Sometimes, it's best to let the kids take control - and it's never too early to instill positive eating habits or self-confidence in the kitchen.

Eating is one of the great pleasures of life.

Sleeping is one of the more private aspects of parenting; it happens in a quiet room, whereas eating is a more public aspect of parenting. Other people can see it and compare it to what their kids eat.

These kids had no confidence. They had very little self-esteem. We just wanted to give ourselves a chance early on, to give ourselves some confidence.

Projecting an air of self-assurance will take you a long way.

Ultimately, very few people parent their kids in ways that strike anybody else as reasoned, appropriate or sane.