Toddlers are said to be the pickiest eaters. They are extremely curious and will get preoccupied at the slightest distraction. They are just beginning to explore their world and will attempt to gain independence in some aspects. They may not have control over a lot of things, but eating is one of the few activities that they have power over. Parents should give their kids a little freedom in choosing their food.
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 doesnt mean they cant be tricked. With some craftiness and persistence you can get your little rebel to eat. A little creativity would go a long way.
A lot of parents would agree that their toddlers arent eating enough. A toddler would eat one decent meal, and would pick on his other meals for the rest of the day. Nonetheless, they never seem to go hungry or run out of energy. Refusing to give them snacks wont work either. Unfortunately, toddlers wont eat something unless they want to. A bowl of green peas is still a bowl of green peas, no matter how you serve it.
Contrary to what most parents believe, toddlers are actually getting enough nutrition even with their bad eating habits. They dont need to eat as much as we do. Your child should be healthy as long as he is growing normally and is gaining weight. In general, toddlers only need 1,300 calories in a day. Parents often overestimate how much their child should be eating, which makes them think that their toddlers arent eating enough.
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.
Bribing your toddler with sweet treats or other small rewards is discouraged. Offering a piece of chocolate for every three tablespoons of carrots might work temporarily. However, this tactic only teaches your child the wrong values. Theres nothing wrong with serving a slice of chocolate cake after meals, but using this as a reward for eating well only creates the notion that the cake is more valuable than the meal itself.
Set a good example for your child. Let your toddler sit with you at the dinner table. Its 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.
Author Resource:
Leighonas Duforrific is the loving parent of two kids and loves writing about situations parents are usually faced with. Check out her JoJo Designs Ladybug Parade Collections or his Trend Lab Max four piece Crib Bedding Set
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