My 2 1/2 year old very bad picky eater?

To a large extent, it is probably the age. A lot of toddlers and preschoolers become picky eaters. If it's not too extreme, I wouldn't worry too much. Just keep offering different foods. If it becomes a major problem for you, take her to the pediatrician. There are a lot of things that can affect appetite and eating habits in children. I was not a picky eater as a child, but there were certain things I didn't want to eat because they upset my stomach. I didn't know how to tell anyone, though, so I didn't get diagnosed with reflux until I was an adult. After being treated for the condition, I can now eat anything. My son is very picky. For him, it is a sensory issue. He does not like to mix different textures together - everything has to be very plain with little seasoning and no sauces or dips. My brother went through a period of having no appetite when he was a little boy. With him, it was an emotional issue. He became depressed when our maternal grandmother died. I'm just giving these different examples to show how food issues in children can have many cause, and each needs to be handled differently. Sometimes it's nothing to worry about, and resolves on it's own - the child isn't on a growth spurt, and may not be as hungry for example or is just trying out their new found sense of independence.