What to do if your children don't want to eat the healthy, nutritious food that you've cooked. This is a little bit of a touchy subject. I get a little push back sometimes from the people that I coach. As an ICU nurse, you can give me a little bit of push back. I am okay if my daughter chooses not to eat something. The last time I checked, it takes about thirty days for people to starve to death, including children. I know that sounds harsh, but I provide a lot of nutritious meals in my house. I have child approved shelves. She can eat and choose whatever foods she wants. I don't restrict food in my house. You're going to have to decide which rules you are going to enforce in your house. I cook meals, and if my daughter chooses not to eat them, that's fine with me. I don't go and make a special meal for her. It's okay if she chooses not to eat. You have to get used to the idea that your children may choose not to. I will let her go make something herself because I know that everything in my house is healthy. The other thing that I do is make mealtimes fun. I got her involved young. I make it fun and we make it a game. She cooks meals with me, and it's a fun thing in our house. I try not to create issues around food because you can create eating disorders. I try and not create issues around food. I don't use it as punishment and I don't use food as rewards. It's okay if she misses a meal. She knows it's a safe place to make her choices. The other thing I don't do is I don't force her. We can't be with our children 24 hours a day, seven days a week. She will make her own choices and sometimes they are not perfect choices. I'm okay with that. By educating her about what food does to her body and if she makes a poor choice, I let her pay the consequences. The best thing you can do for your child is to let her pay the consequences.