my 4 year old has developed a strange habit of eating what other children bring for lunch at school. how can i stop this? it is embarassing. i have spoken about it but can't see any change.

instead of scolding, ask your child what he would like to take for tiffin. that way, you will be giving your child's favourite food and chances are he will eat his own and not take from others. but if this is a habit, you will have to request the teacher to be a bit more observant and stop the child immediately, while you also will have to keep telling your child that this is not good. praise him the day he does not take from someone else's food.