Attacking the Problem Behaviorally – Yours and Theirs!
 
Remember that old commercial that said, “Never let ‘em see you sweat”?  Well, that’s the first rule of dealing with a picky eater. As a parent, you have two main responsibilities when feeding your child, bringing healthful foods into the home and preparing them in a healthful way. To end the picky eating struggle in your house you have to acknowledge and stop fighting about food. This means no more bargaining and no more letting nutritious food go to waste. Try not to take your child’s picky habits personally. Perhaps your child  will cry when he can’t have chicken nuggets for the eighth night in a row, but know in your heart and mind, that if you stick to your guns, they may find something that makes you all happy.
 
Come Hungry
It seems so simple doesn’t it?  Children should be hungry for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and presumably, a hungry child will eat more than a child that has just polished off a bowl of Goldfish. This can be tough when they are wining while you are making dinner. Try planning meal and snack times throughout the day, leaving ample time between snacks and meals - count drinks in there too.  Milk and juice can be incredibly filling for a little belly. 
 
 
Declutter and Destress
Ask yourself how pleasant it is to eat in a loud, messy, angst-filled area.  Not very, eh?  Well, this is just how your child feels when mealtime is chaotic with a TV blaring, arguments about homework and a cluttered table.  Turn the TV off, sit down as a family and relax. Save the arguments for some other time and pay plenty of attention to your picky eater.  If things are calm, and the conversation pleasant or even fun, they may be more inclined to stay at the table, giving you the opportunity to show your child that you are going to have a little bit of everything that is served, and she will come to learn that that is how it works!  Bonus points if your child gets to see a sibling trying a bit of everything too!
 
Try and Try Again
There is a natural tendency for toddlers to reject new foods, new smells, new textures, etc.  Sometimes this tendency is exacerbated by being overtired.  Don’t stress, have your children try new foods early in the day when they’re not quite so tired.  And remember the 10 times exposure to food rule and have faith that on the 11^thtry, the sweet potatoes might just get a second bite, and a smile. 
 
End the Bargaining
Be sure not to bargain with your picky eater or cajole or withhold a preferred food.  Offering desert as a reward can make your child more likely to stuff down dessert when they are no longer hungry or place more importance on sweets than on eating a balanced meal.  Ultimately these methods lead to more food perception problems down the road.
 
Roll With It 
Every parent can tell a story of how their child tried a new food at Grandma’s house and they loved it.  Immediately that parent went to the store to stock up on said food, only to have it fully rejected by the child when in the comfort of their own home.  Then the parents utter those familiar words, “but you loved this at Grandmas!”  Relax, and remember that inconsistency is the name of the game with young children and call on your sense of humor to get you through.