So what can worried parents do to help ensure their child eats a healthy, balanced diet while avoiding mealtime misery?

Psychologist David Lewis offers the following practical advice:
"If your child is a faddy eater there's no cause for concern. Fads are common, especially among young children. One study found them in more than half of all two to six year olds. However, nutritional deficiencies in the diet are important to tackle early on, so supplementing your child's diet with vitamins will give peace of mind. Your next step is to try and identify what lies behind the refusal, since this will give you the best way of tackling the root cause of the problem."
Dr Lewis identifies 6 main food fads:

1. Anger Fads: Because meals symbolise intimacy and sharing, they
satisfy more than physical hunger. By rejecting the food parents have worked hard to prepare, a small child could be expressing anger or resentment he or she
cannot put into words. This type of fad is more likely if food has been used
as a reward or a substitute for your time and attention. For instance offering a
sugary treat for good behaviour or chocolate bars instead of a promised outing
together. Angry fads are usually accompanied by sulking, tantrums or tearfulness. Deal with them by identifying and removing the cause of emotional
distress.

2. Independence Fads: Refusing to eat certain foods, especially those the
parent especially wants eaten, makes a small child feel more grown up and independent. Most common between the ages of five and six this type of fad usually disappears of its own accord as a child grows older. Insisting he, or she, eats everything that's put in front of them is usually counter productive. It either increases their resistance or undermines their self-esteem. Far better to
be tolerant and treat the fad as no big deal. At the same time find other ways of giving the child greater independence. For instance by allowing a say in the
choice of clothes or meals.

3. Copycat Fads: Are common when young children look up to older brothers or
sisters. Respond in a neutral manner, saying something like: "Fine, all the more for the rest of us." Dealt with tactfully, copycat fads are usually short lived.

4. Anxiety Fads: Paul adored pork chops until he saw the film Babe, after which he refused to touch any pork or bacon again. When faced by this type of fad never compel your child to eat a disliked food, or you could make him hate it for life. Once the anxiety has subsided, the fad should also vanish.

5. "Strange Food" Fads: Many children are wary of unfamiliar dishes. But
strange food fads are more likely if you make disparaging remarks about the cooking. Commenting that a dish looks, or will taste disgusting, may stop your child from ever trying it. Avoid prejudging their tastes. Allow your child the chance to make up his, or her, own mind about likes and dislikes.

6. Allergy Fads: Long before they can explain why, children know certain foods will disagree with them. It's an instinct you should always respect. Never force a child to eat or drink anything to which he or she violently objects. Permit as much freedom in the choice of food as your budget allows. Some psychologists claim children should be allowed to eat what and whenever they please. Such "free-range" feeding, they believe, prevents obsessions about food and diet. While variety in eating is important to developing a wide range of tastes some parental control is also essential to ensure a healthy, well-balanced, diet.