Getting Your Toddler to Eat Healthy
6:00 AM Posted by Jolly Mom
Lucas is only 15 months old, but I have had on and off food battles with him. Sometimes he eats a lot...like more than his dad...and sometimes I can barely get a bite into him. One day, he loves his veggies and hates chicken. The other...well, you get the idea! I'm sure I am not the only mom who goes through these food battles so here are some tips I have picked up over time on how to get your toddler to eat healthy.
1. If your child is still a baby, then begin healthful eating now. This is the most opportune time to begin good eating habits. Feed your baby a variety of healthy foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables.
2. Teach your children to eat healthy by showing them that you eat healthy too. Grab a piece of fruit or a veggie and enjoy it in front of them. Tell them how good it tastes. Offer them a bite.
3. Pretend you are a sales person and "sell" healthy food to your kids. For example, tell your child that when they finish their lunch or dinner you have a delicious treat for them. Serve them a piece of fruit.
4. Keep offering rejected foods to your child. Set it on their plate or tray along with another option. If they reject it, do not stress out and DEFINITELY do not react to it. However, if your child does take a bite, then give him/her a lot of praise.
5. Hide fruits and vegetables into other foods. Grate carrots or other veggies into a pasta sauce. Grate apples into meatloaf.
6. Be creative with the foods you serve. Think outside of how you would normally eat a certain food. My son hated creamed spinach, but loves spinach nuggets.
7. Don't assume your child won't like a certain food. I thought Lucas would hate olives (because I hate them), but he loves them. He also loves onions, peppers, chick peas, lettuce, and many other things I never thought a toddler would like.
8. Limit convenience foods as much as possible. Make your own "lunchables". They will be less processed if your buy your own block of cheese and cube, etc. Try healthier convenience foods such as cinnamon rice cakes, yogurt covered fruit, or raisins as "sweet treats".
9. If all else fails, a little bribery won't hurt either-LOL! Of course, this option can only be used sparingly!
Truthfully, some days NONE of these things work at all and I just have to take a deep breath and know that it is ok. Lucas is healthy and growing really well. If he doesn't eat as healthy as I would like today, we try again tomorrow. I have read that you should look at your child's weekly meals to gauge whether he/she is meeting their nutritional requirements.
If your child is not eating enough then try to avoid these common mistakes:
1. Drinking more than 16-24 ounces of milk each day.
2. Drinking more than 4-6 ounces of juice each day.
3. Letting your child fill up on sweets and snacks.
4. Forcing your child to eat when he isn't hungry.
5. Giving servings that are too big. The average toddler serving is going to be about 1/4 of an adult serving size. Don't go by the serving size listed on nutrition labels, as these are mainly for older children and adults.
Click here for toddler friendly snacks and meals.
November 20, 2008 7:44 AM
I let Keegan graze. I dont count on him to have three meals and 2 snacks. It's an all day process. Also, since Keegan doesn't have "normal" growth spurts I assume he doesn't need to eat a lot during those periods like other children do. Keeg is just a slooooow, steady grower. Anyways, great tips! Many moms worry a lot about their toddlers eating habits!
November 20, 2008 8:13 AM
Great tips! Thanks!
November 20, 2008 9:00 AM
Piera - can you stop by and check my Buzzworthy Blog Scrolling Marquee. Do you prefer that or the one who scroll by hand? (That one is on the WAY bottom to the left... I didnt delete it yet...cant decide...)
November 20, 2008 9:02 AM
Wonderful post!! I want to echo what you said about offering them food again and again and again, for they just may start eating it on the 11th try!...If I had stopped offering certain foods when it wasn't a hit right away...I am quite sure that they would only be eating 1 or 2 types of food right now..variety is definitely key!
November 20, 2008 9:57 AM
Very true. It's also true that the appetite wanes if they're not on a growth spurt. Our philosophy is that a child has never starved when there is healthy food available. She gets the same meals as we do (all healthy) and what she eats, she eats. I thought she was the only one who liked olives!(I hate them too!) I'm glad to know there are other toddlers out there who like them too... does he like hot sauce as well? (I swear Peanut gets her taste buds from her dad.)
November 20, 2008 10:27 AM
These are great tips. It is so hard for me not to stress out when my son doesn't eat. I am getting a little better but I am still working on it.
November 20, 2008 7:17 PM
This is a wonderful post Piera! I love all of the wonderful advice! I also have to say again thank you for the spinach nugget post because those things are wonderful! BTW .. that is such a wonderful picture of Lucas!
November 21, 2008 8:06 AM
If I win that Exergen I am giving it to you! LOL! I LOVE IT! You really deserve one too! Super easy to use! And if Felicia and I both have one, you should too!
November 21, 2008 10:01 AM
This is a great post! Thanks for the tips!
November 21, 2008 10:44 PM
I have tweens and teens who are eating me out of house and home - Any suggestions for that? :)
BUT, I had to stop and comment and tell you how utterly GORGEOUS your little one is in this picture. I miss having babies. Sigh.
November 21, 2008 11:28 PM
Eating seems to be a battle still and my son is 4, I try not to worry about it anymore. Thanks for all the tips!
November 22, 2008 12:46 AM
Excellent tips!!! :)
I'm pretty lucky -- even though my little Diva can't sleep through the night, she has yet to turn her nose up at ANY food item. I'm the picky one in our family, while she's the one scarfing down spinach and cauliflower!
Thanks for stopping by -- I do think it might be her teeth. I noticed today that it looks as though all four of her canines are trying to break though. Sigh.
November 23, 2008 11:55 AM
I still have trouble with my son over vegetables, and he's 16 now! My daughter, on the other hand, now 17, has always loved vegetables, even ones I don't!
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November 24, 2008 10:02 PM
I have a 15 month old son as well and sometimes it's harder trying to get him to eat than it is for me to find time to eat. I think you have some great tips though, you really seem to know your stuff for only being a first time mom. I'm a mom to 4 and sometimes I don't even know which way is up! Great post!