How to Handle a Child that Refuses to Eat

• Let them choose what they will eat:

When you are planning a meal, get their input on what you are offering. Give them a choice between entrees and make sure to have on hand a variety of foods that they like.

• Get kids involved in meal preparation:

When you prepare your grocery shopping list, ask them about what foods they would like for you to get. When you are preparing meals, get them to help out in the kitchen so that they can see how the food is prepared. Even little ones can help stir, or help pour measured ingredients into a bowl.

• Don't let them make a scene:

If they have told you what they would like to eat and then you present them with and they still refuse to eat it, then do not offer substitutes. Remind them that this was their choice and if they refuse to eat this, then they will go hungry. Remember, they will not starve themselves. They will eat something eventually.

• Offer your children a variety of foods often:

Children's palates have not matured the way adult's palates have, so they may not like some of your gourmet recipes. Encourage your child to be adventurous and take two bites of new foods to expose them to a variety of flavors and tastes.

• Sneak the veggies into their diet in creative ways:

Jessica Seinfeld has written a great book called, Deceptively Delicious, which has lots of great recipes for adding pureed vegetable to simple foods that kids love without them realizing that they are eating their vegetables. Of course, it's also important for them to learn to eat their vegetables on their plate, but that process takes time. If you use the recipes in this book, you can be sure that they are receiving the nutrition their body needs despite the fact that they otherwise refuse to eat vegetables.

In closing I will remind you that as a parent you must choose your battles. Your little person in training might be at a developmental stage where they are testing boundaries and trying to exert some modicum of control over their lives. Don't engage in a fight about what they will eat and eventually, they will lose interest. Take this battle over eating and diffuse it. Offer them healthy choices and then let it go.