1. Serve about 3 - 4 meals, and 2 -3 snacks per day.
2. If they are obviously not going to eat, quietly remove the food and let them go and play, with no comments or any show of emotion.
3. Offer foods they don't eat (in Talya's case, meat, chicken, tuna etc) at least once a day, even if they don't touch it - maybe one day they will.
4. What is our idea of "junk food" is valuble carbohydrates, fat and calories for a growing toddler - so don't worry about foods like chips/cookies/pudding. As they get older (4 or 5 years) gradually decrease this in their diet.
5. Comment only when they do eat their food and exhibit good behaviour - i.e. praise them for not throwing their entire plate of food on the floor, or for eating something new.
6. DOn't make dessert a treat - offer after a meal regardless of if they eat the meal or not.
7. Most toddlers eat terribly - so don't worry.
8. A high percentage of toddlers, will spit out food that doesn't dissolve after chewing it. THis is not naughty behaviour and do not reprimand them for doing it! (Its merely immature swallowing).
9. Dogs eating food as it hits the floor acts as positive reinforcement (i.e. reward) for throwing food. (This is a tough one as Talya won't eat unless the dog is in the room - but what we'll do is give her food, ban the dog, and maybe eventually she'll realise no dog no matter what). All common sense I guess....easier in theory than practise...