wasn't getting enough iron since she only ate cheese and chicken. She needed red meat (hot cereals like Farina or cream of wheat were a no-go). The nurse at the WIC office finally told me, "Feed the kid a McDonalds hamburger for goodness sake!" Oh, okay. That started DD into the world of French fries. Thankfully that was a phase and she is back to not liking fries anymore.

 

Anyway, as a mom to a kid who refused to eat cake, cookie and other sugary foods, I say enjoy it while it lasts. Their food preferences so change as they age so don't worry.
 

My kids aren't picky, they were always given a variety of foods and expected to eat at least some of everything. Generally speaking, it was eat what I give you or starve. There are very few foods they don't like because they were continually exposed to many different things and asked to try them. Not everyone agrees with that approach, but it worked out well for my family.

I know that with my own kids, their taste changed over the years.  I would keep having them try things they previously said they didn't like and eventually that started liking them. 

 

How about offering her some hummus that she can dip raw vegetables in?  If she likes peanut butter, then she will be getting the protein she needs.  There is nothing wrong with her eating peanut butter every day.  How about cheese and yogurt? Like I said, you just need to have her try new things and you might hit upon something she likes.

My DD isn't too into cake, cookies and from the time she was old enough to eat chocolate, she never liked it. Given the option she will eat fruits and veggies over junk food. I wish my DS was a bit more like that.

Have you tried asking her what she wants? If she doesn't really know then how about making a list of all the foods that she does like. Then try to find new ways for her take them as lunch and snacks. Different dips and such would help with the same flavors over and over.