How to Feed Toddlers and Picky Eaters
Toddlers are said to be the pickiest eaters. They are extremely curious and will get preoccupied at the slightest distraction. They are just beginning to explore their world and will attempt to gain independence in some aspects. They may not have control over a lot of things, but eating is one of the few activities that they have power over. Parents should give their kids a little freedom in choosing their food.
Toddlers are opposing by nature. They will do the exact opposite of what you tell them to do. Forcing them to eat vegetables wont work. A diplomatic approach is a better idea. You can still let your child pick his own food without having to sacrifice nutrition. As parents, it is your job to present your toddler with healthy food choices. Getting your toddler to eat doesnt have to be a power struggle. You can get him to eat that bowl of green peas with a bit of craftiness and lots of patience.
A lot of parents would agree that their toddlers arent eating enough. A toddler would eat one decent meal, and would pick on his other meals for the rest of the day. Nonetheless, they never seem to go hungry or run out of energy. Refusing to give them snacks wont work either. Unfortunately, toddlers wont eat something unless they want to. A bowl of green peas is still a bowl of green peas, no matter how you serve it.
Surprisingly, most toddlers get enough nutrition from what they eat. Your child should be alright as long as he is gaining weight and developing normally. Toddlers dont need as much calories as we do. A daily caloric intake of around 1,300 should be enough for their age group. The reason why many parents are anxious about their toddlers diet is because they overestimate the amount of food that they should be eating.
You can get your toddler to eat during meals by serving right-sized portions. Cut regular servings in half or quarters. Ideally, your child should be able to consume at least a quarter of whatever you eat. Bread, fruit and eggs should be sliced in half before serving them to your toddler. Instead of serving him a whole bowl of cereal, try to give half-filled bowl instead. You can encourage him to try new kinds of food by offering a tablespoon first. Make sure he gets at least 2 tablespoons of vegetables in every meal.
Never bargain with your toddler by offering sweets as a reward for eating vegetables. You will both end up losing in the long run. You can probably get him to finish his vegetables by offering a cookie in return. Nonetheless, this tactic only works for the mean time. Bribing your child with dessert only teaches him the wrong values. Using dessert as a reward after meals shows your child that sweet treats are more valuable than the meal itself.
Let your child sit with you during meal time. This practice has been shown to impart proper eating habits on children. Your toddler will be encouraged to eat healthier food if he also sees you doing the same. Theres nothing wrong with emphasizing the benefits of eating vegetables. Just remember to keep it subtle. Showing excessive approval with every bite of veggies might lead your toddler to dislike them even more.
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Colby is the loving parent of two kids and loves writing about situations parents are usually faced with. Check out his Ladybug Parade Crib Bedding Collections or his Finley By Glenna Jean Sets and this Trend Lab Paisley Park 4 piece Crib Bedding Set .