My four year old hardly eats! No matter what I serve up she eats a few mouthfuls and then that's it. She will usually eat a pudding afterwards but her appetite for savoury foods at mealtimes just isn't there. I am worried she isn't getting all the nutrients she needs. What can I do?

Just like adults, children's appetites can vary a great deal. It may be that your daughter naturally prefers to eat small quantities and if so, that's fine. Children are very in tune with knowing when they are hungry and when they are full - a skill to be cherished as many of us lose this as we get older and wind up doing constant battle with our weight. It is important however, to be sure that her lack of appetite isn't caused by too many snacks, sweets and puddings in between meals. It's a common trap parents fall into. Our little ones eat very little at a meal times, we naturally worry that they haven't eaten enough so encourage them to eat a couple more mouthfuls and then offer a desert. Later, when they come to us saying they feel hungry we remember they didn't each much at their last meal so feel more inclined to permit them to have another snack and so the cycle goes on. Very soon, a child learns that the snacks and puddings that surround meal times are more appealing than the meals themselves hence the distinct lack of appetite at the table.

As a parent it can be very stressful when you feel your child isn't eating enough but stay strong. If they refuse their main meal, try to avoid getting into a battle about eating. Simply take it away but don't offer a dessert. Appease any anxiety you may have about them being hungry by allowing them access to healthy foods in between meals such as fruit, a slice of toast or a small pot of yogurt but keep the biscuits, cakes, crisps and sweets firmly out of reach. Remember too that no child will starve themselves. Again, like adults they have their own likes and dislikes but on the whole, if they are truly hungry they will eat the foods that are made available to them. They may kick up a bit at first if the foods you are offering are not quite as exciting as the ones they are used to but after a small period of adjusting to the fact that if they don't eat their meals they will no longer be able to fill up on snack foods in between, mealtime appetites do tend to improve - especially if helped along but lots of outdoor exercise and general physical activity.