Mealtimes can be stressful for any family, let alone one where someone won't finish their food or is fussy with what they'll eat.
Trying to get your little one to both eat up and eat well can cause worry but rather than force the issue, it might be better to let them off.
That's according to one dietician, who believes parents shouldn't insist on their kids finishing everything in front of them.
Linda Cohen, also known as the
Nude Nutritionsist on Instagram, reckons that this can set them up for a pattern of emotional eating later in life.
"You want them to stop eating when they feel full – regardless (of) whether the food is finished or not," she wrote on her
blog.
"Being told to 'finish everything on your plate' often encourages overeating and eventually, emotional eating when they get older."
She reckons that a better approach is to instead ask your child to rate their hunger out of ten and then serve up an appropriate amount or, if they're a little older, let them serve themselves.
Among Lyndi's other tips is to avoid labelling foods 'good' or 'bad' or 'junk' and instead dividing them into 'everyday' and 'sometimes' foods so your children don't feel bad or guilty about eating certain things.
Cultivating good eating habits with your children isn't always easy.
Check out our tips on tackling your toddler's fussy eating
here, our guide on getting the right nutrients into your child's diet
here and three ways to promote good eating habits
here.
