How To Encourage Your Toddler To Eat
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Toddlers can be fickle creatures. The toddler who eats three helpings of mashed potatoes one day might decide the next day that mashed potatoes are absolutely yucky, and not even be willing to touch them. Other toddlers can be very picky about what it is that they eat, and refuse to eat the most health of foods altogether. Fortunately, there are things that you can do to encourage your toddler to eat.
One way to encourage your toddler to eat is to ask him to help you plan your weekly menu. After he does, take him with you to the grocery store to help pick out some of the foods. Let him pick between peaches or oranges. Let him choose between vegetable sticks or cheese cubes for his snacks. Find a new food, and talk with him about how fun it would be to try something new.
Toddlers are also more likely to eat something if they had a hand in making it. If possible, ask your toddler to be directly involved in the cooking. She might be able to mix up the instant potatoes, or to help to pour the sauce onto the spaghetti. Giving them ownership over a meal makes them proud of it, and they want everyone (including themselves) to enjoy it.
Sometimes, you might need to modify your meals to suit your toddler. If you are making a roast, for example, and know that your toddler won’t eat the meat, you can throw in some potatoes and carrots. To make sure that he is getting enough protein, offer to let him have some cottage cheese with the vegetables, as well. If all else fails, you can go back to a tried and true favorite, such as peanut butter and jelly.
In addition, you can help your toddler to eat healthy by having positive eating habits. This includes not eating in front of the TV, offering new foods, being relaxed at mealtime, and being a good role model yourself. If your toddler sees that you are eating healthy, she is more likely to want to eat healthy.
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