Just one Bite?

I have a confession. I'm a bit embarrassed and ashamed to admit it.  But maybe I'm not the only one, so here's hoping someone else can relate.

I feed my child macaroni and cheese for dinner about 50% of the time.  Ok, 60%. 

It's Annie's organic, does that count?  (No, I didn't think so.)

Here's the thing, I try to feed him other, healthier food, but he's gone on this crazy hunger strike and has become the pickiest eater ever.  And he flat out refuses to let anyone feed him, so don't even think about trying to spoon feed him anything.  He just screams in your face and shakes his head no.  This makes it difficult to give him anything that is not bite size, unless I feel like dealing with the mess created by a toddler trying to spoon feed himself.  Although, that can be good for a laugh if you have time to hose him down afterward.

He doesn't seem to have a problem eating at school - every day his sheet is marked with "ate everything" for his breakfast, AM snack, lunch, early PM snack and late PM snack (yes, they eat a lot, so maybe he's just not hungry for dinner?  maybe?)  I think the only thing he wouldn't eat at school recently was salmon croquettes, and really, this isn't shocking.  So at least he's getting some veggies and other "healthy" stuff at school and I know he will eat other food, just not at dinner.  Just not for me.

Last night I gave him meatloaf, which he quickly picked up and handed back to me.  So I tried some peas, usually a favorite of his.  Nope, on the floor.  Figuring it wouldn't hurt, I offered him some brussel sprouts.  Screams. I must be crazy.  Mushroom from my salad?  Tears.  Finally, I just heated up the mac & cheese and sure enough he gobbled that up.  I just worry he'll go hungry and wake up in the middle of the night if I don't give him something to eat for dinner.  So I keep giving in and offering the mac & cheese.  At least it's my last resort and not the first thing I offer, right?

I've created this, haven't I?  He now knows that I will eventually offer the mac & cheese if he refuses everything else.  I think I need to Ferberize him again, but this time with food not sleep.  (The Ferber method is where you put the baby to sleep in the crib awake and DO NOT GO IN THE ROOM FOR ANY REASON WHATSOEVER EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE SCREAMING AND YOU ARE CRYING WHILE YOU STARE AT THE MONITOR KNOWING YOU ARE DOING IRREPARABLE HARM TO YOUR CHILD.  It takes about 3 days, but eventually they can go to sleep on their own without any crying.  If you attempt this, wine is a necessary part of the equation.  For the mom, not the baby.  Duh.  Perhaps the Ferber method would work with dinner, although I'm not sure I'm up for three nights of screaming about mac & cheese.  Although, it'd be best to do it before he can actually say the words and demand the gooey good stuff at the top of his lungs.)

Sigh.

Maybe its just a phase and I shouldn't be worried. He's still only in the 25th percentile for weight, so carbs for dinner might be a good thing.  (I know, I know, I'm delusional).  

Anyone else struggling with feeding your toddler?  Any tips?  Or tricks?

I should mention that he'll occasionally eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for dinner.  What?  That's not much better you say.  Whatever, what do you know.  Peanut butter has protein!  And jelly, well, that's fruit.  Really.  It is.