Some of the strategies used by parents of preschool and elementary school children in the U.S. to provide children with a balanced, nutritious diet may be failing, according to a poll by the University of Michigan CSMott Children’s Hospital.

The survey was based on the responses of 1,083 parents of children aged 3-10 across the country.

Three out of five parents adjust meals if their child doesn’t like what everyone else is eating and this often leads to a less healthy alternative. Also, one in eight parents pressure children to eat all the food on their plate. However, experts warn that parents trying to force children to eat can lead to overeating.

More than half of the participants said children should try a little of everything and less than a third they say no to dessert if the meal isn’t over.

At the same time, only a third of parents believe that the typical American diet is healthy, compared to half who seem to recognize the higher nutritional value of the Mediterranean diet. However, only 9% have tried the Mediterranean diet in children.

The biggest challenges parents face in trying to make sure their child gets a healthy diet are that the child is a picky eater, as well as the higher cost of healthy foods and food waste. 27% say their child doesn’t like healthy food and 12% say they don’t have time to prepare healthy food.

Almost all parents surveyed reported trying at least one strategy to get their child to eat vegetables, such as serving vegetables every day, making vegetables the way the child likes them, trying vegetables the child has never eaten before and let the children pick vegetables at the grocery store. Others involve children in preparing the vegetables, hide the vegetables in other foods, or offer a reward for eating vegetables.

The hospital’s pediatrician, Susan Woolford, points out that “the preschool and early school years are an important time for establishing healthy eating patterns. However, parents’ worry about whether their child is eating enough or getting the nutrients they need can lead them to adopt practices that actually sabotage their efforts to get children into healthy eating habits in the short and long term.”

Among other things it suggests that “instead of allowing the child to choose an alternative menu, parents should provide a balanced meal with at least one option that their child is usually willing to eat.” Even if the child chooses not to eat, “parents should not worry as this will not harm healthy children and they will be more likely to eat the options presented at the next meal.” Avoiding snacks between meals can also help children have more appetite and increase their willingness to eat the foods offered.

“Parents should try to include children in meal decisions, avoid pushing food consumption and provide a variety of healthy options at each meal so children feel more in control,” she adds.

Additionally, Ms Wolford points out that children learn through watching and imitating, so it is beneficial for parents to have a balanced diet as children’s eating habits and taste preferences mature.