What would happen if you gave him nothing else until he ate his veggies? Seriously!!!

My boys are great with veggies and I believe it's due to my philosophy on eating. They are never offered anything else if they don't eat whats on their plate (if it's something new they have to at least try it and I always make sure not to put too much on their plate). I don't hide veggies. I eat meals with them and my partner eats what veggies I put on his plate even though he doesn't really like them-he is setting an example.

When they both at seperate stages went through refusal to eat meals they were given one warning and then sent to bed. My eldest did this 3 nights in a row at age 3 before he got the message and my youngest at 2.5 was only warned and never did it again.

Toddlers will never voluntarily starve themselves so don't offer white rice (if you are going feed rice try brown rice or basmati rice as it's lower in GI) chicken nuggets or chips. Kids don't need these things and IMO if you give them what they want for fear of them starving then they just grow into fussy eaters.

Might seem a bit harsh but it's how I did it and I have kids who eat veggies without complaint.

xavier is very picky about his food at home too - at daycare, he (allegedly) eats all kinds of things - we have learnt several things:

1. eating in groups is great - (even though we struggle with this) i believe that it is ideal if you can eat with your child - seeing how you enjoy the same foods that he is eating might help

2. provide the dinner you think he should have, and don't offer a range of alternatives to get him to eat - i doubt these kids are going to starve to death, but letting him dictate what he's going to eat is going to be a problem later

3. keep trying different things and don't give up - one day he's going to pick up a carrot stick and you'll think he's a genius!

My son hates veggies too and so meal times is a constant battle. But you know, I finally just let it be.. it isn't worth the frustration. I grew up hating veggies too, and I turned out alright (though I'm a veggie lover now).

But this is not to say you should give up, of course. One thing that may work for you is witholding desert and/or any items that your son likes. This has worked wonders for a friend.

In the meantime, consider multi vitamins for kids.

My 3 year old who hates vege, i put them into soup and he prefer eating them that way.

Or I mesh into his food or mix it with rice... with some favour to it and that may helps.

I know some Mothers who puree them and hid them in other foods....that might work.