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Step 1
Make sure your child is not feeling ignored. Refusing to eat may be your child's only way to deal with lack of attention. If it works, he or she may continue to do it. Try to engage your child in conversation so that your child feels involved with the activity at the table.
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Step 2
Do not give very small children a lot of choices. Children under five may be overwhelmed if their plates contain more than two foods. In the end, they may refuse to eat anything because the idea of choosing one thing over the other is too much for them.
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Step 3
Give older children (over six) two food choices. Make them equally healthy, but let them choose what to eat. This helps kids feel powerful and independent, and it may result in your child eating more and better because of it.
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Step 4
Do not make snacking a custom. While the occasional snack in the afternoon is acceptable, a child with constant access to food throughout the day may refuse to eat dinner because he is too full. By cutting down on snacks and junk food, you may get children to eat better when they finally sit down at the table.
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Step 5
Skip the battle as you deal with your child's mealtime refusal. As tempting as it may be, forcing children to eat will often result in an even stronger refusal on their part. Set a timetable for meals, and then serve the food.
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Step 6
Clean the plates and move on to other activities right after meals. As your children begin to understand the idea of "now or never," they will more than likely start eating on their own.
