Babies grow very quickly, but this growth slows down in the toddler years,^1,2 which parents will see reflected in their children’s decreased appetite. What you feed your child is changing, as well. In the first year, breast milk or formula was your child’s primary source of food and nutrients, but now at 18-24 months, he is capable of eating and enjoying a variety of solid foods.

Often toddlers don’t want to try new foods. This is quite common, and according to Queensland Health, they may reject a new food as many as 10-20 times before accepting it,¹ so don’t be discouraged! Try offering a new food with a food your child really loves, or serve it in a similar way.³ For example, if he likes blueberry muffins, make muffins with a different fruit or vegetable (e.g. zucchini or grated carrots). If he likes pizza, use it to introduce a variety of different nutritious and wholesome toppings.

Another winning strategy is to model how delicious new food is. At this age, children love to copy their parents and showing your child how good you think the food is will encourage him to take a bite.⁴ It may also help him feel like a “big kid” who is able to eat grown-up food like Mom and Dad.

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If your child struggles at mealtime, don’t bargain, negotiate, or threaten; this will only create a power struggle and set a precedent you don’t want!³ Instead, offer him a portion of all the healthy foods that are available at that meal, and let him decide what to eat, incorporating the other tips in this lesson.

Also try to introduce new foods early in the meal in appropriate portion sizes. Your toddler’s belly is still quite small, and if he begins to play with his food, it may not be defiance but a signal that he’s full. To avoid this, be sure not to serve any snacks within an hour or so of mealtime because “a hungrier kid is more willing to try something new.”⁴ However, be sure to supply him with regular, healthy snacks, preferably at set times, throughout the day to keep up his energy.^1,5

And don’t be alarmed if your child has a sudden boost in appetite, especially if it’s accompanied by more sleep. He may be going through a growth spurt, “a rapid rise in weight and height” that is not uncommon throughout childhood.⁶ Rest assured that growth spurts tend to last only a short time, and then your child should be back to himself. But do take this golden opportunity to offer him some new and interesting meals, as an increased appetite often leads to a greater willingness to try and accept new foods.

Do you feel that it’s difficult to prepare a well-balanced meal? Maybe you feel like there’s not enough time in the day or you don’t know where to begin. Here are some good online resources to help you get started:

• Kids Health: Recipes
• Kids Health: Snacks Tips for Toddlers
• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA): Choose My Plate (formerly, Food Pyramid) – Sample Menus and Recipes
• Oregon State University Extension Service: Healthy Recipes
• North Dakota State University Extension Service: Kids Cooking 101
• Clemson University Cooperative Extension: Healthy Eating Habits for Children
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Cook It Quick
• Weelicious: Recipes for Children and the Whole Family

Play Tips:

Do you want to know how you can support your child’s development of these Healthy Food and Eating skills at this age? It’s easy! Read on for some simple tips to incorporate into your daily play time together.

1. Involve your child in snack preparation. Show him how to set the table with a plate, cup, napkin, and any necessary utensils, and make this his job. You can also ask him to choose between two healthy snacks. These options can be placed in a bowl on the table, where he can serve himself. He will be more willing to participate in mealtime as he becomes more active in decision-making and doing things for himself.
2. Go shopping and cook together. Introduce your toddler to exciting, new foods by making him a part of the shopping and cooking experience. Visit the grocery store, local farmer’s market, or farm to experience foods in their most basic form as well as their final appearance on the plate. Allow your toddler to “help” you cook by stirring, forming, or pounding different foods in order to prepare them for eating. Your child is more likely to be experimental in his eating experience if he has a personal stake in the meal.

(SPECIAL OFFER: Sign up for Playful Bee’s Bee Well developmental learning program to give your baby the best start in life. The first 10,000 children enroll for FREE! Sign up today.)

Developmental Milestones:

Has your baby achieved the following Healthy Food and Eating developmental milestones yet? If yes, check off all the skill(s) she has already mastered to date using Playful Bee’s developmental milestones tracker. It’s absolutely FREE and easy to use, just click HERE!

• Exhibits stronger food preferences during mealtime.

Sources:

¹Queensland Health (2008). A Healthy Start in Life: A Nutrition Manual for Health Professionals. Queensland Health. Retrieved January 15, 2014, from www.health.qld.gov.au/ph/documents/saphs/hsil_full_doc.pdf.

²Gavin, Mary L. (2011). Nutrition Guide for Toddlers. Kids Health. Retrieved January 15, 2014, from http://kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_center/healthy_eating/toddler_food.html#.

⁴Mathews, Charity Curley (2012). How to Get Kids to Try New Foods (without Begging, Bribing, or Losing your Mind). Huffington Post: Parents. Retrieved January 15, 2014, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/charity-curley-mathews/kids-and-food_b_1778559.html.

³Gavin, Mary L. (2011). Toddlers at the Table: Avoiding Power Struggles. Kids Health. Retrieved January, 15, 2014 from http://kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_center/staying_fit/toddler_meals.html#.

⁵Gavin, Mary L. (2011). Feeding Your 1- to 2-Year-Old. Kids Health. Retrieved January 15, 2014, from http://kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_center/healthy_eating/feed12yr.html.

⁶BabyCenter (2012). Growth Spurts: What You Need to Know. BabyCenter. Retrieved January 15, 2014, from http://www.babycenter.com/0_growth-spurts-what-you-need-to-know_3658977.bc.

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Playful Bee

Education Team at Playful Bee

Playful Bee is an e-Preschool that delivers inquiry-based preschool learning from the classroom to your home. Our preschool curriculum was created by our talented team of rock star teachers. With years of hands-on preschool and Kindergarten teaching experience, they've developed a high-quality preschool experience that is convenient-to-use and easy-to-teach by you, grandparents, or your nanny at home.

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