A 5-Year-Old Girl Is A "Picky" Eater And Refuses Fruits, Vegetables And Meat. How Can A Parent Get Her To Eat Healthier?

July 1, 2009— -- Question: A 5-year-old girl is a "picky" eater and only eats certain foods, such as cereal. She refuses fruits, vegetables and meat. How can a parent get her to eat healthier?

Answer: It's okay to make sure that children attend mealtime and sit at the table with everyone else but in the war of eating they will win. You cannot force them to eat; they will refuse. So you want to make sure that you take advantage of the times when they are interested in eating and they are hungry and provide them with nutritious snacks -- usually in small quantities because sometimes large quantities overwhelm them. But in the end you must offer, not force.