Feeding toddlers and preschoolers can be a problem for
parents. To toddlers it is often something they want to be in
control of. Toddlers' appetites naturally decrease during the
second year of life. They are not growing as much and they don't
need as much to eat. At the same time they are learning to try
different foods, some of which they won't like. Toddlers can be
worried by too many changes and like to keep to the few things
they know well. They are also learning that they are separate
individuals from their parents and it is important for them to
show that they are starting to learn to think for themselves by
saying "No". As well as all this the world is becoming
a very exciting place and there are lots more interesting things
to do than eat!
It is important not to get into battles with toddlers about
food and eating. This can only make life miserable for everyone.
ALERT!
Do not give toddlers hard foods such as nuts or raw carrot and apple where pieces could
break off and cause choking. Choking can also happen with snack foods like
popcorn and corn chips, whole or halved grapes, raisins or sultanas, seeds and
hard lollies.
WHAT PARENTS CAN DO
No healthy children will starve or be undernourished if they
have access to a variety of wholesome food. If you are really
worried about what your toddler eats, keep a chart for a week and
write down everything he eats. You will probably be surprised,
but if you are in doubt, check it at your local child health
centre. If your child eats very poorly, a vitamin supplement
could be useful. Regular checks for height and weight at your
local child health centre will be helpful to monitor their growth
and development.
WHAT TO FEED
TODDLERS
Try to see that children are offered foods from the four food
groups each day.
- Young children need fat in their diet for energy. Do not
give low fat foods to under five year olds. Use whole
milk, not reduced fat types. Soy milk is not recommended
for toddlers, but if you do use it, use the calcium
enriched variety.
- Young children may not be able to cope with a lot of
fibre. High fibre food or a lot of fruit juice may cause
diarrhoea.
- Avoid having salty or sugary snacks in the house as they
spoil the appetite for more healthy foods.
- Children don't mind having the same thing over and over.
In fact toddlers like it. We get sick of eating the same
foods day after day, but some toddlers prefer this and
will only eat 2 or 3 foods for weeks at a time. This is
quite normal and won't last forever. In fact usually by
the time they are in primary school children will try
anything, especially at friends' homes.
FUSSY EATERS
Toddlers have small stomachs so they do not need large servings of food.
- Provide a range of nutritious food.
- Leave small healthy snacks where your toddler can help herself.
- It is better not to have unhealthy snack foods (especially snacks like biscuits, soft
drinks and sweets) in the house. This will prevent toddlers being tempted.
- Avoid cordials and too much fruit juice as these are high in sugar and take away the
appetite for other foods.
- Allow children to help prepare the meal. It takes longer but encourages interest in the
food.
- Keep mealtime serves of food small and allow children to ask for more.
- Don't use dessert as a bribe to eat the rest of the meal. This makes dessert too
special. If you do have desserts make sure they are nutritious such as fruit or milk
puddings. Give small serves.
- Sometimes offer children a choice of foods.
- Remove uneaten food without comment.
- Having a friend over for a meal often encourages the toddler to eat.
- Sometimes vary where you serve the food. For example at the toddler's own table in the
playhouse, or a picnic in the garden or serve a meal where the food is put on plates in
the centre of the table and everyone helps themselves to what they want.
- Sometimes it is possible for toddlers to help grow vegetables in a window box or small
area of the garden.
- Give your toddler the main part of her evening meal early (around 4.30) so she is not
too tired to eat. She can still have a small portion of dessert with the family later if
you like to eat together. A cold meal such as meat, bread and fruit or salad is equally
nutritious. Raw grated vegetables are just as healthy as cooked. Or you could freeze part
of the evening meal from the day before and reheat it for the toddler.
- Just because a child does not like a new food at first, does not mean she will always
dislike it. The average number of times a child tries a new food before accepting it is
10!
- Do not ever try to force a toddler to eat. It can cause choking. Adults would not
like to be forced to eat food that they don't like, or feel like eating.
