How to Get Picky Eaters to Eat Healthy

Most parents deal with a child refusing to eat something offered, usually the stuff that is good for them. As a Mom, I've discovered a few strategies that seem towork.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• patience
• good food
• persistence

1. 1. Choose a food you that you are having trouble getting your child to eat and put it beside another food or foods that he or she likes to eat.

2. Present the plate of food to your child, ignoring any negative comments made as this will only distract you both from the task at hand.

3. Inform the child that he or she will be eating all of the food on the plate including that which he or she does not like. Let your child know that he or she will receive the same plate of food at every meal and nothing else until it is finished.

4. Set a time limit for the child to eat the food at each sitting. Do not allow snacks and offer the plate every time the child complains of hunger.

5. Persist in this pattern until the child eats the food. Then, reward the child with lots of praise and/or a small treat.

Tips & Warnings

• Since every child is different, the time for success may vary. I found that the child needs to be at least two for this to work, since they don't seem to understand at a younger age.