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I don't think tricks work. Kids can smell a trick a mile away, and may even try to avoid eating something more because they feel like outsmarting or avoiding the trick than actual unwillingness to try some. Every time my parents tried to trick me, I'd find myself looking at them and thinking 'You must think I'm an idiot.' And then they'd have to fall back on their usual combination of threats and throwing in the towel.

The best strategies are to keep things simple, and make them taste good: no squishy boiled things, no metallic tasting cheap cuts of meat, no sauces that looked like something drained from an infected wound (don't mean to be repulsive, but I still have some searing memories of things people tried to get me to eat as a child, and cannot eat today, because of this). In some cases (I think this ONLY works when you actually think it may be true), I've noticed that offering something, and then when it's hastily refused, say 'well, maybe when you're older'. Then next time you serve it again, don't even offer it... and if they ask reply 'let everyone else take some, and if there's any left, then you can try it.' I've seen this work.

No healthy child will starve to death, so if they're going through a really picky phase, just tell them to please leave the room and go play quietly; when they're good and hungry, they'll probably be a bit more reasonable, and have a bit of plain pasta, chicken, some fruit or vegetables.

mommyme, that was a sweet thing that your dad did!

I wasn't picky when I was little, but I became that way as a teenager. And my reasons had nothing to do with food, I was just a stubborn little pest. My parents were sooo patient, and basically just ignored my histrionics until I grew out of that stage.

My little sister wouldn't eat any meat that wasn't chicken. My mom would tell her the pork chops, fish, etc. were all chicken. My sister happily ate them. My sister is now 20, I think my mom secretly provided this information to my sister's boyfriend. Long life, it takes like chicken!

If they're used to Mickey D's and cheetos and sugary cereals, they're most likely going to balk at a bowl of peas and carrots or a fresh fruit salad.

I followed my mother's example - purchase, prepare, cook and bake delicious, healthy foods and expect them to at least try everything. We didn't eat out often and didn't get food delivered either. We tried to have dinner together every single evening at the table - no tv. That was special time for the whole family. Their friends loved to come for dinner because they weren't used to "real" food. The only things I ever had complaints about were lima beans and liver. They still had to eat a bite, but I did prepare something else on those nights. They loved to help in the kitchen and snacks were veggies, fruit and ice cream on occasion. We had desserts - homemade. Cobblers, brownies, cookies, cakes, etc. - so they weren't totally sweet deprived - but they were a special treat. 100% juice, milk, tea, lemonade. No soda. Today, they are adventuresome and know much more about healthy eating and nutrition than I. They thank me for wholesome food and not having a fridge and pantry full of junk foods.

My parents always had the one-bite rule. They always explained the importance of good nutrition and a varied diet. They always insisted that many foods are an acquired taste, and cited examples of their own experiences overcoming food dislikes. It was instructional. It was encouraging. It was always clear that our health was their biggest concern. We ate all kinds of ethnic foods, as well as my dad's many experimental dishes. Food power-struggles were simply not an option.

As a result, I am vehemently opposed to using "tricks" with food, at least those that involve lying, sneaking, hiding, etc. While I have also pureed vegetables into sauces, soups and casseroles, it was never to trick my kids. It was sometimes done to make "difficult" foods more palatable, but never to hide something. (I still do this, because I like the way the flavors meld.) If they asked what something was, I might wait until they'd tasted it and proclaimed it good before I revealed some less than popular ingredient. But I always told them what they were eating, and if they had already decided they liked it, took advantage of that fact to point out that just because you don't like big chunks of steamed Veg-X, there are often other ways to fix it that you WILL like.

I do think "tricks" designed to encourage open-mindedness, and to make eating more fun are great. Example. I hated cooked broccoli as a kid, and made a big melodrama of it when it was served. Naturally, my younger brother at about age three or four, also decided he hated it. So my dad told him they were like little trees, and proceeded to act like a dinosaur, eating them with his fingers, growling, and "violently" tearing them apart with his teeth. Baby bro was obsessed with dinos, so he thought this was fantastic. After that, he always begged to have trees for dinner. And for years, he was allowed to eat them dino-style (at least at home).