– Ensure that your child is hungry at mealtime and has not snacked recently.
– Give your child healthy and attractive food. Try combining their favorite foods with those they dislike.
– Try different food combinations, textures and shapes. Also, giving their food some silly imaginative names may increase their affinity for the food.
– If they still refuse, do not force or pressure them to eat and do not be tempted to give them junk food instead. Be calm and accepting. Respond with positive comments when they do eat.
However, do not give them negative responses if they don’t eat. It’s okay to take the food away, cover it, and offer it again a bit later.
If they refuse food for days, then it does seem like a red flag. In such cases, we recommend consulting a pediatrician.