Joe of PA asks: My 8 year old daughter is a terror when it comes to eating. She will only eat yogurt, peanut butter sandwiches, slice apples (with peanut butter), bread, chicken nuggets, french fries, grill cheese and chips. I got her eating my "special pancakes" where I add applesauce, yogurt, wheat germ, fruit juices, half a banana and an egg. As long as I add a few chocolate chips and make a castle shape all is well. When we introduce something new like green beans, she puts up a terrible fight. I have tried everything from being taking this away or rewarding her with a special prize and so far the last thing new she will eat on a consistent basis is the grill cheese. Our doctors kept telling us she would grow out of it and now are giving us grief that we haven't done a better job because she is heavy. She is outgoing and smart but has a little gut and I am worried that her diet will lead to other bad things. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

A: Your family Physician is right! Most of the time children do grow out of it and more variety is incorporated into their diets. In the meantime, you can try adding different foods on a weekly basis. Keep in mind that it may take up to 22 times before your daughter will actually eat the food item. Also, food modeling is a tool your family can use to help improve her diet. You are a great role model for your daughter! Children role model after their parents when it comes to mealtime. Keep making healthy food choices and you daughter will follow your behavior. Encouraging physical activity with the family is helpful to prevent added weight gain. The bottomline: your healthy diet helps make her diet healthy! If you have to add some chocolate chips to your special pancakes that is okay because all foods fit. Remember moderation and Good Luck!