Ideas to Help Eat Consistently

A lot of the problem is your daughter is 22 mos. Our 21 mo. old doesn't eat unprocessed meats, either, and is somewhat unpredictable as to when and how much he eats. It sounds to me like your daughter is doing well. Remember, the processed meats are much easier to chew, and they're not very good at that yet. Our ds just got his 2 yr molars last month, and that's pretty early. I know others who haven't gotten them until almost 3. As far as weight gain, our son drinks lots of whole milk. You can also add Carnation Instant Breakfast to it for added calories. We find our son eats significantly less if using the CIB, but gains a lot of weight. He also will eat a lot of jello when he's sick, which keeps him from losing weight, so I figure it probably helps him gain when he's healthy. Hope maybe this helps! We, too, struggle with the weight thing. I hope you daughter gains some soon!

No child eats consistently, hee hee. During growth spurts they can eat everything all day long, however during teething, not much at all. Keep offering her new things. She will not starve herself and don't just hand her the favorites or you will set yourself up for a long hard habit to break of picky eating. Try Gerber meats sticks, soft and yummy and they can hold them in their hands. My daughter did not like most meats other then that when she was a toddler. Also I would cook up ground turkey with mild seasons on it and put it on her high chair and she LOVED that. Try turkey hot dogs instead of hot dogs (they taste the same and less fat), well chopped up too.

Cut out fruits if she is eating too much, natural sugar isn't good either in excess. Try blueberries or cut up strawberries as those are super healthy. Instead try taking the corn off the cob of fresh cooked corn, green beans and my kids favorite was frozen peas (they still won't eat cooked peas but love them frozen). Just keep putting it out there, if she doesn't eat, get her down from the table, then just keep it handy if she seems hungry later. Continual exposure and not catering to her will help you a lot!

My daughter is 4, and those are still the only foods she eats! (Except the vegetables). When she was younger, I worried more, but the doctor told me that it is more important to look at the week, rather than the day, when you consider your toddler's diet. Some days they eat like pigs, other days they pick at their food like birds, and it will all even out. As long as she is getting some dairy and some protien, she's probably fine. She won't starve herself. My son is small too, and he eats a TON! He just has a fast metabolism (wish I did!!!). Maybe your daughter does too. I also think that the growth charts are a little off these days because of all the childhood obesity. Try not to worry--it sounds like she is eating pretty well for her age already!

I agree with the others. My kids were the same way at that age. It's important to focus on her growth and gain for her, not the charts. If she is healthy, has energy and is growing(even if it's not as fast as you'd like) I wouldn't worry. My daughter was really low on the charts at that age and her ped always told me someday she will just start eating and not to worry. Well, he was right. At 5 1/2, she is now a great eater and has evened out on the growth chart. Also, like the other poster said, those charts are based on an obese society. I think lower is better. I think as far as what you feed her, keep offering the healthy stuff and avoid processed food as much as you can. weight gain from that is bad gain. We kept mine on whole milk foods as well and stop fretting about quantity. Kids know how much they need instinctually. Good eating habits start now, so it's important that they listen to their bodies own cues and not our expectations HTH good luck!
A.

You say she doesn't eat consistently but that she is getting a good variety of fruits, veggies, grains, and dairy. Is she a snacker? Will she snack all day and then avoid eating at meal times? If that is the case, you may want to limit how often she snacks and make her wait until her next meal. That way she will be hungry when its time for lunch, or dinner.

Also bear in mind that it usually takes 10 or more tries with a new food before most kids will agree to eat it on their own.

Since your daughter is getting such a good variety of food, I don't think you have anything to worry about nutritionally. As for her not being on the weight charts, ask yourself these questions: Is she active? Alert? Plays well and frequently? Is she happy? Healthy? (Don't consider her weight when you ask that one.) As long as you can answer "yes" to those questions, then I honestly wouldn't worry if I were in your shoes.

If it bothers you, then ask your pediatrician. He will have some good advice that doesn't revolve around junk food.