With my older son who's now seven, consistent discipline worked well for undesirable behaviors like hitting and kicking. I simply make sure he understands that it's not acceptable by firmly telling him to stop and explaining why he shouldn't hit/kick, and then redirecting his attention. Timeouts also helped to calm him down and reflect on his actions when he gets really worked up.
For food throwing, I involved him in the cooking process and meal prep, so he became more interested in eating his creations - a subtle way of teaching him not to waste food! Now that he's older, we also use a points/sticker reward system for good behavior, which motivates him.
With the younger one, distraction is a useful tool - totally different approach, but it helps me avoid tantrums! I just redirect his attention to other things or start a fun activity when I see the signs of a potential melt-down. As for biting, he only bit once, and a firm 'no' with a serious tone was enough to convey the message. He hasn't done it since.
