I once read that one out of four children can be classified as a "picky eater." I find it interesting, and a little irritating, that I got stuck two for two. Both of my darling little girls could be classified at one time or another as "very picky eaters." And to top it off, my husband is obsessive about eating habits, so you can imagine the scene, and the many fights our family shared around the dinner table.

Both of my children were wonderful eaters until around eight months old, and then nothing seemed to please them except bread, crackers, pasta, and did I mention bread, bread and more bread?!? This drove my husband nuts. He would use his sweetest voice, his most imaginative gestures, and eventually bribery to get those kids to eat one green bean.

I laugh when I hear someone talk about his or her "picky eater," and watch as the little tyke devours a banana. With all the prompting in the world, I could never have gotten my two year old to eat a banana, or any other fruit for that matter.

But as all stages do the "picky eater" stage slowly changed. My kids slowly, very slowly, began to try new foods. A taste here, a lick there, and soon my four year olds new favorite food became chicken salad, and my husband has learned a little tolerance as well.

It is important to keep healthy food choices available to your children, but sometimes it can do more damage then good to force children to eat. Their little bodies are sometimes much more proficient at telling them when they are full and what they need, then paranoid parents. There are a few tips that I have learned over the years that have been very helpful. While not all of these will work with every child, you might find one or two little tricks that may help get those greens into that little belly eventually.

Always provide healthy choices! If the only choices are healthy, then it is hard for their diet to be unhealthy!

Don't let them fill up on juice! Juice, although filled with vitamin C and other essential ingredients, has a tendency to make the child feel full, quenching the appetite. It also has a ton of sugar that creates increased insulin spikes. Stick with water, or at least watered down juice!

Cut back on snacks! Kids should be hungry when dinnertime comes along, not starving mind you, but if they are still full from the snack they had at 3:00, its unlikely that they'll eat much of anything you put on their plate.

Don't put too much food on their plate! Kids get overwhelmed easier then you think. It's often better to provide bits of a variety of food.

Eat dinner as a Family! Kids need to see that you eat what you want them to eat. Also, providing the distraction of a family discussion can sometimes get their attention off what's going in their mouth.

See your doctor if you are really concerned! Yes, "picky eating" is very common in young children, but you need to be aware if it is affecting your child's health and well-being. Don't hesitate to make a doctor's visit if your child's eating habits are concerning you. It is a good idea to bring a list of what your child eats on average each day, including specific foods and portions.

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