Many toddlers are known to be picky eaters who will only eat a small number of foods and are resistant to trying new things. Despite this, Kids Health advises parents to continue offering healthy foods that a toddler can choose from. Healthy toddlers need to eat a nutritionally balanced diet that is low in junk food, soda and fast food so that they can grow. It may take some time, but perseverance often pays off for parents of toddlers.
Eat a Variety of Foods
To cover all the necessary vitamins and minerals a toddler's body needs, he should be eating foods from all the sections of the USDA food pyramid. This includes fruits, vegetables, lean protein, milk and whole grains. Parents who eat with their children have the opportunity to model good eating habits that kids will eventually pick up on. Offering several healthy choices gives toddlers some semblance of control over what they are going to eat, reports the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Parents who continue to offer a wide variety of healthy foods will find that at some point their toddler will start eating and enjoying them.
Stop Eating When Full
Many times parents or other caregivers overestimate how much a toddler can eat at one sitting. According to Kids Health, a couple tablespoons of each food being served is plenty for a child at this age. Allowing toddlers to decide when they are full is important because it teaches them that they don't have to finish everything on their plate, which can lead to issues with weight later in life. Parents are also advised to not negotiate a couple more bites because this teaches toddlers to keep eating even if they are full, which is an unhealthy habit to get into and one that is hard to break.
Avoid Junk Food
Obviously, during toddlerhood, it is the parents' responsibility to provide healthy food choices and limit junk food. Toddlers who regularly eat this kind of food are at a higher risk of becoming overweight, which can lead to obesity and diabetes. Additionally, Kids Health says that toddlers who eat large amounts of junk food are setting up their preferences for life, making it more difficult to get them to eat and enjoy healthy foods down the road. Foods to limit include cookies, cake, candy, soda, fast food, chips and sugary cereals. They are fine as a treat, but should not be given to a toddler every day.
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