![]() ![]() Keep in touch with your doctor if you're worried that your child isn't gaining enough weight, but don't convey your concerns to your child. Your toddler won't grow at nearly the same rate she did in her first year of life. Children don't always grow at a steady pace and there will be times when your child doesn't seem to be growing at all. How can I tell whether my child is really getting enough to eat if she's not growing?ĭon't panic if it seems like your toddler isn't growing fast enough. If you still don't think your toddler is eating well, ask your doctor whether it makes sense to give him a daily multivitamin. Studies from the American Dietetic Association show that children – even those whose parents consider them picky eaters – generally consume a wide enough variety of foods to meet their nutritional requirements. Start keeping a record of what he eats and you'll probably find that he's hitting all the major food groups and getting the necessary nutrients over the course of a week. If your toddler seems to be eating nothing but cheese and crackers for days on end, don't worry. Forcing your toddler to try new foods will only make him more stubborn and less open to trying new things in the future. That's because forcing a toddler to eat a food he doesn't like or a quantity he can't handle may set him up for problems later on: Children who aren't allowed to make food decisions themselves (such as deciding when they're full) are at a greater risk for becoming obese later in life. "A child needs to be in control of what he eats," says Nancy Hudson, a registered dietitian at the University of California, Berkeley. But for now, your toddler's decision to eat only a few things is his choice, and it's important to let him learn to make his own decisions about food from the get-go. In the long run, the example you set by serving and enjoying all sorts of healthy foods – at home and on the go – is one of the best ways to help your child learn to eat well. It's not realistic to expect a toddler to embrace a wide range of foods. How can I get my toddler to eat a wider variety of foods? If a sibling is running around nearby or a cartoon beckons from across the room, your toddler may lose interest in the food being served. You want to develop her sense of culinary adventure, not her sweet tooth! Resist the urge to offer sugary foods in an effort to get your toddler to eat more.Add some wheat germ or diced chicken to her macaroni casserole, pureed vegetables like carrots or spinach to pasta sauce, and little chunks of fruit to her favorite cereal, for example. Look for ways to boost the nutritional value of the dishes your toddler enjoys.Likewise, some children may reject a food because it reminds them of a time when they were sick or because they have some other negative association with it. That's why a child might claim to dislike a food she has never even tried. Some simply won't like the texture, color, or taste of certain foods. Understand that some children's palates are more sensitive than others.A serving of meat for a 1-year-old is about the size of the palm of her hand, and a serving of vegetables is only about 1 or 2 tablespoons. A serving size for a toddler is about 1/4 of a single portion for an adult. Try to schedule a new food when you know your child is hungry – a snack of mango slices when she has the afternoon munchies, for example.Always include at least one thing you know your toddler likes at each meal. Instead of an entire meal of unfamiliar foods, for example, offer standard fare or favorites along with something new. Introduce new foods one at a time and in small amounts.Make sure the food you choose is age-appropriate. When you offer a new food, simply place it on your child's highchair tray without making a big deal about it. Serve a variety of good foods for your toddler to eat at each meal.Making sure your child has set meal and snack times will help ensure she's eating when she's hungry and lessen the chance she'll snack too much. Doctors say that most often picky eaters are "grazers" – that is, kids who eat small amounts of food throughout the day. Structure your child's eating so that she has three regular meals a day and two healthy snacks in between meals. ![]() Here are some specific tips on how to handle a picky eater: The best thing you can do is to provide plenty of healthy choices in a positive, relaxed environment so that mealtimes will be enjoyable for everyone. Your child has an innate sense of how much food her body needs to grow and be healthy, and it's up to her to decide what she's going to eat. Tips for introducing new foods to a picky eater ![]()
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