When raising a child, it always helps to try and remember that the child quite often has a valid point of view. When someone tries to get you to eat something you hate as an adult, you refuse - your child is just the same. The one area of their lives they can control is their eating. You can make them a meal, but you can't make them eat it! And most kids are smart enough to pick up swiftly that food makes a really nifty weapon to control parents with. If you don't believe me, try having a look at a child being fed. You can see the child enjoying being in charge, shaking their head if they won't accept more, or spitting out what mom has just managed to shovel in. The child gets to exert control and gets the added sweet bonus of all of the parents' attention, before, during and after the meal.

I often see panic-stricken,fussing parents stooping anxiously over their child during a meal, terrified that the child might be missing out on a vital vitamin that renders them susceptible to viruses or some other such dire consequence. I don't know about you, but I always wish I could diffuse some of the tension these people seem to be suffering in their parenting. As a child - and, actually as an adult - I always seem to have been more comfortable in the presence of a relaxed parent whose house is usually in a state of upheaval, with the laundry basket filled to busting and the dog chewing happily on someone's shoe. These households seem to be full of cheer and warmth. There seems to be a trend that the baby is given a spoon and a bowl of whatever everyone else is having, and left to more or less get on with it, with mom fielding the odd spoonful of flying food and directing it towards the baby's mouth when possible. Babies love to explore, and they love to feed themselves.

In this atmosphere of relaxed meals, there is no stress attached to eating and children seem to flourish. They also seem to be used to being adventurous with food, because they have been exposed to a wide range of foods. If there is a food that the child does not like, they probably enjoy a range of other foods that provide the same nutrients.

My own children did go through a phase of not wanting to eat vegetables, mainly because of a picky friend. Isn't it amazing how they only copy their friends who have bad manners or poor habits? My children have a rich fantasy life, which I love to listen in on. They are always playing pretend games and it never fails to make me smile. So, in order to get them to eat cottage pie (which I love, and they informed me that they cannot stomach) I mashed the vegetables into the potato, renamed it "rainbow island" and served it up. You would not believe how fast it disappeared! I also make a soup with carrots and other vegetables, and we call it "orange soup". The children are convinced that I make it with oranges, so it must be tasty.

You can fool them some of the time, but I remember hearing my grandmother telling my brother that eating his bread crusts would put hair on his chest. To this day, I cut the crusts off my sandwiches! I do feed my children clever cabbage, crazy carrots and parrot food (sweetcorn!). They love all of these, and many more.

So, I hope this has had a few ideas for you, and good luck with the little munchkins!

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