Feeding Tips for Toddlers
Encouraging your toddler to eat is often a power struggle. Toddlers are easily distracted and have trouble sitting still during meal time. They are just beginning to explore their world and exercise their independence in little ways. They may not have much freedom yet, but eating is one of the few things that they can control. Letting your toddler choose his food isn’t such a bad idea. It may even help both of you if your let him pick from healthy food choices.
Toddlers are defiant by nature. The harder you persuade them the more stubborn they will be. Punishing them will only make things worse. Instead of forcing your child to eat, you may want to try a more subtle approach. Toddlers are rebellious but this doesn’t mean they can’t be tricked. With some craftiness and persistence you can get your little rebel to eat. A little creativity would go a long way.
Most parents are wondering how toddlers can manage to last for a long time without going hungry. They never seem to starve even if they had just one decent meal the whole day. Depriving them of snacks won’t make them hungrier during meal time. The sad truth is that a toddler won’t eat something unless he likes it. A bowl of broccoli is still a bowl of broccoli. It doesn’t matter what time of day you serve it.
Amazingly, picky eaters manage to meet their energy requirements even with poor eating habits. Toddlers don’t need as much energy as adults do. The reason why most parents feel that their toddlers aren’t eating enough is that they overestimate the portions that their kids should be eating. An average toddler only needs around 1,300 calories in a day. Of course, this would still depend on the child’s activities.
Parents are encouraged to serve toddler-sized portions to encourage their child to eat. A whole cup of sliced carrots can overwhelm a toddler. Smaller portions are less intimidating. Try to include at least two tablespoons of vegetables in each meal. Cut fresh fruit, eggs and bread in half. Serve 1/3 cup of cereal or yogurt. In general, a toddler should be eating a quarter of what you would normally eat.
Never bribe your child with candy or small toys, nor should you threaten him with punishment. Yummy dessert is something to look forward to after meal time. However, this tactic would only work temporarily. Offering dessert as a reward for eating vegetables makes it seem like sweet treats are more valuable than the actual meal.
Set a good example for your child. Let your toddler sit with you at the dinner table. It’s good for a toddler to see his family eat a nutritious meal together. Educating your child about the benefits of healthy eating is important. Just make sure not to overdo it. Remember this the next time you catch yourself repeatedly praising your toddler for every bite of broccoli that he eats. This silly approach will probably make your toddler hate veggies even more.