Toddler on Bread, Crackers and Fruit Diet!

However you do it, get more protein into the diet! Children need more protein then anything else for brain and muscle development.

My son had a similar diet until about a week ago when he just decided to eat other things...(kids!) He is 16 months...I snuck veggies in a couple things...I made whole wheat pancakes (Hodgson Mills Whole Wheat Buttermilk mix) and then grated carrot and zucchini into it when it was in the pan - veggies only visible from the bottom and he loves them. I make extra and freeze they reheat really well.
Otherwise I found pizza and grilled cheese you can add stuff to. I made a homemade pizza with fresh tomato and frozen spinach and a bit of cheese - the cheese is the star plus the bread of the crust...homerun! Same with grilled cheese add veggies...
Also my son's new thing is dipping so I steam carrots and then make a dip of yogurt with some Mrs. Dash and he loves to dip and eat that.
Anyway, these are some ideas. But it sounds to me like although maybe in a rut, your son's diet is perfectly healthy. Good luck!

My daughter was the same way (she was off of formula by 12 months), she is now almost 4 years old and has a much wider range of things that she eats. I just kept offering those items and with dinner she had to take at least as many bites of veggies as she is old. It use to be that I had to bring her meals for her no matter where we went (out to eat, eating at families wherever) because she rarely would just eat what they had set out. Now we can go and she usually finds enough to eat no matter what is set out :)

Just keep offer something that is not "liked" and some day they will realize they like it. As your little one gets older I have found having them help in preparing the meal makes them feel involved and "in control" and more likely to try what is being made for the meal.

Cut back on the breastfeeding and try other things for him to eat. Fruit is good so are the other things you listed. Try different things for him to eat. The only way for him to try different things is for you to give him different things to eat. Try green beans,tomatoes,avacodos,corn,cheese sticks,baby carrots. The more you try now the better he will be to eat later on in life and be willing to try different things.

Well, first off you need to know what he needs. A good basic rule of thumb is to make sure that they're getting enough servings of carbs(grains/sugars), fruits AND veggies, dairy and proteins (which are often combined) in every WEEK. At this age you should be counting by week because children are fickle and some days are better than others. As long as the weekly intake is okay then your son is okay.

I always find that the protein is the most important item to pay attention to in my family. My kids will eat veggies, fruits and carbs all day long but balk at the proteins. I've noticed that kids that won't eat much in the meat department will still eat peanut butter. If you can get him eating a good, organic peanut butter then you've made a lot of progress. Not only does it have tons of protein, but it also has good fats which are essential for brain development. I think a toddler could live quite well on peanut butter whole wheat toast (always a favorite with my kids), grapes/bananas/apple slices, peas/carrots/green beans/broccoli, and string cheese. Most kids like these items well enough (the veggies usually have to be cooked until soft and dressed up a little) and it's pretty much a complete diet.

Don't be afraid to introduce new things and REQUIRE your LO to at least try it. We have a rule that everything put in front of them is to be tried, meaning they are to eat all of it the first time I give it to them. If they don't like it after trying it, then I will try to give them something else, but they also know that sometimes there is going to be no alternative in which case they have to eat what I give them. Even my almost 3yo knows and understands the rule. Don't be afraid to get tough. Kids that are given lots of choices and required to at least try everything once (don't force it after that) are proven to have healthier diets.

Best of luck!

Congrats on breast feeding that long! Keep up the good work! My 20 month old has a similar diet. I just keep offering different foods and every now and then he will decide to pick one up and eat it. I just put it on his tray and walk away to "do some work" so he thinks I'm not paying attention to him. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't! I've stopped buying all cookies and the only chips I have are sunchips (because I love them) so he doesn't have the option to eat junk food. Yogurt covered raisins have been a big hit the past few days.

Finger foods...open a can of peas and put them on a plate and let him have them, chicken fingers for toddlers, etc.

I have 3 boys (6 yrs, 4 yrs, and 2 yrs) They all have very different eating habits. The one pattern they seem to have consistently is that they will want the same menu of food for a while and want nothing else, then they get tired of it (sometimes a month later!) and move on to a new menu of wierd food :) I wouldn't worry as long as he's still eating and not losing weight. Wait a bit, see if he starts to change his menu. He may be like my boys!
Best of lUck,
Jen M.

uhh get him to eat more burek. can you make it with cheese, or meat, or do you just make it with spinach.
start taking the crackers out of his diet, and start introducing more thing.
i have to say though, your 21 mo old seems to eat better than my kids that age.
good luck

I had a really hard time at this age with food with my daughter. She went through a picky stage. I fixed it by limiting snacks. I found that if she was good and hungry for a meal I could get better variety of food down her.

I have the same problem. I have cooked carrots and brocolli and then pureed them, then put them in home made cheese sauce. Then I put it over a healthy pasta (not the whole wheat, but the high in omega 3 and fiber) and he eats it. Of course not all the time, but it has worked. He loves peanut butter, so he often has that. I have even dipped chicken nuggets in warm peanut butter to get him to eat them! I also bought cold milled golden flax seed. Big bag at Sam's Club for $10! Goes great in yogurt and healthy shakes. One more thing, I recently busted out my juicer and made carrot/orange juice....and he loved it......Good luck!