Children develop feeding habits before their first birthday. If your son is two and you're worried about nis nutrition - you're probably too late! Try doing a better job with your next child ;)

It is very important to give a six month old a variety of vegetables that he can eat (potatoes, carrots, some fruit and grains), one by one in small amounts. Continue with it and add a new thing every week or so.

Be persistent, but don't make a big deal if the baby rejects certain food. Try again next week or next month.

Very important: don't put any salt or sugar in baby's food! It may seem tastyless to you, but remember that baby's taste is an empty page and you're there to write it. If you give your baby sweetened or salted food, it will get used to it and reject any other food. That's why it is always better to prepare baby food by yourself. That way you will be sure that it is fresh and best for your baby. Don't be lazy! It will affect your child's future life and health.

Now something about toddlers. If your child is rejecting certain food, ask yourself: do I like it? Do other people in the house like that certain kind of food? If everibody's eating the same (healthy) food, it is more likely that the child will eat it too. That assumes that the family eats together, or at least someone is accompanying the child. Imagine this: you're sitting alone at the table, staring at the plate full of something unknown and there is someone else staring at you and forcing you to eat. Rather unpleasant, isn't it?

Another thing is: don't bargain. "If you eat that carrot - you'll get a candy-bar". That's the worst way. That way you're actually telling your child that a candy-bar is better than carrot. Don't do that. Act like all foods are the same. Children have instincts and they will eat healthy food if you didn't spoil them when they were babies.

Anyway - don't worry so much. Just continue preparing healthy food for the whole family, eat it with visible pleasure, don't give your child too much of junk-food, and don't show that you're worried about it. The child will start eating with the rest of the family just because it wants to be with you.
Good luck!

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