- Keep a relaxed eating environment and leave the eating up to the toddler.
Note: Learning to feed themselves
is often a messy business for toddlers. If you don't like mess,
put newspaper on the floor and a big feeder or bib on the
toddler. The more practice they get in doing it for themselves,
the quicker they will learn to feed themselves well.
SNACKS
Active young children don't like to sit still for long and may
do better with several small meals rather than just three larger
ones. Healthy snacks are a great idea. Here are some suggestions
for snacks or lunches.
- Pieces of fresh fruit and vegetables (be careful of hard
bits of food that could break off and cause choking) -
grate raw carrot, apple etc.
- Dried fruit.
- Cheese cubes or sticks.
- Dry biscuits (unsalted) with creamed or cottage cheese,
or peanut paste or a little vegemite.
- Bread or toast with spreads.
- Iceblocks made from freezing fruit or pure fruit juices
(whole bananas freeze well).
- Hard boiled eggs.
- Yoghurt.
- Home made biscuits. You can use little fat or sugar, no
salt and add wholemeal flour, rolled oats, diced or fresh
fruit, grated vegetables.
- Do not give nuts to toddlers.
DRIED FRUIT
- Any small round object like sultanas and other whole small dried fruits may cause
choking in the first years of life. They also contain a concentrated form of sugar, which
sticks to the teeth and may promote decay. Hence they are
not ideal snack foods for young children.
- Dried fruit is safe to give chopped up and/or softened by cooking (eg in a cake) at any
age when the child can
manage the texture of the cake or whatever the fruit is in.
EGGS
- Eggs are a good source of protein, energy and other nutrients so are an excellent food
for toddlers.
- It is fine for toddlers to have an egg each day if they like them. One a day should be
enough though.
- In an attempt to provide a balanced diet, it is best of offer a range
of different foods, even though many toddlers are fussy about what they eat and will only accept
a few types of food.
DRINKS
- Water is the best drink for thirst. Always have plenty of
water available and show your toddler that you enjoy
drinking it too.
- Fruit juices (unsweetened) are good but expensive. 1-2
glasses a day are plenty. Toddlers should not have more
than this. Fruit juice can be diluted with water. Avoid
fruit juice drinks, they contain a lot of sugar.
- Full cream milk is a good source of nutrition but limit
it to about 600 mls a day so there is room for other
foods.
VEGETARIAN DIETS
If your family does not eat meat your child can get good
nutrition from other foods.
- Milk, cheese and eggs are excellent sources of animal
protein.
- Dried beans and peas, seeds and nuts give vegetable
protein. (Grind nuts into a paste for children under 5
years.)
- When vegetable protein is eaten with whole grain cereals
you get a complete protein (which is as good as
animal protein). It contains all the building blocks your
body needs. Examples are soy beans with brown rice, or
wholemeal bread with peanut paste.
- Include plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables in your
diet.
- If you are a Vegan and don't eat any animal foods
(milk, cheese, eggs etc) it is harder to meet all your
child's food needs. Vitamin B12 will be missing and is
essential for growth and development, especially of the
nervous system. You need to give supplements of Vitamin
B12 to your child. (Some soy bean products have Vitamin
B12 added.)
It can be hard for young children on a vegan diet to get
enough calcium, iron and protein for healthy growth. It is wise
to check with a dietitian.
TRADITIONAL DIETS
Various ethnic groups have traditional diets, which are
usually balanced and healthy as long as natural and fresh foods
are used and you don't substitute too many highly refined western
foods.
REMINDERS
- Healthy children will not starve if they have access to a
balance of nutritious food.
- Children, like adults, need to be able to choose what
they want to eat and how much (within reason).
- If you don't have snack foods and soft drinks in the
house, your child will not fill up on them.
- Young children have small stomachs. They need to eat
less, and more often.
- Don't try to force your children to eat or punish them
for not eating.
- Don't let mealtimes become a battlefield. Food is to be
enjoyed.
