Have you become accustom to watching your friends serve peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on a routine basis and wonder if that will be you? Don’t despair, there is hope.

What most new parents don’t realize is that picky eaters are not bred, they are created. In most cases, picky eating is not a genetic flaw; it’s an environmental factor.  Good eating habits begin when our children are infants, not toddlers. Too many of us wait until our children are three and four years of age to begin expecting them to eat a variety of foods.  Eating behaviors begin in infancy when food is first introduced, usually at around six months of age.

First, there are a few key things to understand: Children grow at different rates, so their hunger will vary each week and their preference for taste and texture will change over time.

Second, do not allow your children to control you. Allotting meal choices to your children is a surefire way to create picky eating and a power struggle.

It is our job as parents to decide what is a healthy meal or snack, not your child’s. You wouldn’t think to ask your 6 month old what he or she would like for dinner, so you should not think to ask your 3 year old. Simply put, just because your toddler now can voice what she wants, doesn’t mean she should always acquire what she want. If more parents would sustain this frame of mind, picky eating would not be such a colossal topic.

Remember that children learn from example. If you and your family are eating a variety of foods without fuss, they will be more prone to do the same. Whenever possible, have a sit down dinner at the kitchen table each night. Whether you prepared the meal yourself or pick up something on the way home, sitting your baby in the highchair at the dinner table eating with the rest of the family is essential.

When your infant is ready to begin eating chunkier foods, it is important to prepare home-made foods. This can get tricky if he or she has yet to develop teeth, but there are many fruits and vegetable that can be prepared for even a toothless baby. So if your 12 month old has only two teeth, do not be discouraged. Cookbooks are now available for preparing infant foods for all stages.

Although store bought baby foods are convenient and equally healthy, the taste and textures differ from the real thing. Your toddler may refuse to eat steamed carrots now even though he formerly enjoyed jars of carrots. The taste and textures can vary so significantly that it comparable to introducing a new food altogether. It is wise to make the effort in the beginning stages to prepare as much food at home for your infant as possible. Taking preventative measures to avert rearing a picky eater in the end will be well worth the time.

When feeding infants and small children, variety is essential. Try introducing a wide variety of fruits and vegetables that your infant or toddler will be capable of eating. Again, remember that children grow at different rates. Their preferences for taste and texture will change over time. If your child (whether and infant or toddler) refuses to eat a particular food, that’s okay. There’s no need to create a power struggle. Simply try reintroducing the same food every week. As a child's preferences develop for taste and texture, they more than likely will eat the foods they once refused.

You don’t have to specialize in eating disorders to prevent raising a child with selective eating habits. Remember that healthy habits begin in infancy. As the parent, you are in control and responsible for implementing good eating behavior. So when your toddler beams up at you with negotiating eyes, don’t feel guilty for not giving in. Regardless of the action you take, do not prepare another meal for him. You’re not trying to coerce him into loving all vegetables, you’re insuring his future health.

If you believe that your child is not growing at a proper rate or meal time becomes stressful for you and your family, consult your pediatrician for advice.