Nutrientional Concern for Toddler

I would simply take the opportunity to re-teach good eating habits. Present a balanced meal, in very small portions so as not to overwhelm her, and if she doesn't eat it, she doesn't get anything else. She won't starve and she'll learn to eat the healthy meals you prepare when she learns there is no cookie or snack coming instead. Unless her pediatrician tells you she is underweight and medically needs her diet to be supplemented with Pediasure, don't use it. It's nutritionally balanced, but doesn't do anything to teach her the healthy eating habits she will need her whole life long. Good luck!

Hi there,
I read your post and wanted to respond... We all get into bad habits occasionally... I've done the same thing with too much snacking on things like animal crackers because they are easy and relatively innocuous... but then my toddler won't eat anything else and will ask for 'crackers' at every opportunity! What I've tried to do is replace one potentially bad thing with something I feel better about - in my case it's apples. I peel them and slice them and let him have as much as he will eat. After a couple of days of no crackers he's fine and has stopped asking for them. Now I try to reserve crackers for special occasions, so he won't expect them every day.
Good luck!
-H.

I would not try to change too much for a least a month. This move may be hard on her and you do not want to change things to much. I know that sometimes people do things that we do not agree with but we have to remember that they also do so much to help. Grandparents spoil kids. That is what they do. You can try keeping just healthy ready to eat foods at your new house and see how she does. tell her that at the end of every week you will take her to the cookie store to get one or two cookies. If she likes to eat several times a day and nit pick then let her. It is better for her. Big meals are not the best. Just have small amts of cut up fruit or veggies with dip for her to snack on. You can even make 2 really small dinner plates for her. One to eat at dinner and one to eat 1-2 hours later.

Be very very thankful to you in-laws for taking you'll in. They have altered their lives for the both of you. Maybe check with your Ped. Dr.

my two year old is constantly in the fridge, he eats all day long it seems. but sometimes he tries to be picky (i know better lol so it doesnt work) and ill play games with him to help him eat. its hard to get him to eat pork and so ill pretend im gonna eat it, then ill vroom a piece around and around and go ommm nom nom and make a little chatter with my teeth, hell usually eat it at this point- hes scarred mommy might eat something yummy that he doesnt get to. sometimes ketchup (non high fructose) will encourage him to eat, but if he just wont eat i wont make him eat. hell get hungry sooner or later and ill see him peek out of the kitchen with a bag of salad or a cucumber or something lol. i would put my foot down on the cookies though. once in a while is fine, dont get me wrong my son gets his gummy worms, but its not a replacement for food. its a treat. let her "graze" throughout the day on healthy items, if she prefers to just nibbble a little bit at a time. good luck

every bite counts!!! A toddler will eat what they need for the day in calories but won't over eat very much. If a child get all they need from "junk food" then they won't have room for anything good for them. If the food is not there to eat in the pantry or fridge it can't be a choice. You kind of have to ask yourself if you can see anyway to improve the nutritional value.

Pediasure is a formula for kids 1-10. My daughter has been using it since age 1.5 and at age 6 or so we switched to Carnation Instant Breakfast. The Pediasure is not cheap, but it is a complete meal replacement. My daughter initially had 3 per day, one for each meal and then just snacked. Now she still has one (actually the Carnation) every morning but eats regular meals for lunch and dinner. She is a really picky eater, does not like meat or veggies, mostly texture issues, so I like that she at least has a decent breakfast to start the day. Ask your pediatrician for a referral to a nutritionist. It depends on what your child is missing in her diet. My daughter was just getting too little calories. If she does take Pediasure you can stop giving her children's vitamins since the Pediasure is loaded with them already and you do not want to give her too many of some vitamins (others she will just pee out). Good luck with the dietary and relationship problems.

Toddlers tend to graze on foods rather than eat whole meals. Instead of giving her pediasure, why not slice up some fruits and veggies during non-meal hours for her to eat as a snack so she is able to get all of the vitamins and minerals that the pediasure is supposed to provide but in a more natural way. Also, having whole wheat crackers, cheese sticks, roasted chicken slices, cashews and whole grain cereal available for healthy snacks would be good as well. If you have healthy snacks out and available for her, then maybe her blood sugar will be stable and her nutritional needs will be met so, hopefully, she won't seek out a quick sugar fix that the cookie provides.

hi there, my son is a picky eater. I decided that until he becomes a good eater, I continue to present veggies and healthy foods in his plate but what can I do if he won't put it in his mouth, he eats very little and there are certain foods he likes, like brocolli and chicken cooked in certain ways, until he eats healthy, I've been making smoothies for him to make sure he has good nutrition in him, He eats rice, thank God and also angel hair pasta with red sauce cut up in little pieces, also mostly chicken, a little bit of pork and beef if it's really soft like filet mignon but the veggies he only eats brocolli. So I use the blender and I blend bananas, strawberries, cooked spinach, cooked carrots or sometimes with cooked yellow squash, all mixed with lots of ice and milk. The key is to put lots of bananas and strawberries so it overrules the veggie taste. I feel so good when he drinks it up, you cannot even taste the veggies in it, it's cheating but it's the only way I can get these nutrition in his body. My motive is to continue putting foods in his plate, vegies and all type of foods but I also make his smoothie everyday which he loves and which I love too. The smoothies are great because they are full of vitamins and you know you just made it so the vitamins are still all there for your daughter's intake. Good luck.