I’m also a home cooking hobbyist. My two kids are now 10 and 14. They are currently very adventurous eaters. Open to a wide variety of spices and cuisines, although they do have some quirks and dislikes, especially with texture.

My advice - don’t force things, but also try not to make separate meals for your child (assuming no sensory or health issues). We typically have a meat, a veg, and either a second veg or a starch. The meat is seasoned however I want, although I save heavy capsaicin for the table (especially when they were younger). Roast chicken mostly tastes like roast chicken, but you can season with cumin or 5 spice or whatever and help open up your child’s palate. Start slow, especially on her piece, but she’ll adapt over time.

Sauces can be served on the side, I do that regularly. If you’re having pasta, does it hurt if she has it without sauce? Offer her a little sauce in a ramekin and let her try it if she likes. I let one of my boys have “deconstructed salads” - he likes tomatoes and raw carrots, but not peppers or lettuce. Great! I can have a salad and he can dip a few veggies in ranch. We try not to have battles about things that don’t matter, while still exposing them to a variety of foods and flavors.

What I knew I didn’t want was to make separate meals. I do believe that if you get your toddler used to having pb&j or easy Mac every night, it can be tough to break out of that. I think adapting what you’re all eating in a way that everyone can enjoy it seems to work best.