Its the question on the lips of every mother that ever lived - my child refuses to eat vegetables, what should I do?

 Usually the responses I see to this include:

• hide veggies in their food
• give them a smoothie instead
• tell your child to eat it or go to bed hungry
• bribery
• get them to cook dinner with you

I however, have an alternate option. Its a little bit more on the fence than any of the above, but its one that will make sure your child gets all of the nutrients they need for good health and growth, while also teaching them about food.

Even the best of eaters will go through a fussy eating stage. Its a very normal part of childhood development. Its also every mother's biggest headache. So yes, if you feel that your child's eating is really that bad, its fine to go ahead and hide vegetables in their food.

BUT, while you are doing that, it is still important to keep trying to give them vegetables and foods that they can see. Doing so isn't about nutrition in the short term. Continuing to introduce new foods and putting out foods that they say they won't eat will normalise those foods for them, so that eventually, they will try a bite or two. You need to introduce foods multiple times before most children will even taste them, let alone include them in their meals.

The biggest mistake you can make with a fussy eater is to replace their meals with smoothies or protein shakes "just so they will eat something" or rely solely on hidden vegetables. Instead I recommend:

• Start with hidden vegetables wherever you can. For example, fill out your bolognese with lentils, mashed beans and finely grated veggies.
• Put out a few different vegetables at dinner time and allow your child to pick and choose what they like
• Place 2 foods on their plate or the table that you know they will eat, and a third food that they have started refusing. Ask them to take a bite but don't force the issue.
• Ask them to try something new every day. If they say no, let it go and try again tomorrow
• Persistence is key. Trying again tomorrow and the next day and the day after will pay off

So long as your child is meeting all of their milestones, and is generally healthy, happy and well, the above will work. If you are worried at any stage, please visit your doctor to rule out anything more serious.