Help your child learn to eat new foods
Be patient while your child finds out what foods he or she likes. Offer a variety of healthy foods and let your child choose from them. He or she may like a food this week and refuse it next week. Your child may like foods prepared a certain way, such as applesauce instead of apple slices. At mealtime, include at least one healthy food you know he or she likes. Visit choose my plate for healthy tips for picky eaters.
Don't force your child to eat, reward him or her for eating, or punish him or her for not eating. Making your child eat a food he or she doesn't want will not teach your child to like it. If your child says he or she has finished a meal, let him or her stop eating. Children usually know when they have had enough. Wait until snack time to offer more food. Offer snacks with balanced nutrition, such as fruits, vegetables, protein, and grains.
Try to make meals a pleasant family time. Plan to eat together at least once a day. Talk with your child about what he or she did during the day. Ask about his or her favorite part of the day.