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I agree that dealing with picky eaters is tough but I don't understand why providers stress over it. Either way the food is gone. Either the children eat it or the garbage gets it so I really don't see what the difference is.
Why stress about it? Make healthy options and serve the food. It is up to the child to eat. or not eat. You can't force them to do it.
Food is one battle I really don't like to get into with kids. They will ALWAYS win.
I agree KellyP, I give the children small amounts, a couple of teaspoons and if they want more I give them more. I got really tired of throwing food in the garbage. If there are leftovers because the children don't eat then my supper is ready! But you are so right about picking your battles.
Picky eaters keep my composter loaded - it loves the veggeis they don't.
I am like KellyP...I serve the food and it is up to them whether or not they eat it. I don't coax, reward or punish eating or not eating. If you are hungry you eat, if not you don't. No options offered. I serve small amount and give more if they eat it all. If you make mealtime into a power struggle or circus show it just teaches them to use food as a form of control. I don't serve "kid" foods either...I serve healthy meals and I don't believe that food has to be "fun" in order to be appealing. Play is fun, food is for filling our tummies and giving us energy and making our taste buds happy...not for playing with. I find that eventually, even the picky ones come around and start eating when they realize there is nothing else and I don't care if they eat or not. Also, reading kids books in which healthy eating is stressed can also help.
I agree with sunny days all my picky eaters have shown improvement this way. It may take little while for some, but when people or little people are really hungry they just have to eat. What I personally do is try to add things that they like to our menu (along with foods that they thing they do not like). If they like eating frozen or fast food I just make a healthier version of it (like adding flaxseed or shredded carrot hamburgers; sweet potato to the egg mix of chicken nuggets, etc)