EAT! EAT!
Do you have one of those children who hates everything? That's too mushy! Thats too hard! That's gross! That's yucky! Is there anything this child will eat? How can I be sure he/she's getting the nutrittion he/she needs? The fact is that most children go through a stage when they hate everything. Usually around the same time they discover the wonders of junk food. Sometimes it is even a means of getting attention. "If I don't eat it I'll get something better."
The best way I've found to deal with this stage is to educate the child about nutrition and "lay down the law". "This is not a restaurant. We're having chicken today and if you don't like it then breakfast is a long time from now and you'll get pretty hungry before then." If the child refuses to eat it then put it away for them and tell them you'll be happy to heat it up for them when they decide they're more hungry than picky. A child tends to be much less picky when they're hungry. This is also an excellent way to find the foods your child truly has a dislike for. If the child would rather be hungry than eat it, chances are they really don't like it.
Small children don't know about the Food Guide and wouldn't understand it if they did. Usually though, by the time they hit the "picky" stage, they have a basic understanding of colors and their names. So, "Everybody needs to eat something of every color every day to stay healthy and not get sick." is something a small child can understand. You can even make a game out of it. "HA HA I ate something green!" or "I ate something red, what color did you eat?" This works particularly well if there is more than one child in the home but can work equally well with a parent. The person who eats the most different colors by the end of the day wins and everyone gets a special treat at bedtime...maybe something pink or blue like yogurt! Pink and blue are very special colors you know. They taste even better after you've eaten something of every other color first! A drop of red food color in a glass of milk is a particularly tasty pink treat. You can even blend it with some strawberrys and crushed ice for a low fat fruity treat everyone can enjoy.
Children also love to prepare their own food. Try pizzas made from english muffins and spagetti sauce. A bit of grated cheese and toppings of different colors. You do the chopping and baking and let them choose their own toppings. The messier the better. The mess is contained to one counter or table and one baking sheet...easy cleanup. I've never yet met a child who won't devour their own creation with pride. Some children will even be happy to help clean up. It makes them feel like a "grownup". Toppings can also be prepared ahead of time and stored in zip bags for a quick, nutritious lunch or dinner.
Try to make mealtimes fun and stress free. No matter what has gone before, all is forgotten at mealtime. Since everybody needs to eat, mealtimes can be an excellent oportunity for families to get together and learn what's happening in each other's lives. If you begin this custom now when the child is young it will follow them for a lifetime and will make it much easier for you to keep up as the child grows older and less forthcoming about their fears and concerns.