Steve McDonagh and Dan Smith deliver plenty of helpings of great fun and fabulous food on their Food Network show, "Party Line with the Hearty Boys." They've also built a Chicago cooking empire that is a bright spot in the Windy City.

1. Know when to give up--The Hearty Boys defer to their pediatrician's wise words of wisdom on this one:  Is he drinking milk? Then he's not going to die.
2. Don't open with your best line--If you're aiming for your child to eat meatloaf for dinner, offer him a few meaningless scraps first. Let him say yes or no, giving him the feeling of power and choice, and then bring out your best stuff.
3. Watch how other people feed him--It might be hard to hear, but your child may eat much better for Grandma or Uncle Bob or Nelly the Nanny. If what they're doing works, then follow their same method to the madness. The consistency at all meals could help everyone out!