You may not realize it, but there are many parents who have to deal with their children who are picky eaters. It is really a common concern; it is talked about on child healthcare websites, on nutrition forums, and healthy eating blogs. Many parents are trying to find solutions to the problem without turning each meal time into a battleground.

Do parents become more stressed than the children, when they refuse to eat? While it is important that parents provide three well-balanced meals to their children each day. The fact remains that most children only consume 1 maybe 2 good meals a day. As your child becomes more independent they may refuse to eat just because they can.

You might find it interesting to know that a recent study found that picky or fussy eaters fall into two different groups. The first group will refuse to eat unfamiliar foods, while the other group refuses to eat a variety of familiar foods.

According to the American Dietetic Association Journal, kids who refuse to try new foods, classified as neophobic, tend to be more anxious than other children. They indicate that kids in this particular classification are stable, and that their refusal to try new foods is a natural part of childhood. As they grow and mature they will encounter new foods which they will be more willing to try.

On the other hand kids that are unwilling to eat many different familiar foods are known as picky eaters. They found that these kids refuse to eat based on the types of foods that have been provided to them by their parents. They may be picky because they truly do not like the taste, texture, or they may just be exhibiting their independence by trying to take control.

So what advice is given to parents with picky or fussy eaters? Never assume that your kids will stop refusing to eat new foods. Keep offering new foods, don't just try it one time then give up. The more they are exposed to the new foods the more they will become comfortable with trying them.

Some common mistakes parents should avoid when dealing with picky and fussy eaters include; using food as reward or punishment, discussing poor eating at meal times and offering foods that are not part of the planned meal.