my wife wonders how i can get my son to eat when he's refused her attempts. often, he's more willing to eat something when he's helped make it. you just have to be careful with letting them at hot or sharp stuff.
get your kids aprons, crayons, and writing pads, and when you have to do something somewhat dangerous, ask them to be the waiter and ask their siblings or stuffed animals for their order.
oh, you also have to be really patient and figure on a lot of mess.
also, when he refuses to eat at all, he gives in more quickly if you share what's on the plate making some kind of game of it, like who can mush up the food in your mouth and show it to everyone better. at least he gets a half of it. better than nothing.
my only recipe tip that i could give isn't quick or easy, but if your toddler refuses meat but likes pasta and tomato sauce, it's a way to get some protein into them.
cook some veal chunks (fattier are tastier) down until falling apart in tomato sauce. prepare some rigatoni or thicker ziti, and when cool enough to handle, shred the veal, mixed with a little of the sauce, sprinkle with grated cheese, and stuff into the rigatoni/ziti.
if they still refuse, mix the veal with some ricotta to disguise it before stuffing.
that's how i got my son to begin eating meat when he was about 2. when you're at your wits end, you'll try anything.