It’s a struggle that many parents will face - but what should you do when your picky toddler refuses to eat anything?
Desperate for answers, one dad, writing under the alias AaronASU11, took to Reddit to ask for help.
Describing his three-year-old as a “very, very picky eater”, he explained that all she will eat is grilled cheese, french fries, dinosaur chicken nuggets… and, very occasionally, yoghurt.
He said: “If I try to make her eat other things she yells and screams, ‘I don't like it’ and won't eat.
“I’ve tried just putting a strawberry on her plate every meal but she pretends to take a bite and then puts it down or gives it to her sister.”
She’s resourceful, we’ll give her that.
Thankfully, there was help at hand - and some of the suggestions from parents were amazing.
Check it out…
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Let her serve herself
“Don't put any food on her plate, let her serve herself or ask to be served. Never ask her to try anything. Ignore all picky eating. Ignore her saying she does not like something.
“Give lots of positive attention to healthy food and everyone's healthy eating including her when she does it.
"Try to encourage the older sister and others at the table to comment positively about anyone's healthy eating and to ignore picky eating.”
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Talk about food
“Talk to the others about how the things you're eating taste.
"Try something like, 'Mmm, I love the sauce on this broccoli. It's kind of sweet.'
"Don't even look at your child when you do this. You're sharing a pleasant experience with people who are enjoying it with you. If your child expresses interest, offer to put some on her plate.”
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Stop buying unhealthy food
“You're fully in charge of what's in your home. If you don't purchase dinosaur chicken nuggets and fries, she doesn't get dinosaur chicken nuggets and fries. If she has the option to eat yummy salty preservatives, she's going to.”
4. Make it a game
“When my daughter doesn't want to try new food, I take one of her toys and make it start ‘eating’ her dinner. Then I scold it profusely, explaining that it's Laney's, not the toy's. I pretend to look away and have the toy sneak back for another bite.
“At that point I take a spoon of food, even thought the toy really wants it, and have the toy shriek, ‘it's mine!! No, no! Laney's going to eat it! Oh no oh no!!! She's going to eat it!!!!’ And my kid eats it, giggling like a loon.
“It's a lot of malarkey to get a bite in, but it makes her try new things.”
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Have them help
“I get my kids involved with prepping and making dinner, so that they’re more interested when it comes to eating it.
“And I let them serve themselves, too. Autonomy always wins over hunger.”
Mums and dads, have you ever had to deal with a picky eater?
Let us know how you encouraged them to try new things via Facebook or Twitter (@CloserOnline) now.