Food Fights

Remember when your baby began eating table foods? What joy it was to watch his reaction to each new food. He enjoyed some tastes, and he scrunched up his face at others. But put a food in front of him, and into his mouth it went.

Fast-forward to toddlerhood. Your daring little taster now refuses anything but grilled cheese, chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese (usually the processed boxed kind). And, oh yeah, that grilled cheese had better be cut into triangles!

You're not alone. Parents around the world are tearing their hair out as their little darlings refuse anything remotely nutritious. So what is a well-meaning parent to do?

To start, don't make it a war. You can't force a child to eat peas. Well, you can, but frankly it's not worth it and will make you both miserable in the end.

Instead, focus on these tips to help maximize your child's nutrition.

Make the best of what your toddler eats. For grilled cheese, use whole wheat instead of white bread. Check the label to make sure whole wheat is the first ingredient listed. If your toddler refuses any chicken that's not in nugget form, read ingredient labels to look for the highest quality available.

Add flavor. Ketchup is a favorite. Perhaps your toddler will down those carrots if they're doused in that yummy red sauce. Other toddlers love dipping. Put out a cup with a favorite sauce or dressing, and let your toddler dip to his heart's content.

Hide the yucky stuff. Make pancakes containing pureed sweet potatoes. Finely chop vegetables into pasta sauce. Just be sure to conceal the forbidden ingredients so your toddler doesn't catch on to you.

Make it fun. Decorate pancakes to look like a face. Use banana slices for eyes and blueberries for a mouth.

Keep trying. What your toddler might hate one day, she might love the next. If you put the same food on your toddler's plate every day, maybe she'll eat it. Or take a break, and try again in three or four months. She might surprise you.

Consider moderation. How much junk food you allow your child to eat is up to you, and no amount of cookies are healthy. Keep in mind, however, that keeping junk food completely off limits could turn it into the coveted forbidden fruit. It's up to you, but perhaps it's not so evil to let your child eat some birthday cake when the time is right.

Be a role model. If your diet consists of fried chicken, your toddler will likely want the same. Let him see you eat healthy foods. There's no guarantee that he'll want to eat broiled salmon just because you do, but at least you're setting a good example.

Ask your pediatrician if your toddler should take a multivitamin. She may not need one, but if your toddler's diet is truly lacking, a multivitamin might be in order.

Remember that as exasperating as food fussiness can be, it's common and nothing to worry about. Your toddler, like so many others, will somehow grow healthy and strong – even if it takes the macaroni and cheese diet to get there.

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