SOLUTION: Canny parents steer their little ones through the sweet-free checkouts. But if you've got the wrong queue and have refused them treats you must stand your ground.
"It's tough when your toddler is throwing a tantrum, but if you show you're a pushover the first time it will just get worse in future," says registered health nutritionist Beckie Lang. Distract your little ones with a healthy snack you've brought from home (raisins or breadsticks, for example) which they can eat while you're shopping.
BATTLE: "Pleeaasee can I have those snacks I've seen advertised on the telly."
SOLUTION: From around four years upwards, pester power comes to the fore - usually for the fatty, salty or sugary foods they've seen advertised on TV, or endorsed by celebrities.
"Cut a deal," says Dr Lang. "Before you set foot in the supermarket, agree that they'll select one new fruit or veg to try in return for choosing one food of their own." If you involve your kids in the food decision-making they will enjoy the process and go along with it more happily. Ask them if they recognise what is in the ingredients list and know whether it's good for them.
SOLUTION: Don't get hung up on on a particular veg - if kids don't like broccoli, they might like cauliflower, spinach or cabbage.
Carrots, sweetcorn and baked beans are a good bet with almost all kids. Aim for 2-3 portions of different veg daily (a portion is what a child could fit in their hand), and if all else fails, disguise peas and grated carrot in shepherd's pie, hide pieces of courgette in lasagne, or add slices of pepper to pizza toppings.
"Research shows you may need to present a young child with the same food 10 times before they actually eat it," says Dr Lang.
BATTLE: "I want pudding!!"
SOLUTION: Even if you're concerned about their weight it pays NOT to ban foods as it just reinforces the attractiveness of that food. Instead, gradually reduce the portion sizes of puds and other fattening foods and find healthier ways to serve them - for example, wholemeal crumble tastes just as good.
BATTLE: "It's MY pocket money - I can spend it at McDonald's if I like"
SOLUTION: "Set limits with pocket money," says Dr Lang. "You need to agree the maximum that can be spent on food treats, allowing the rest to be spent on other items like magazines, colouring books or clothes depending on the age of the child. For young children one small packet of sweets or chocolate is fine, while an older child might want to visit McDonald's with friends."
BATTLE: "I don't like breakfast, I'll have a chocolate bar at break..."
SOLUTION: Breakfast eaters are usually healthier, so offer a reward such as cinema tickets if your child tries it for two weeks. During this time kids will adjust to morning eating and find they actually feel hungry when they wake up. They also won't need that morning choc bar.
BATTLE: "Fruit's for wimps - my mates will laugh if I have it in my lunch box."
SOLUTION: Peer pressure is a mystery to parents but finding out what's acceptable and trying to work within those limits will be more successful. Could a banana sandwich, a mini-tin of fruit, or a carton of real fruit jelly get your child's approval more than some home chopped fruit?
Remember a carton of fruit juice is a fruit portion - but only once a day.
BATTLE: "I want to play on my computer, not go out on my bike."
SOLUTION: Lay some ground rules limiting couch potato behaviour. These could include doing gardening or vigorous housework, like vacuuming or cleaning the bath, in return for pocket money and banning more than two hours of TV or computer (other than for homework) a day. A major 2001 American survey found that obesity was lowest among kids watching one or fewer hours of TV a day, and highest among those watching four or more.
BATTLE: Sport is boring - I'm not interested.
SOLUTION: Kids often say this if they're less talented at sport and don't want to look silly in front of their mates. But they don't have to be in a team to get the activity they need. Encourage them to do whatever fits with their lifestyle and set a good example by enjoying being active. A paper round is a good way for teens to combine exercise and money making.
