Is there such a thing as a too-skinny kid?

Do educate yourself. Seigel recommends getting to know Canada's Food Guide. The most recent version contains specific advice on feeding children and the "Create My Food Guide" feature lets you to build a customized version of the food guide for different members of your family.

Do present the food nicely. Ever watched a cooking show where the host tells you, "It's all in the presentation"? Well, the same applies to your children. Seigel offers the following food "presentation" tips to encourage healthy eating habits:

Don't supersize portions. "Kids' portions are a lot smaller," Seigel says. "They're a half to a quarter of an adult portion so it's really important not to overwhelm our kids with a huge plate."

Feed kids little and often. Children should have two snacks and three meals each day. Space snacks as evenly as possible between meals and encourage your children to sit down and take their time while eating. "If they miss those snacks sometimes they get too hungry," Seigel says. "They get beyond the point of hunger and don't feel like eating."

Set yourself up for success. As a mom herself, Seigel doesn't recommend cooking separate meals for everyone in the family. However, she says it's a good idea to put a few items on your child's plate you know they'll eat in addition to whatever main dish you're serving. They're reassured by seeing familiar food and you know they won't leave the table hungry.

Aim high. For a child having trouble keeping on weight, it's important to choose calorically dense foods. Some healthy examples include:

• Cheese (not reduced fat) – adding cheese sauce to vegetables adds calories and may make children more likely to eat their veggies;
• Nuts – as long as there are no allergy concerns;
• Dips – hummus as well as sour cream or yogurt-based dips pump up the calories in a fruit or vegetable snack;
• Smoothies – made with yogurt, milk and fresh or frozen fruit are usually a treat and a great source of extra healthy energy.

Do lead by example. The best way to encourage your kids to eat is to eat with them.

Seigel also says involving children in the planning and preparation of food can be helpful – in her house, make-your-own pizza night is a big hit.

Don’t supplement. It may be tempting, especially if you're concerned about your child's weight, but Seigel says unless your doctor has recommended it you're better off avoiding nutritional supplements. For more information visit the Dietitians of Canada and Canadian Paediatric Society websites.

Do be patient. Seigel's best advice when feeding children? "Keep trying and keep trying." She says while it can take time, eventually children will eat more and a wider variety of foods. "Be patient, put the time into it, be as positive a role model as you can and don't get too stressed."

Don’t know what to cook? Click here for 65 kid-friendly recipes.

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