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Picky Eating Is Normal--To a Point Most kids outgrow that just-one-food phase, but some need outside help So you think you have a picky eater? Consider the child who would eat just one food: a certain fast-food brand of fried chicken nuggets, only in the original box. When the restaurant changed packages, Mom raced to buy all the old boxes she could find. Sayuri Asano, MPH, R.D., certified pediatric dietitian at Kapi'olani, says she sees parents "standing on their heads" to get food into a child. While a lot of young children are finicky about food, they need help when they won't eat the amount or variety required to keep up their nutritional status. A child living on one junk food may look fine, but poor nutrient intake will take a toll. Up to one in four kids has an eating problem in early childhood. Most soon outgrow that peanut butter-only phase, but 1 to 2 percent need professional help. Physical problems, such as food allergies or metabolic disorders, underlie some cases. Some children will eat only certain types of food. Others will eat little or nothing at all. Sayuri Asano, MPH, R.D. Parents can help by exposing children to new foods again and again. "Family mealtimes with exposure to new foods can have a positive effect," Asano says. But well-meaning parents can promote bad behaviors--for example, letting kids end a meal by throwing a fit, says Asano. Asano offers these valuable tips for parents: Remain calm. In most cases, your child's behavior is typical. Don't force a child to clean his or her plate. It is fine to offer 1-2 scheduled snacks per day. Avoid mealtime wars with kids. Ignore tantrums. Many kids will give them up in a few days. Crying fits often get more intense before they get better. Make changes so gradual your child doesn't notice. If you know your child will balk after four bites, for example, stop after four bites. In a few days, urge five or six bites. Praise good behavior, such as trying new foods. Be consistent. Make sure other caregivers follow your lead. Talk to your child's doctor if your child's nutrition is becoming critical, mealtime disruptions have worsened for months, progress has stalled--or you're overwhelmed.