I have resorted to shouting at my kids, and threatening violence, about eating vegetables. And I'm happy about it ...

[NotQuiteCockney]

DS2 (3) is a real carb monster, and is happy to reject all unfamiliar foods. This was getting me down, so last week I started shouting at meal time.

I get very very cross at both DSes for eating any vegetables. Lots of 'how dare you eat your vegetables! I am so angry!' and comical shaking of fists.

It works very well. DS1 thinks it's hilarious (he already was eating veg well), and DS2 is trying lots of things he wasn't trying before, and then saying 'say "boo" mummy'.

That's inspired! Shall keep that as a top tip for when DS does the same thing.

Ha ha! I sometimes do this kind of thing if DS (aged 3) gets picky. I tell him "don't you DARE eat those beans. Mummy is just going to do [x y or z] and when I come back I do NOT want to see one of them eaten. Not ONE". Or, pretend they are wiggly worms and stab one with his fork and make it "wiggle" so it won;t go in his mouth. He then spends ages trying to get it in his mouth.

How long does this reverse psychology thing work for do you reckon?

DS1 is 6, and still enjoys it, and is eating even more veg since I started this. It probably helped that I was threatening to bop him on the head for each piece of broccoli he ate.

Both my kids know I'm joking, it's a sort of game. Sometimes visiting children are worried, though.

LOL DH keeps joking that he learned all his parenting techniques (i.e. reverse psychology) from that episode of the simpsons where Homer attends the parenting institute