Feeding young children healthy food is often met with resistance -- or worse, a temper tantrum. Kids have different nutritional needs during growth stages, so we can't take refusals to eat personally. Understanding how our children view the world and how much they need to eat, as well as a becoming sneaky or creative cooks, can help us give them the nutrients they need to grow properly.
Feeding Toddlers
As he grows into a toddler, your child might become a pickier eater. The toddler stage of development emphasizes exploration and movement; toddlers don't sit still for long. Meals may seem more like snacks, which is normal, according to FamilyDoctor.org. You child may demand one particular food repetitively then suddenly refuse to eat it. Feed him what he wants, but also offer a few other choices to encourage him to try new foods. Avoid forcing him to eat new items; it may take several tries until he tastes a new food. Talk to your pediatrician if you feel your child is not receiving adequate nutrition or if you think illness may be cause him to not eat.
Embrace Nibblers
To tempt on-the-go kids to eat or try a healthy variety of foods, assemble a "nibble tray" with bite-sized portions of colorful and nutritious foods.Cut cheese into blocks they can build with, and slice apples to resemble moons or other shapes. Use playful names and offer foods you know they like. Dips -- like cottage cheese, berry spreads, yogurt and peanut butter -- can also encourage your child to eat more fruits and vegetables. By allowing your child to snack nutritiously throughout the day, blood sugar crashes and subsequent emotional meltdowns can be avoided.
Portions and Hunger
As a general rule of thumb, your child's stomach is the size of her fist. Serving sizes are also determined by age. A child should eat 1 tbsp. of each kind of food for each year of age. For example, 2 tbsp. equals one serving for a 2-year-old. Place a slightly smaller portion on your child's plate and allow her to eat all of it before offering more to reward her hunger. If she isn't hungry, avoid a battle by not forcing her to eat. Try to make up for nutritional deficits at the next meal. Ask your pediatrician how many calories per week your child needs to continue to grow. Aiming for weekly, rather than daily, goals may be less stressful for everyone.
Be Creative and Sneaky
Camouflage and disguise foods by spreading dips or slices of cheese over vegetables. Grate vegetables like zucchini and carrots as well as fruits into sauces, macaroni, casseroles, muffins or pancakes. Turn food into artwork and allow your child to play with his food. Create stories and faces with fruits and vegetables to encourage eating. Plan a play date with a healthy eater. Kids respond to peer pressure, so invite one of your child's friends that you know eats well to lunch or dinner. His influence might help your child try new items like peas or hummus.
Member Comments