Toddler Diet - Denver,CO

I've found, if you make food look fun, toddlers will eat just about anything! Here is the site I use for reference:

www.weelicious.com

I feed my daughter corn flakes every morning. Very healthy. You might want to rethink the cereal thing, as it's a great way to get vitamins and minerals, and, the ever so important, iron into their diet. You just have to pick the right kind of cereal.

I give my daughter a lot of peas and mixed veggies (frozen organize TJ).

You can't make your daughter eat anything. What you can do is put in front of her what you put in front of yourself. I only make one meal. I just came back from our block party, and one of the woman there kept asking me if she could get my 2 year old some applesauce. I told her "no, she will eat what we are eating." If my 2 year old doesn't eat, oh well. My job is to provide a health meal. I saw her munching on some pasta and broccoli. Perfectly acceptable in my mind --and much better than processed applesauce!

I try to provide a fruit at breakfast and lunch. I also give my daughter veggie sausage for breakfast. Loaded with lots of great things.

I wouldn't worry too much. Just keep offering her fruits and veggies. Especially at snack time. Instead of fruit snacks offer her raisins or other small pieces of fruit. Many kids love apple slices with peanut butter or some kind of dip. If she likes yogurt, try offering her plain yogurt with fruit mixed in, or cottage cheese (I use canned in pear juice, easy and not processed sugar - and tastes more like the real fruit). And veggie dip/ranch is okay, too, if it will get her to eat veggies (just use a very little bit). If she doesn't like cooked veggies, offer them raw.

And, of course, set the example by eating plenty of fruits and veggies yourself, for snack time and at meals. But mostly, don't overstress about it. I'm sure you've discovered that the more of an issue you make, the more resistant she becomes. Just offer fruit/veggies first, in small amounts, and then something else if she won't eat it.

Hi J.,

Our family rule is, the kids are served the same food as the adults. They also understand that if they don't like the food they are served, they don't have to finish it, but by no means will they be given anything else until the next meal. We have been unwavering on this, and as a result, our kids generally enjoy the same foods as we do. We eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. We talk all the time about what foods are healthy and what are unhealthy and what vitamins they have and what those vitamins do for our bodies. (It is one of our basic conversations when we are preparing food. It is easy to look up the info on the internet if I dont know). The kids understand that mac and cheese is yummy but not that healthy and so we only eat it once in a while.

I have found that my kids become more excited about fruits and vegetables if they assist in the grocery shopping, help in the basic food prep, if they have some choice in the matter (for instance "everyone needs to pick a fruit to go with their lunch" works well because 1 of the kids hates watermelon but likes plums, etc. And then the talking about nutrition. Also I have really enjoyed Bountiful Baskets (www.bountiful baskets.org) if it is available in your area. A HUGE basket of about $50 worth of produce is only $15. My kids enjoy picking up the basket of food with me and seeing what we are getting for the week, and then we have a ton of healthy food available and we are all more likely to eat healthy. Gardening would be another option. Good luck! I have to say, it is really nice to not have to make a seperate meal of "kid friendly" food for my kids, and it is never too late to change your family rules!

Make sure you offer the things you want her to eat with every meal. My first ate everything we fed her - and liked it! Number two was much more picky and number 3 is a nightmare (because of food allergies). My second daughter has been picky since she started solids, and only in the last year or so has she developed a taste for many of the things we eat on a regular basis. My 5 year old is still picky, but less so over time. We don't cook separate meals at dinner (although I either cook something he can eat or have changed our eating to things he is able to have). I always put a bite or two of whatever we are having on their plates, even when I know they "hate" it. If they eat it, fine. If not, there is nothing else to eat.

Breakfast and lunch are kid friendly food that they can fix thenselves or with minimal help, even my 5 year old can mix his own oatmeal and cook it with his sisters' help. They can all make a sandwich, and know that the leftovers in the fridge are fine to have for lunch.

I have also found that my kids will snack on fruit and veggies if I leave them out for them, it just has to be as easy as reaching for the pre-made, pre-packaged stuff. There is always yougurt available, and we only drink milk or water.

