Like many mothers, Smita Srivastava has a child who is a picky eater. But the Indian housewife has gone to greater lengths than most to entice her four-year-old, Nandika, to the dinner table...

The 31-year-old full-time mum transforms plates of food into colourful animals, people and pictures to liven up meal times. Last year she started a blog, Little Food Junction, which has become a hit and inspiration to other mothers.

The mane attraction - a lion made from pineapple and apple slices takes pride of place on the dinner table. Mrs Srivastava says: "I'm a sucker for cute food and pretty stuff, and I find it works its charm on the most stubborn of kids."

This ballerina looks good enough to pirou-eat. Mrs Srivastava also rustles up seasonal creations, such as edible candles for Diwali (India's festival of lights), Christmas trees, Easter bunnies and snowmen.

Get your jaws round that! A meal with lots of bite, this shark was made from bread, carrot, cucumber and olive. Mrs Srivastava wakes at 0400 each day to fix breakfast and lunch boxes for her husband and daughter at their home in the Delhi suburb of Noida.

Mother and daughter make up stories as they design their platters. At playschool, Nandika's lunch is the star attraction. "My entire class and teachers clap each time my lunchbox is opened," says the youngster.

Airplane food - Mrs Srivastava's culinary creations soared to new heights with this winged rice dish. "It's rewarding to feed and keep your children happy," she says.

Wheely tasty - Mrs Srivastava's mouth-watering cars made from braided rolls, radish slices and gherkins would surely drive even the fussiest eater to the dinner table.

Open wide for the choo-choo! Some bread, cheese, carrot slices and pickled gherkin were used to create this locomotive. The Srivastava family is vegetarian and avoid processed foods, artificial flavouring and colouring.