Encourage the child to eat a variety of foods, but allow the child to express his food desires. Offer a small amount of a new food at the beginning of a meal. If the new food is refused, do not force the child to eat it. Offer it again at a later date. Have bread, rolls, tortillas, rice or fruit available so that there are food choices that the child likes.
Preschoolers are especially challenging.
They like warm foods rather than hot or cold ones and tend to like mild flavored, simply prepared, and colorful foods that can be held in their hands. It is important to allow children to feed themselves as soon as they show an interest in doing so. Preschoolers tend to have finicky food habits and to eat only one food at each meal. Do not be afraid to set limits and to let children miss a meal. Remember that the child will be having a snack in a few hours if regular mealtimes and snack times have been set.