Do they pout at their plates? Throw brussels sprouts on the floor? Try these ideas for turning picky eaters into chowhounds.

Pick a veggie of the week. Take the kids shopping and have them select a different veggie or fruit to try each week. That way they’ll taste new foods they may actually (gasp!) like.

Have fun with finger food. Cut some of the meal into cute, small shapes with cookie cutters. Try fish-shaped pieces of salmon with a side of goldfish crackers.

Lure the nature lover. Build a broccoli forest; create a friendly spider with a round slice of cucumber and eight pepper-strip legs; connect grapes or cherry tomatoes with dabs of cream cheese for a silly caterpillar.

Get Kids to Help
Don’t do it all alone. Empower your kids to pitch in with dinner prep. Make it part of their routine.

Age 3
Toddlers can place napkins, spoons and plastics (like sippy cups) on the table; then they can throw away used paper products after the meal.

Age 4-5
Preschoolers should wipe the table and set utensils except sharp knives and water glasses; then clear utensils to the counter and plates one by one to the dishwasher.

Age 6-8
Grade schoolers can do the same as younger kids, plus pour drinks at the table and bring out bowls or platters with food that’s not hot; then clear table items to the dishwasher. 

Sources: Tommy, the Teen Chef, who often cooks for seven siblings (cookupfun.com); Candi Wingate, president of nannies4hire and author of The Nanny Factor.