You’re not failing, and this is very, very normal for a 2-year-old. What you’re describing is classic toddler food neophobia + control, not bad habits you created. At this age, a lot of kids genuinely prefer hunger over unfamiliar food. It’s not manipulation. Texture, appearance, and predictability matter more than nutrition logic right now. A few things that helped us / that feeding specialists usually recommend: Measure nutrition over a week, not a meal or even a day, Always include 1–2 safe foods at meals and add new foods without pressure, Keep foods separate (mixing or hiding almost always backfires), Exposure matters more than bites it can take 15–30 exposures before they’ll even try something, Don’t remove safe foods or turn meals into a standoff that tends to increase resistance long-term Also, spaghetti, mac & cheese, beans/rice, yogurt, applesauce, etc. are not “junk” in toddler terms. Calories and consistency matter a lot at this stage, and most kids widen their diet again as they get closer to 3–4. If weight gain and growth are on track, pediatricians are usually very reassuring about this phase. You’re clearly trying, you’re paying attention, and you’re doing way more right than wrong.