5 Tantrum Stoppers That Work
Easy discipline tricks that will end whining and battles with your toddler. Plus, discover the 8 discipline mistakes parents make
"My kid won't eat vegetables."
Worth a battle?
A small one. Toddlerhood is often a period of strong preferences and weird food jags (okay, picky eating), and that's fine -- within reason. Even if your child is ona veggie boycott, there's no need to panic. Odds are his food choices will balance out over time, says Marilyn Tanner-Blasiar, R.D., a pediatric dietitian at the Washington University School of Medicine, in St. Louis. Which isn't to say you shouldn't keep (subtly) working on getting him to acquire a taste for green (and red, orange, and yellow) things.
Tactics to try: Make it a raw deal.
Most veggies taste stronger when they're cooked, which is why most little kids prefer theirs straight out of the crisper (or lightly steamed). Serve yogurt or salad dressing for dipping matchstick-cut carrots, peeled celery, edamame (soy beans), and broccoli "trees."
Fall back on fruits.
To balance an overall diet, pick fruits, particularly those high in vitamins A (cantaloupes, apricots, mangoes) and C (oranges, strawberries, kiwis). A multivitamin may ease your mind, too; ask your pediatrician.
Plus:
Why Toddlers Throw Tempter Tantrums
13 Discipline Tricks from Teachers
9 Things You Shouldn't Say to Your Child
