• Children develop taste preferences early in life; therefore, it is important to introduce food into their diet that has good nutritional values. Not only do children reject on taste, but also on consistency. “If a child rejects a basic food, wait a period of time and then re-introduce it. One university study shows that children need exposure to some foods five to 10 times before they decide they like it,” says Dr. Joel Steinberg, director of the weight guidance clinic at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas.
  
• It is the parent’s obligation to offer food, but it is the child’s job to eat it. “Children can be very good at getting what they want,” says Dr. Steinberg. “Mealtime should be a pleasant and gratifying experience, both for the child and the parents. If the child refuses any more food, you should let them down from the table, but make it clear there is nothing to eat for two more hours, or whatever time period you decide is appropriate. This behavioral technique will teach them to take mealtime more seriously.”
  
• All children have favorite foods, and if nutritious, they should be offered on a regular basis, but not to the exclusion of other foods. Dr. Steinberg recommends that two meals a day should consist of foods that the child normally eats and enjoys. Use a third meal to introduce new foods.
  
• Allow snacking. “Children’s stomaches are small, their energy output is high, and their attention span is fairly limited,” says Dr. Steinberg. “Most children will not thrive on a regimen of three square meals a day.” Dr. Steinberg recommends providing nutritious snacks after school and at bedtime and during school for younger children.

The Lowdown on Low Fat