My 1 1/2 yr old won't eat dinner even when he is hungry, how do I get him to eat?

My son will act like he is starving but when I sit him at the diner table he only plays with his food and won't eat it. I serve things I know he likes and he still won't eat. I have also tried letting him eat at his favorite child table and refuses to eat and even throws his utensils and plate. How do I make sure he gets the proper nutrition while teaching him to eat his dinner?