[wantonemore]

My own ds and I went round and round about food. I wanted him to eat what I put on his plate, he didn't. Finally, one day he says to me "Mom, You are the onlhy one who chooses what I eat. How fair is that? How would you like it if I dictated to you what you put in your mouth?"

I had to think for a minute (because as I Mom, I usually think I am always right) but realized that he had a point!

Several people pointed out here that it could be a power issue. Maybe it is a legitimate one! Kids thrive on the ability to make choices, when they can. If we can help them play a part in making the choice it can be liberating!

Our solution was ~ he eats what I put on his plate (for stuff I know he resists, ie salmon and veggies, I give him one bite for every year of age. He is now 8) and if he eats it, then he can choose what he eats the next day, within reason. So, green beans the first day when I put it on his plate, and then the next day he can choose mashed potatoes, corn, or something else of his choosing.

If he doesn't eat all of what I gave him on "my night", I don't force him. But, then he forfits his right to help pick the food for the next night.

He then has a motivating factor for finishing all the food I give him, and he has a sense of control over his enviroment by picking out what he eats (hopefully) every other night!

We have been doing this for about two years. It works out well for us! Now on his "free choice nights" he sometimes suprises us by asking if we can have salad!