If a child turns up his nose at an unfamiliar food, it s best not to make an issue out of it. Plan to offer the food again, perhaps in a different form. Offer appropriate portions. For toddlers and pre-schoolers, allow about one tablespoon for each year of age. While activity may fuel the appetite, insisting that children clean their plates may be detrimental to their health.
Children usually stop eating when they are full.
A cookie or two or small dessert is okay occasionally, but it s not nutritionally sound to make a meal of chocolate cake or corn chips, Procter said. Rethink the family meal. If eating supper together is too difficult, think about designating breakfast as the family meal. Eating together can provide time to share plans and activities for the day, and family members can offer moral support or encouragement. Eating meals together usually slows the process.