Dealing with Toddler Mealtime

SOME DAY, your child will sit calmly through mealtime—but for NOW, it’s FUSSY toddler versus whatever you’ve dished up. Children this age try to exert independence by fighting you at the kitchen table. They’ll refuse to eat certain foods, or insist on eating only one… and sometimes they don’t want to eat at all! While you may WANT to demand an empty plate, you should actually BACK down. You’ve done your job by supplying your toddler with NUTRITIOUS food. Her job is to decide how much to EAT. By now, her body tells her when she’s hungry and when she’s not. If she eats less at one meal, she’ll probably make up for it in another. If you FORCE her to eat, she may lose the ability to sense when she’s full. And that’s a key contributor to childhood obesity.  Also, don’t bargain or bribe—this will lead to messy power struggles. It’s also NOT a good idea to cater to your toddler’s culinary demands – making her a special bowl of spaghetti will only encourage picky eating. There are BETTER ways to subtly encourage healthy eating habits. If she doesn’t want to eat a new type of food, offer it again and again, but at different meals, as part of an array of options…as an accompaniment to more familiar fare…or slip it into meals in creative ways. It takes time for a toddler to warm up to new foods. Eventually, she may try it out! Involve your child in food preparation— let her wash VEGGIES, mix INGREDIENTS and open PACKAGES. She’ll feel more invested in the meal when it’s time to eat.  And keep your toddler’s MINIATURE stomach in mind -- serve SMALL food AND beverage portions. Larger portions are OVERWHELMING and can promote overeating. If she wants more, she’ll ASK for it. Finally, stick to a consistent routine—a toddler needs 3 meals a day with A COUPLE snacks in between. And…while you’re eating together, make sure YOU’RE having healthy foods, too—toddlers learn by example!