PICKY EATER ? CHEW ON THIS

                   You clip coupons, maneuver a full cart through a busy grocery store, scrutinize every piece of produce, load and unload, prep, cook, serve and clean.  It's no wonder you're frustrated when your 3-year-old refuses to eat anything but macaroni and cheese.  And when your 4-year-old son says he hates the food in front of him, you might even feel a twinge of heartbreak.
                   At least you're not alone.  "Picky eating is a typical behavior for many preschoolers,"  according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) online at http://www.mypramid.gov/.   "It is simply another step in the process of growing up and becoming independent.  As long as your preschooler is healthy, growing normally, and has plenty of energy, he or she is most likely getting needed nutrients."
                   If you'reconcerned your child's eating habits are jeopardizzzzzzing his or her health and development, consult your pediatrician. But, it's normal for a kid to go through a picky eating phase.  Your son or daughter likely will get over if before he or she starts school.  In the meantime, take somesmall steps at home to promote healthy eating.
                  According to the article "Children's nuttrition: 10 tips for picky eaters" by Mayo Clinic staff (online at http://www.mayoclinic.com/),  parents can help picky eaters eat a balanced diet using these common approaches.

1. Many children will eat only when they are hungry, so don't force them to clean their plates.  (According to some studies, force-feeding may actually traumatize your child and contribute to an unhealthy attitude toward food later in life.)
2. Children respond well to routines, so serve meals at about the same times every day and don't fill them up with snacks or juice within an hour of mealtime.
3. Give kids time to warm up to new foods.  "Your child may need repeated exposure to a new food before he or she takes the first bite," thearticle states.  "Encourage your child by talking about a food's color, shape, aroma and texture --- not whether or not it tastes good."
4. Make healthy foods fun.  Serve vegetables with your child's favorite dip.  Cut food into shapes with cookie cutters.
5. Ask your child to help you select fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods at the grocery store, and assist with meal preparations.
6. Be a role model.  "If you eat a variety of healthy foods, your child is more likely to follow suit," states the article.
7. Sneak healthy foods into your child's favorite meals, such as diced vegetables in spaghetti sauce or fruit slices in ceral.  (Some psychologists argue against this approach.)
8. Minimize distractions at the dinner table.  This means no TV, no cell phones, no books and no toys during meals.
9. Do not bribe a child to finish his or her plate by offering dessert as a reward.  According to the article, "Withholding dessert sends the message that dessert is the best food, which may only increase your child's desire for sweets."  However, you can serve healthy desserts like fruit and yogurt.
10. Don't prepare your child a separate meal if he or she rejects what you've served.  You're not a short order cook after all.

                  The USDA recommends some additional strategies.  Offer only one new food at a time, so as not to overwhelm your child, and serve the new food at the beginning of the meal when he or she is hungriest.  Serve new foods along with familiar foods, and serve small portions.