Most toddlers go through a picky-eating stage, and with good reason. Not only is it very difficult for them to sit still long enough to eat a meal, their growth has slowed from the first year and they simply do not need as much food. There are some strategies that you can employ, however, to get as much nutrition into them as possible. If your toddler has a peanut allergy, you must take particular care when feeding him, as peanut allergies are usually severe and can cause life-threatening complications.
Peanut Allergy Cautions
Check the label on foods you purchase premade, such as crackers and bread. Do not serve the food to your toddler if it contains any nut or nut products, of if the label reads "may contain nuts," "produced on shared equipment with nuts or peanuts" or "produced in a facility that also processes nuts." With many baked goods, even though they do not contain peanuts as an ingredient, there is a real possibility of cross-contamination at the production plant. Although it is best for you to not have any nuts in the home, if you do choose to keep foods that contain peanuts, do not use the same utensils to spread jam on your toddler's toast, for instance, that you used previously to spread peanut butter.
Small Bites
Let your toddlers make their own choices at lunchtime. Offer them a variety of fresh food cut into small bites. Use cut-up fruit, vegetables, meats, mini meatballs, cheese and crackers. Make grazing fun by using a mini muffin pan, divided dish, hard-boiled eggs with the yolk removed or a variety of small bowls to serve the food. This mealtime method works particularly well with toddlers who are defiant eaters and use eating, or not eating, as a way to control the situation. Using the small-bites method, you are not taking control away from, but are simply giving them the choice to eat the foods that they want.
Shape It
Most kids can't resist food that looks fun to eat. Use a sharp knife or small cookie cutters to make shapes out of pancakes, waffles, sandwiches or slices of fruit. Serve the shapes on frozen-pop sticks for a lunch your toddler is sure to enjoy. Put pineapple stars and strawberries on one stick and meat and cheese hearts on another. For a fun sandwich, cut out eyes, nose and a mouth of just the top slice of bread for a peek-a-boo lunch. Experiment with 3-D shapes as well. Make mini turkey meatballs in various shapes, including cubes, pyramids and rectangles.
Make It Interactive
Although most toddlers are too young to cook, there are still ways to get them involved in the meal. Set out a variety of toppings and let your child make his own pizza creation, make meatloaf "cupcakes" and have your toddler "frost" them with mashed white and sweet potatoes or let him spread his own jelly on toast using a small spoon.
Make Every Bite Count
Pediatrician and author Dr. William Sears warns that toddlers are notorious binge eaters who may eat only vegetables one day, a day or two of fruits and then a few days of meats and cheese. Despite the fact that a healthy diet for a toddler should include 1,000 to 1,300 calories per day, he advises that you look at your toddler's nutrition and caloric intake on a weekly basis rather than daily. Because of toddlers' unbalanced eating habits, you should make every bite count. Work fruits and vegetables in whenever possible, by hiding them in casseroles, such as macaroni and cheese, in sauces or topping them with cheese. Make flavorful zucchini or carrot muffins, or add fruits to your toddler's pancakes or yogurt.
Drink It Up
If your toddler refuses to eat, let her drink her lunch instead. Blend a healthy smoothie using milk, Greek yogurt and fresh fruit for a nutritious lunch. Some baby formula manufacturers carry enriched drink products specifically designed for toddlers, and you can use those instead of milk in the smoothie to ensure the most robust lunch for your child.
