If your toddler is a picky eater, you’re aware of how challenging this can be. After the rapid growth of infancy, a toddler’s appetite will slow down, usually around age 1. Also, toddlers developfood preferences around this age, and it’s here when a toddler might start being a picky eater. A favorite food one daymight become something to bawl at the next day. Try not to get frustrated, as this is typical toddler behavior. Also, make sure you’re not making any of the mistakes below, as you could be exacerbating the problem.
#1: Setting A Bad Example
The best thing you can do to get your kids to eat well is to eat well yourself. Kids, especially toddlers, love mirroring everything they see adults do. When they see you enjoying various nutritious foods, they’re more likely to try these. Parents who don’t care about diet, binge on junk foods, and avoid vegetablesare likely to have toddlers who’ll do the same thing.
The Fix: Take a look at how you eat. Are you sending a positive message to your little ones?
#2: Bribing Kids
We’ve all heard something like this at the dinner table: ”Eat your broccoli if you want ice cream later.” This sends the wrong message to your little ones, reinforcing the idea that broccoli is punishment and ice cream is a reward.
The Fix: Avoid labelling food items as good or bad. Do not offer dessert as a treat for eating veggies and fruits. Instead, offer cold-pressed organic smoothies as a dessert after mealtimes. You can also serve these while you’re on the go.
#3: Force Feeding
This is one of the most common mistakes that almost all parents are guilty of making. Applying too much pressure and forcing your kid to eat when they aren’t hungry is likely to backfire. Doing this also makes mealtimes confrontational, and you may cause your little one to dislike both the food and the experience.
The Fix: Try not to make a big fuss when your little one refuses to eat. There may be times when your toddler is genuinely not hungry. Once they are hungry, offer them freshly prepared food with a positive attitude.
#4: Insisting On A Clean Plate
Most of us are accustomed to the idea that we should finish our plates. Very often, parents of toddlers give larger portions than necessary. Also, toddlers love snacking between meals, so they’re likely to fill up faster.
The Fix: You can use this rule of thumb to get the right serving size for your toddler. Aim to provide 1 tablespoon of food for each year your child has been alive. For example, if your little one is two years old, they should receive 2 tablespoons of vegetables, 2 tablespoons of proteins, and 2 tablespoons of carbs. Instead of focusing on a clean plate, encourage them to eat till they’re full. This will help them understand their hunger signals as they grow up.
#5: Serving The Wrong Foods
Generally, snacks like cookies, chips, candy bars, and cereal are loaded with sugar, salt, and other high-fat, high-calorie ingredients. These foods do not provide the proper nourishment little ones need to grow. Snacking too much on these foods can make a child lose their appetite for healthy foods, and soon enough they’ll be a picky eater.
The Fix: Plan balanced and healthy meals for your kids. See that each meal includes veggies, fruits, whole grains, proteins, and dairy. Check out organic baby food brands that’ll provide wholesome foods for your little one.
By avoiding these common feeding mistakes, you can help your toddler grow into a confident, school-age kid who’s willing to experiment with different food groups and eat right.