16 Month Old Becoming Picky Eater

Hi
My daughter is 14 months and doing the same thing. Everyone says they will eat what they need to not be hungry so, I'm not worrying about it and she never seems to be too hungry. She tells me when she is and I just try and give her something healthy.
At daycare she eats everything she doesn't eat at home - I think they know they don't have other options and the teachers don't give in.
D.

Hi B.,

I am a mother of 3 grown children and I have recently become a Certified Holistic Health Coach. What veggies and fruits does your son love? Go with those and let him enjoy them. If he does not want the chicken or beef there are other protein options. Have you found that he has any food allergies? He is young will go through eating days and then days where he will not be very interested. If you can keep the veggies and fruits going it will be of great benefit through out his life. Fruits and veggies should be out main part of a meal and the beef and chicken should be the side dish. I hope this gives you some ideas. I wish you Health & Happiness.

B.
Holistic Inspirations

I feel your pain! My daughter was like that a couple of months ago (she's now 18 months.) It mainly is just a phase but we did find out later that she was cutting 3 teeth! Your son will still get everything he needs from the veggies and fruits and the occasional hot dog. He'll eat what his body needs. I just found out that my daughter likes the Morningstar burgers. Sure they're vegetarian but they've got the beans in there for protein. Also, at meals I've been keeping a small bowl of bread so if my daughter just wants bread and her veggies, she can have at it. Good luck! Don't fret too much because one day he'll wolf down a hotdog, a whole apple and half a cup of cheesy broccoli (that's what my lil' girl did!)

Hi B.,
It is not unusual for toddlers not to like the texture of meats. My oldest (now 14) didn't like meat until 4 or 5 years old - except for the hot dogs of course but they don't offer any real nutritional value and our ped told us he'd rather she eat no meat at all than hot dogs. Get yourself a book about vegetarian nutrition for young children so that you can be sure that she's getting enough protein without meat, and discuss with your doctor too. Also keep in mind that at this age, their portions may still be very small, their tummies are really little and a couple of tablespoons of each meal component may be a full serving for a one year old.

Welcome to the beginnings of independent (although not wholly rational) thinking.
My son is 26 months and has done the same thing since about 16-18 months. Food phases comes and go. He used to only eat veggies. Recently it has been only meat. Sometimes it is only hot dogs and watermelon. Keep at it. Deep down he still likes those varied foods. He will not starve, and sometimes he will eat a ton i am sure.
If you always offer him foods you feel good about, regardless if he eats a snack or a meal, a little or alot he will be getting the nutrition he needs. Just don't be tempted to spiral into a give him anything he wants system either. I think it is more of a game than a desire for a specific food like cookies or candy etc.
And in our house bribery works. Our oldest loves eating by (supervised) candlelight, he loves doing 'cheers' and likes putting salt and pepper and ketchup on his food. We now don't do any of those fun food rituals with out asking him to eat some of this or two bites of that. Carrots never get inhaled faster than when he asks for more milk. And keep in mind, just because he asks for more milk (or anything else for that matter) you don't have to give him a ton. That way if he drinks milk an ounce at a time and continually asks for another ounce, you can ask him to take more bites of food every time.
Good luck!

Hi B.!
My daughter is 16 mos, too - and going through a picky phase. In fact, I signed up for an online toddler guide that sent me an email this month with the heading, "Is your 16 moth old turning into a finicky eater?" - ha! So, it must be a pretty popular phase to go through at this age.
I deleted the article after reading it, but remember that they said it was part of them asserting their independence, also a popular teething month (as someone else mentioned here), etc. They said to relax and if our babies want to eat only Mac and Cheese for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for a few days, let them.
As for the nutritional gaps, make sure you give them a daily multi-vitamin (I give mine one with Iron) --- and Pedia-Sure helps! I find that my daughter will still drink her juices, Pedia-Sure, Milk, etc, even when she pushes all food away after a couple of bites.
As for daycare, just pack his current favorites. I was always suprised at how much more food my baby would go through at day care. First of all, the relationship with an outside care giver is different. Secondly, I was suprised at what new things she would eat! There are other kids eating different things at daycare and so she would often want to try what they were having. - Peer pressure begins (ha!)
Good luck!

Hello B.,

My son has always been a picky eater as well. Its funny but everything you mentioned that your son eats is what my son was only eating at some point as well (hot dogs, fruits, etc). Since I know my son loves fruits I gave him one day fruits and I placed a yogurt in a container--he loved dipping his fruit in the yogurt and then eating it. Every time he eats he wants to dip his food in a sauce. Another example I give him fries and little pieces of chicken with a dipping bowl full of ketchup and he eats it. Try this at home to see if he likes that. Also my son loves the Nutri grain bars filled with strawberry, since your son loves fruit he might like this as well-- and it's soft. I hope this helps and good luck.

Sincerely, J.

I have a two year old who is hopelessly picky. Yet he is just the right height and weight (50% percentile) so something is getting in there. From my own research, i learned that many picky eaters will actually love dairy and fruit, even vegetables, but often not meat. But 5-7 bites is actually quite a bit for a toddler (remember, for an adults, 5-7 bites is practically a serving -- it takes about that many bites to eat up 3 ounces of meat). From experience, I find that the more I fuss about his picky eating the worse I make the situation. Instead, I first make sure he gets adequate amounts of what he does like, such as dairy, fruits, and vegetables. I have also tried smoothies and homemade organic baked goods (where you can sneak in protein-rich flour and vegetables like shredded carrots) and that worked, albeit with variable success. Other sources of protein, such as beans, can be as just as beneficial as eating meat, so I give him lots of beans (and I've also taught him to excuse himself when he farts!). To get in the B-vitamins that meat contains, I tried dark green leafy vegetables, like spinach, pureed and mixed into milk based smoothies (believe it or not my son loves this). Finally, to get the additional iron, I still use iron-fortified cereals. So those are my strategies. I no longer fuss about how much or how little he is taking, and I think we are both happier (and he's gassier) for it! Good luck.

I am a mother of five ranging from ages 8 months to 8 years they all go through this, feed your child what the child will eat its only a phase dont worry mine would only eat cheese and crackers for a while .