Feeding Tiny Toddler Appetites While Avoiding Eating Issues

Your ravenous baby suddenly stops eating. Nothing interests her. She refuses to listen to cajoling or bribery. You fear she will starve to death.

First of all, understand that your child is not likely to starve to death. When your baby reaches toddler size, the growth spurt slows. The baby fat dwindles, and chunky babies become, eventually, leggy children. Anyway, that’s the goal. A toddler can go all week, and sometimes all month, on eating no more than a few nibbles at mealtimes.

Childhood obesity is one of largest health risks in our country. The good news is, you have the power to prevent it if you’re wise during this time.

Second, understand that your most important job during this time, is NOT to force your child to eat, but to insure that each nibble is made of good food.

Refrain from sweetened treats, drinks or salty snacks. They’ll have plenty of opportunity in the future to abuse their bodies with non-foods. Dessert can be a few bites of fruit. Note: Never offer your child diet soda. The jury is still out on whether or not diet sodas are beneficial to adults. This is not the time to risk your child’s health.

Four ounces of juice, a one-half cup serving, is enough for a whole day. If you want to offer your child more juice, start mixing the juice you serve half with water, and offer 2-ounce servings at two separate times.

Remember the importance of water!! Nothing works like water. Your baby should get used to the idea that the ideal beverage is water. (So should you!) Substituting soda or juice, or any sweetened beverage for water does NOT care for the body. Before offering the between-meal snack, make sure your toddler drinks at least four ounces of water first.

It’s all right to offer a snack between meals. The closer the snack is to natural, the better. By the way, natural means the way something grows in nature, meaning raw vegetables and slices of raw fruit (watch for choking). When serving a snack, look over the week so far. What foods has the child missed? Who says you can’t give your baby a few green beans, cooked carrots or steamed broccoli as a snack? You can expand this list with lightly cooked vegetables and whole grains such as a half a slice of whole wheat bread. Serving milk with whole grains makes a complete protein, so offer a couple of ounces of milk during snack time too.

Offer lots of vegetables. Don’t decide for the child what he likes. Give him a selection of several different kinds, and put no more than a teaspoonful of each food on his plate at any one time. The idea is to allow the child to decide whether what you have put on his plate is enough. Let the child ask for more of what he likes. Putting too much on a plate can be overwhelming to a toddler.

Eat what you fix. Don’t offer to fix something special just because your little darling says she doesn’t like what is on her plate. Children also need to learn that life will not cater to their whims, so don’t be your child’s slave. There will always be another meal. You can fix the specialty food then.

Understand, we are talking about little bits of food. Little ones have small stomachs. Think in terms of weekly, instead of daily, nutrition. During the week, your baby needs some protein, some starchy breads or vegetables, some lighter vegetables, some fruit and milk. You may offer these things at every meal, and let your child choose. The closer to no hassle you make meals, the fewer food problems you will have later in life.

The child’s plate should have at least two servings of vegetables (no more than one teaspoonful each until he asks for more), a few bites of protein such as some tuna or a few strips of baked chicken, something starchy like a handful Cheerios or bread cut into triangles, three ounces of milk to start, and a few slices of fruit for dessert.

After the child has tasted everything, note I did not say he has finished everything, then offer more of what he wants (of what you have fixed for this meal, of course). No need to make an issue of it. When the child demands more, if the child hasn’t at least tried everything, then explain why you’re waiting, and then follow through by waiting until he at least tastes what is in front of him. Remember, you are the adult. You are not your child’s servant. Good manners and good appetites go hand in hand.

Allow time for meals. A meal should be free from stress, and 20 to 30 minutes long. It should be a fun time, filled with lots of communication. We are social beings after all. Sharing meals is one of the best ways to share our lives.

Finally, learn to eat this way yourself, and you benefit as well, no middle-aged spread, and no obesity statistic in your home. You can make mealtime a win-win situation.

Bon appétit