Parents and grandparents worry about children who are picky eaters. They are concerned that the youngsters are not getting enough calories or nutrition. Many studies have been done on this subject and the results are always the same. Normal children, on their own, eat enough for adequate growth and nutrition. If you are still worried, there are steps that you can take to add nutrition to the picky eater's diet.

You know these children are going to eat small quantities of food. Prepare tempting platters with small portions for the children. At breakfast time, you can include a piece of banana, a few grapes, small toast strips with peanut butter and a handful of granola. Even if the children pick, you know the food is high quality. Use this system at lunch and dinner. Keep a refrigerator stocked with great snacks. Children enjoy low fat yogurt, fresh sliced vegetables, sliced fruits, and nutritious cereals. Purchase a few health food cook books and make cookies with oatmeal, bran, raisins, honey and brown sugar Choose recipes with ingredients that your children particularly enjoy.

Another way to insure a good start to the picky eater's day is to make a milk shake. Put milk, fresh fruit, nonfat ice cream and a protein powder in a blender. Whip the ingredients into a frothy shake. Give the children this nutritious shake to start their day.

It is important to keep the food issue from becoming a power play. Do not discuss the problem in front of the children. Do not yell at the children. Do not force the youngsters to sit at the table for hours until the food is gone. Do not punish the children for not eating. Do not offer rewards for every bite of food ingested. Do not fill the youngster with empty calories.

Feed the children at the normal meal times. If they do not eat, take the food away. Do not offer snacks or in-between meal treats. Wait until the next scheduled meal time and put a tempting sampler in front of the youngsters. When the children eat, you can say "I hope you enjoyed your meal." If the children do not eat, put the food away without any comments. Wait again until the next family meal time to serve the youngster Continue with this basic practice and your picky eater will naturally develop good food habits.