How do you get around fussy eaters? Tell us to win £100-worth of picture books! Ends midday 8 February

[SorchaMumsnet]

Eat Your People! is a hilarious tale of fussy eating, guaranteed to get children giggling. To celebrate its publication, we want to know how you get around those pickier eating habits.

Do you think vegetables are yucky? Just wait until you see what Monty the Monster has on his plate!

Monty definitely does NOT want to eat his people. He'll eat his vegetables - every single one! - but he will not eat his people.

For your chance to win Eat Your People! and a £100 picture book bundle from Hachette, just tell us: what are your tips for dealing with fussy eaters?

This discussion is sponsored by Hachette and will close at midday on 8 February

Books T&Cs apply

Such an interesting topic as recent studies have been on the television about persistence with food and how to get children to like things that they say they do not like - I have always tried to be inventive and find different ways of cooking vegetables and things to make them fun and then slowly change the recipe to adapt.

Eat as a family, with DC given the same food as the adults.
Allow them some choice if possible eg either peas or carrots.
Don't put too much on their plates, but allow them to have more if they want to.
Try fruit dipped in chocolate as a treat if they are fruit refuses.
Allow them to help in the kitchen as much as they are able to, be it baking or cutting up the veg.
When we had nieces/nephews/friends round to eat, I always praised them for trying something new. Sometimes it worked and DD would try it too!

My son is good at trying new things but my daughter is harder work...I usually say no pudding unless you try it or something like that. Sometimes I'll hide veg e.g. in blolognaise

Hide things in bits I know they like. A bit of Swede in some mash, some carrots or mushrooms in bolognese sauce, veg under cheese on a pizza

Make it pleasing to the eyes or if that fails make it camouflaged!

Introduce different foods early and be persistent if need be.

Eating together around the table away from distractions and as a family helps a lot

Everyone has the same meal but I put it all in the middle of the table and allow everyone to help themselves. It seems to work when they feel they are in control :)

i think getting my children involved in growing their own food and choosing some to grow and try out in recipes they help prepare encourages them eat more of the good stuff!

Sitting at the table having the same meal altogether helps, & simply keep re introducing the foods. Hiding veg in mash, and allowing children to help produce meals helps. I am vegetarian but my parents always made me have meat on my plate as a child but left the choice to me if I ate it or not, so I realise there are some foods children simply do not like - fussy or not!

I get around my fussy eaters a couple of ways, I put veggies into homemade sauces then blend it so they don't know they're getting their 5 a day. Another thing I do is rename well known dishes so the kids don't realise they're eating something different - one is fajitas, I call them chicken wraps as my son would not eat anything with such an exotic name!

My daughter is extremely fussy. She had severe reflux as a baby which i feel has given her a fear of being sick when she eats. Now she is older and still so fussy, she often gags over food that she doesn't like. My tips are to be persistent and not to give the child anything else. If they don't eat their food then they don't get a pudding or anything else to eat in replacement of that meal. I also have a sand timer so she gets 30 minutes to eat her food (she often plays with her food and takes mouse sized bites if she doesn't like it). If she hasn't eaten her food within the 30 minutes then dinner goes in the bin and again - no pudding or anything in replacement of that meal. When trying her with new foods i ensure only a third of her plate consists of a food thats new - the rest i know she will eat so she is getting something.

We try and give 'boring' foods interesting names like peas are alien footballs.

I let my daughter cook the food with me to try and get her to try it

Agree about getting children involved in terms of choosing food whilst shopping and also cooking.

i try to disguise the vegetables in things or mixed in so they dont know they are there so much

It's really important for you not to get stressed by meal times. Don't force it. If you can disguise a food (this is what mashed potato was invented for) great, or present in a different way. Star charts are also great.

Patience, and trying really hard not to let it get to you, as frustrating as it may be. Offer plenty of opportunities to try new food and introduce things, but don't make a fuss if they don't like it the first (dozen!) times.
Reinforce with positive praise when they DO try something new.

My 4yr old was a nightmare to wean, it took us months and months to get him to hold and eat anything that wasnt mush! now, we still have a bit of a fight on our hands when it comes to vegetables. However we tell him the broccoli is actually just green chocolate, and he eats it none the wiser..followed by a yum!

Make a game of it

I find that if i make pictures out of their food they tend to eat more of it

I try to give my little boy something I know he will eat but combine it with something new that I know he is fussier about. Doesn't work everytime but sometimes he will eat it.

I started really early just persevering with healthy eating and not giving a lot of treats. I think that's the best, old-fashioned way.

We just don't take no for an answer

I promise them there favourite pudding for afters if they eat all there tea.