Great advice from the first post. I don't think your friend is abusive at all. I agree that you should never get stressed about food - only gently encourage and if he still refuses then let it go. Like the first post said hunger goes through peaks and valleys. He should be seeing his pediatrician regularly and they should be charting his weight and growth, usually comparing him to others his age. The less she stresses the better his attitude will be toward food. She should just offer 3 meals daily with nutritous snacks in between and gentle encouragement, never forcing.