Toddlers and food

We know its frustrating you spend time cooking something wonderful and your toddler refuses it or worse still launches it at a wall. Sometimes it can be difficult to get your toddler to eat but it is a fact that after the first birthday, your toddler’s growth slows down so they needs less food. Their appetite and the amounts of food eaten will vary from meal to meal and from day to day.

As a rough guide a toddlers aged 1 to 2 years can eat only about 1/4 to 1/2 of an adult portion. It’s better to offer small servings and let your child ask for more. Remember that appetite can vary a lot from child to child. Your child may appear to eat well at one meal and eat refuse at the next. Don’t make an issue of it. Children are good judges of the amounts of food they need. Try to bear in mind that all you can do is offer health food you can not force them to eat.

It a good idea to give two to three (healthy if you can snacks) during the day, along with their meals as they only has small stomachs and can not eat a lot a one time. Milk and fruit juice are good snack choices, but these foods are naturally sweet and should not be served too often throughout the day. If your child drinks too much, they may not want to eat solid foods. If they refuse to eat respect your child’s wishes, even if they have eaten nothing. They will eventually eat they won’t let themselves go hungry it’s not a rebellion they are more than likely just not hungry. Take the food away after a reasonable amount of time or attempts at feeding them. It is good not that it is an issue, as paying attention to not eating reinforces the behaviour of not eating.

Their food likes and dislikes will change over time. A food refused today may be eaten next week. It is thought to take up to 10 tries for your child to actually accept a food. If you wish to introduce a new food try to serve it with one they already know and like, try not to force them if they refuse just try again at another time. It is quite common for a toddler to only eat one type of food try not to make an issue of it, just keep trying to add other foods to the one they like they will come round it just takes time. Try to make sure each days meals are balanced so that they get a health mix of fruit, veg, meat, fish and dairy. It is better to get into a routine and feed a toddler up at the table, if possible a quiet room i.e. no telly, as they are very easily distracted and a telly tubby is much more interesting than a meal, its good to eat with them as they will learn from watching you.