If you’ve got a picky eater at home, these 10 rules should help you keep your sanity. My kids have been well trained over many years to try almost everything I put in front of  them, both at home and in restaurants, and as a food writer-author, I’ve dragged my family through some pretty strange eating experiences. My daughter tried duck brains in Beijing at the famous Da Dong Peking Duck Restaurant (“they’re okay, but I prefer the pancakes and duck,” was her response, and mine too). When we lived in the Philippines, my then seven-year-old son tried deep-fried mole crickets at a food festival. The little Filipino boy sitting next to him was chomping away on a handful of the dark nuggets, so my son felt compelled to try them. He said they tasted like “really, really, really crispy fried chicken nuggets.” His Filipino acquaintance agreed.

I also know what each of my children doesn’t like. My son despises mushrooms, and is not keen on potatoes (except fries). My daughter  picks the arugula and mezuna leaves out of her salad claiming that they scratch her throat when she swallows. She also doesn’t like tortellini, which I think is a texture thing. I respect their wishes.

Here is a list of dos and don’ts that should help change some picky eating habits at any age.

DO

1. Get your child involved in your family’s food decisions. Offer healthy options and allow them to voice their opinions.
2. Include your child in food preparation and the cooking process as much as possible.
3. Eat with your children. My rule at the table is that my kids must try everything. They don’t have to like it, but they must try it.
4. Eliminate or reduce all snacking between meals. Get rid of any empty-calories snacks with zero nutritional value (all junk food).
5. Focus on healthy eating not dieting. Dieting can be a real problem during the teenage years and can lead to eating disorders down the road. Tell your kids why a particular food is good for them. Protein helps  build strong muscles. Vitamins and minerals are critical for healthy cells, tissues and organs. Omega-3s in fish fuel the brain. And, complex carbohydrates from whole grains give long-lasting energy to run and play…and to win that soccer game or swim meet.

DON’T

1. Don’t open the kitchen after dinner. Say no to all post-meal snacking.
2. Don’t offer bribes or rewards for eating, and don’t punish your child for not eating. Food equals emotions is not an equation you want to establish in their minds.
3. Don’t make eating a power struggle. Neither side wins.
4. Don’t fool your kids. If they ask what’s in a dish, answer honestly. Betrayal will result in mistrust.
5. Don’t give up offering healthy foods no matter how many times they are rejected.

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