Hi Dr Aarti, I had written earlier about my 2 year old son regarding his screaming which has now subsided so thanks for the advice then. Over the last year my son's not gained any weight and this largely has been contributed by his habit of NOT eating. We'v tried different tips and tricks but they don't seem to work anymore and we have to subject to the TV at times for meal times only. However lately TV or No TV he just isn't interested in eating anymore. Although we've tried a variety of items from sweet to savory to traditional home made food, he's moody and generally dismissive of anything presented to him (apart from French Toast at times). I do understand as he gets older and more conscious this won't be a problem but for now how do we as parents tackle this to ensure he's invested in eating?

Rupa, as a mother myself, I understand the challenges involved.

In fact, I credit my creativity in cooking to my son’s selective taste buds.

Today, the challenge has doubled as we are not just competing with other dishes but artificial colours and flavours as well.

The best way to make children like to healthy food is to make them experience the difference by bringing them closer to nature. For example, do the burger experiment at home that shows how a fast food burger doesn’t decompose for more than a month!

Take them on nature trails or grow plants at home. Let them smell real herbs and vegetables.

When they buy packaged foods, show them the chemicals listed under the list of ingredients. Let them research the harmful effects of these preservatives.

Lastly, don’t forget to try new dishes and cuisines at home. Involve them in the cooking process to keep up the excitement and enjoy a good home cooked meal.