“Chugga chugga choo choo, here comes the train,” is one technique many parents have used to get their children to open their mouths at mealtime. Yet, once the food goes in, it may come right back out, leaving both parent and child frustrated.

Parents and children often have different agendas. They don't agree on portion size and their tastes in food texture and appearance may not match. But stressing will only worsen the situation. The best solution is to make mealtime fun.

Creative, Healthy Choices
Dr. Christine Wood, a California mom who specializes in general pediatrics with an interest in nutrition and lactation, takes advantage of learning opportunities.

• “Teach colors and let them eat their red foods and green foods. Teach shapes by cutting foods into circles, triangles, and squares.”
• “Identify different types of foods that animals might like-horses like apples, monkeys like bananas.”

Michelle Blair, director at Children's Lighthouse #1 in Oklahoma City and a mother of two, encourages theme dining and offering choices.

• “Green milk could mean that leprechauns were here.”
• “Give kids a choice. Besides going to the bathroom, often what kids put into their mouths is the only thing they can control. Go to the needs of the child instead of saying, ‘this is the way it's going to be and that's it.'”

Beware the Beverage
Bill Lange, marketing manager for Juicy Juice says parents should be careful about the beverages they offer.

• “As a general rule of thumb, be wary of products that contain words like ‘ade,' ‘beverage,' ‘cocktail,' or ‘drink' in the name. These words indicate that a product is not 100% juice. Many ‘fruit juice drinks' contain only 10% juice and often are packed with added sugars, artificial sweeteners, preservatives, and artificial flavors.”

MetroFamily Magazine Moms Offer 5 Ways to Make Mealtime Easier
1. Eat with your children-it makes mealtime more fun for them and you can model healthy eating. (Anna Amis, MetroFamily Magazine Account Executive)

2. Save and recycle empty baby food jars. One session of pureeing homemade food yields four or five jars of baby food for the price of one store-bought jar. (Anna Amis)

3. Try preparing foods in different textures. A child may love applesauce but hate apples or vice versa. Don't give up. (Jill Richards, MFM Office Manager)

4. Let children pick the veggies at the farmer's market or let them grow their own in the family garden. They may be more likely to eat what they have a say in. (Jill Richards)

5. For quick cleanup, sew two identical beach towels together lengthwise, and place under your toddler's high chair. The “rug” will catch over-spray and is easily washed. (Denise Springer, Editor)

From the Kitchen of MetroFamily Magazine.com
Tried and True Recipes

Guacamole
from Rainey Richards, daughter of Jill Richards, MetroFamily Magazine Office Manager
1 avocado
Garlic powder
Salt
Lime juice
1-2 spoonfuls of salsa
Corn chips
Mash the meat of an avocado in a bowl. Add garlic, salt, and lime juice to taste. Add your favorite salsa and dip with corn chips.

Through the Grapevine Recipes:

Fruity Ants on a Log
from by Dr. Christine Wood in California
Bananas
Yogurt of choice
Sprinkles
Peel desired number of bananas and cut in half. Dab yogurt of choice on topside of banana. Splash sprinkles on yogurt.