Feeding Fussy Children Most of us have been there at some point - "Eugh! I'm NOT eating THAT!" Fussy food eaters can usually be defined into one of two categories: 1.
Those that eat with their eyes.
2.
The "brand" aware.
Fussy eaters can leave you feeling very frustrated and at a complete loss at times, however there are some tips and tricks that can help to make mealtimes happier and less stressful for all concerned.
Problem 1: My child won't eat vegetables Tips & Tricks:

• Mash the vegetables with potato and cover with gravy.
  
• Involve your child with food preparation; talk about the benefits and how they are grown.
  
• Have a blindfolded tasting afternoon - this should be fun for your child.
  Offer sweet tasting vegetables such as cucumber, sweet peppers and peas straight from the pod.
  Diving straight in with over-cooked sprouts will defeat the object and possibly leave your child with a phobia of EVER trying anything new again.
  

Problem 2: My child refuses to eat supermarket own branded food Tips & Tricks:

• Re-use the empty branded bottles for drinks and sauces and fill them with the supermarket brand that you have purchased.
  
• Empty the biscuits straight into the biscuit tin and dispose of the wrappers.
  
• Remove the wrapping from value cheese and wrap it in cling film.
  

They won't know the difference and you will have a happier child and less stressful life as a result of learning a few of these strategies.
Nevertheless, you should be careful not to push your child into eating something that they say makes them feel sick.
Just as adults do, children also have genuine likes and dislikes and forcing an issue may make things worse.
Eating out with a family can be present new challenges.
However, it needn't be so problematic.
Recently, there has been a huge influx of "eat all you can" buffet restaurants opening all over Europe and are a great choice for a family outing, treat for two or an alternative to Sunday lunch.
You don't have to worry if young John will eat his dinner because he won't like it because he can see what is on offer and choose exactly what he wants on his plate.
There is something for even the fussiest eater in one of these buffet style restaurants.
From salads to stews, ravioli to roast dinners, chow mein to chicken wings you really are spoilt for choice.
Another great feature of all you can eat restaurants is that, usually, soft drinks are "bottomless", this means free refills and is ideal for families with children plus it helps to keep the cost down enormously.
These establishments are usually very busy so you don't have to worry about the freshness of the food because the serving area is constantly being refreshed.
If you pick a particular time and a dish is running low or empty then staff are usually more than happy to replenish the stocks.
If you are someone with a big appetite then even you will probably surprise yourself that you didn't or couldn't eat as much as you thought you could and will come away feeling completely satisfied.
Buffet style restaurants are an excellent choice for children's parties as you don't have to work out what each child will eat or won't eat prior to the party.
Overall, they are good value and always have a good selection available.
On a positive note, you will probably find that as your child grows their tastes change and they will be more willing to try new things.