Be persistant in offering, but don't make food a battle, it's one of the few things a toddler has control of in their lives. Also remember to look at what they eat over several days, not just on a daily basis.

Hi--
Try mixing fruits with sweet veggies like carrots, or tasteless ones like zucchini and squash, into fruit smoothies. Try pureeing some veggies and mixing them into pasta sauce. Make pancakes with fruit in them--pumpkin is especially good in them. Try things like zucchini muffins, banana bread, etc. Don't give her a choice. If she gets hungry enough she'll eat what is in front of her.
Good luck!
J.

Multi-sensory learning is key to getting kids to eat more veggies. Once you minimize junk and processed foods, you can teach your child to like whole foods. Kids learn through all their senses, not just taste. I think you'll find this site helpful: www.BabyBites.info

I am sorry to say I don't have much advice, but I wanted to let you know that you are not alone. What you described is almost exactly the same as what I am going through with my 16 month old.

One thing my daughter loves is apples cut in the shape of fries like at Burger King. I make them for her at home, and she loves to eat them. She will also (on good occasions) eat sweet potato fries that we bake in our oven. The last way I can get her to eat her veggies is by mixing them in her mashed potatoes. That is the only way I can get her to eat meat, too. She won't eat ground beef, green beans, or carrots by themselves, but one of her favorite meals is mashed potatoes mixed with all of the above plus corn.

I hope you can get some good answers from other mommies, because I could use them, too! Good luck!

Perhaps you could add more veggies to her standard choices. Add finely diced veggies to the mac and cheese or the eggs and cheese, or to her pasta sauce. Maybe give the new offering a cool name so she will warm up to it. You could also make a vegetable gratin (bake with veggies with cheese; look up a baked cauliflower with cheese recipe, you could subsitute any veggie you like for cauliflower).

Fun looking food is appealing too.

Do you think she would like sliced tomatoes or carrots with lunch? I serve diced tomatoes and avacado with my son's eggs and he likes it.

Could you try making beef or chicken/turkey meatballs and freeing them? they would be just as easy to heat up as fish sticks or chicken nuggets.

When you grocery shop with her, describe the foods in the produce asile and ask her if there is anything new she would like to take home.

Also, let her see fruit and veggies on your plate. I think that will impact her choices, at least in the long term. Let her see color on your plate, even if it is just a few grapes or tomato slices. I think that what she sees you choose will leave an impression. And put fruits and veggies in front of her at each meal, even if she does not touch them; don't wait for her to ask for them, have them on her plate. I think you may already be doing that, but don't be discouraged!

Best wishes.

Our rule is the whole family eats the same thing. She'll eat it if she's hungry. If not, oh well. Our kids have chosen to go hungry on occasion, but not more than a handful of times. One thing that helped our youngest two was when we switched to a properly combined menu plan. They really started eating like there was no tomorrow then, and it's mostly fresh foods. Now my kids don't even like processed foods anymore. We use the GTNP.com plan. I think that's the website at least. It's Great Taste, No Pain. My husband and I and older son all feel so much better! And it's great to see my picky eaters filling up!

Why isn't she just eating what you eat? My son was eating tacos, mushrooms, pork tenderloin etc. by 13 months old. She is definitely old enough to eat what you are having. If she chooses not to eat, that is her choice. She may go hungry for a little while, but if you stay strong, she will cave in and eat what you want her to eat. Good luck!

Well you are certainly not alone. I also agree with feeding her what you eat, but that doesn't always work...at least in our house that mostly happens for dinner. Breakfast is sort of whatever everybody wants, it's not like I cook a breakfast meal for the family so it's naturally hodge-podge. Lunch is similar...it's kid food: mac and cheese, sandwiches, etc. But, for dinner, we do serve my daughter what we're eating with maybe an added yogurt or fruit for her and she either eats it or doesn't eat it. She will usually eat at least something and although it took many, many months, she will usually try or take a few bites of the main course and the other things. I think the key is to just present her with healthy options and let her choose. It sounds like she really doesn't eat that badly, especially if you're staying away from high sugar and processed foods. Also, have her help you pick out fruits and veggies from the store and help prepare them, my daughter is much more likely to eat it then! Good luck!