#asktheexpert My kid rejects food, how can I make her eat happily

A. If your child refuses to eat, don’t worry—it’s common in toddlers! The key is to make food fun, interesting, and stress-free. Here’s what you can do: 1. Make Mealtime Fun & Engaging ✔ Play with Shapes & Colors: Use cookie cutters for chapati, dosa, or sandwiches. Serve colorful veggies. ✔ Offer Choices: Let your child pick between two healthy options (e.g., banana or apple). ✔ Creative Plating: Make smiley faces with food, arrange fruits in fun patterns. ✔ Involve in Cooking: Let your child help in washing veggies or stirring (safe tasks). 2. Smart Feeding Tricks ✔ Don’t Force-Feed – Let your child eat at their own pace. ✔ Follow a Schedule – Offer food every 2-3 hours (small meals, not forcefully). ✔ Limit Distractions – No mobile, TV, or toys during meals. ✔ Eat Together – Kids copy parents. Show them you enjoy food. ✔ Try Finger Foods – Offer bite-sized, easy-to-hold foods like paneer cubes, banana slices, or boiled potato sticks. 3. High-Calorie, Nutrient-Dense Foods If your child eats less, give nutrient-packed foods: ✔ Milk & Dairy – Full-fat milk, paneer, curd, cheese. ✔ Healthy Fats – Ghee, peanut butter, coconut, dry fruits. ✔ Protein-Rich Foods – Dal, eggs, chicken, soya, chana. ✔ Energy-Boosting Foods – Banana, avocado, ragi, oats. 4. Sample Meal Plan (For a Picky Eater) ⏰ Morning: Dry fruit powder in warm milk + banana. ⏰ Breakfast: Suji cheela / Ragi porridge / Egg omelet with cheese. ⏰ Mid-Snack: Curd with fruit / Dry fruit laddoo. ⏰ Lunch: Soft chapati roll with paneer / Dal rice with ghee / Khichdi with veggies. ⏰ Evening: Milkshake / Smoothie / Fruit with peanut butter. ⏰ Dinner: Vegetable paratha / Soft idli with dal / Homemade pasta with cheese. 5. When to See a Doctor? ⚠ Continuous weight loss or weakness. ⚠ Frequent vomiting, loose motions, or bloating. ⚠ Extreme fussiness, rejecting even favorite foods.