If your dinnertime ends up being a power struggle, there's one way to nip that in the bud: control. Let your child have control over what he puts on his plate.  But lest you think we're advocating special meals for every family member, here's the secret: take a master menu and offer everyone ways to personalize it.

Stir-Fry: Make a big bowl of rice and provide a range of vegetables and diced chicken, beef, seafood or tofu. You scramble up the choices and arrange on a platter, and everyone picks the assortment they prefer. You can serve Asian sauces on the side, or mixed into the combinations.

Potatoes: Baked potatoes are a canvas waiting for paint: low-fat cheese, corn, mushrooms, broccoli, salsa, chili and sour cream. When your child picks the toppings, he creates his own special meal!

Burritos, fajitas and tacos: Cook up a plateful of beef or chicken and lay out the bowls of refried beans, shredded cheese, salsa, lettuce and tomatoes.

Personal pizza: buy individual pizza crusts, shredded cheese and pasta sauce. From there, every family member can make their own super-supreme pizza. Offer a choice of toppings such as chopped ham, canned corn, pineapple, tomatoes, broccoli, peppers….and even pepperoni.

Published 08/07/09