Break Your Kid's Bad Food Habits

Your child's hair-twirling, breath-holding, or nose-picking may drive you nuts, but most of these common kid habits tend to vanish with time -- and they may disappear sooner if you simply ignore them. However, if he's gotten into a less than stellar eating routine, don't assume he'll eventually expand his repertoire on his own. "Eating habits from childhood definitely can carry over into adulthood, so it's best to deal with them now," says Jennifer Trachtenberg, MD, author of Good Kids, Bad Habits. Since you don't want to make every meal a battleground, you'll need to take small, smart, and even sneaky steps to help your child change his ways. We've got expert action plans for kids' five major eating traps.