Ask Debbie - hot dog dilemma By Deb Cohen Special to Reminder Publications Editor's Note: These monthly columns on parenting issues are written by Deb Cohen, associate director of the Early Childhood Program at the Springfield Jewish Community Center. She holds a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education. Send your questions to Dcohen@springfieldjcc.org and look for the answer here. Dear Debbie, My son Andrew is three and a half. He is a wonderful little guy to be around until it is time to eat. If I even suggest eating something other than hot dogs, he goes crazy. Every mealtime is a battle. I generally just give in and give him hot dogs, even for breakfast! Help! "Hotdog" Mama Dear Hotdog, Have no fear, "Food Jag" is here. It is very common for young children to get stuck on one food. This is generally known as a food jag and will not last for long. Most doctors feel that food jags are temporary and will not harm a child's nutritional status. (Perhaps if you take out stock in The Hebrew National Hotdog Company, Andrew will quickly be onto something else.) Let's just make sure that Andrew has the opportunity to see and taste a variety of foods. Giving Andrew the job as assistant chef might also encourage him to try new foods. Help him prepare simple meals that include a variety of tastes and textures. Small portions are best for children: especially since we Americans tend to oversize everything, be careful. Ask everyone at the table to try all the different foods, but never force anyone to eat something distasteful to them or insist they become members of the "Clean Your Plate Club." Remember that even adults reject certain foods, so do not be surprised by the food choices your children make. Children's taste buds are more sensitive to flavors than adults' so something adults find tasty a child might not. With that in mind, try not to make a big deal about a rejected food. If we have allowed them the choice of whether or not to eat a particular food they may be more willing to try it in the future. As the child gets older a food that was refused may become a favorite. Meanwhile let's celebrate the coming of Summer with a few hotdogs on the grill. I'll bring the potato salad and chips! Until next time be well, Deb The Springfield Jewish Community Center is a constituent agency of the Jewish Federation of Greater Springfield and of the Community United Way of Pioneer Valley.