Toddlers can be notoriously picky when it comes to meals and snacks. Some are reluctant to try new things, while others prefer foods that are less than healthy. As a parent, it is your responsibility to make sure your toddler gets the proper nutrition every day. You may need to be sneaky or creative with food choices, but you can help your toddler explore new tastes and textures while introducing him to the world of healthy eating.
Breakfast
Your toddler should always eat breakfast. It gives her energy for the day and wards off crankiness from an empty stomach. Serve foods that are rich in protein and fiber. Eggs are ideal if your child is not allergic. Scrambled eggs are easy to eat, and you can chop up veggies to hide in them. Whole wheat pancakes are a good, fiber-rich alternative to white flour pancakes. Serve them with small pieces of soft fruit that your toddler likes, such as bananas or mango. Yogurt is a good source of dairy and nutrients, and apple sauce provides vitamins.
Lunch
If your toddler still takes an afternoon nap, lunch is usually a precursor. A “nibble tray” is a good way to get your child to try new foods at lunch, suggests Dr. Sears, Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine. Chop up small amounts of meats, cheeses, fruits and vegetables, and offer them with a variety of dipping sauces for your toddler to try. In a pinch, the old stand-by of a peanut butter and jelly on wheat bread sandwich offers plenty of protein.
Dinner
Dinner may become a power struggle between you and your toddler. You don’t want to become a short-order cook and get into the habit of making your toddler a separate meal, so find ways to adapt your food to suit his needs, suggests FamilyEducation.com. Offer meals that can be customized to each family member and their tastes, like tacos with a variety of toppings or mini pizzas. Cut things up into bite-sized pieces for your toddler. Institute a polite-bite rule: If your child doesn’t want to eat something, he must eat a polite, “No, thank you” bite before declining. This is a reasonable way to convince your child to try a little of something new.
Snacks
Snacks throughout the day keep your child’s blood-sugar levels stabilized, so she is calmer and less cranky, notes KidsHealth.org, a division of the Nemours Foundation. Because your toddler may prefer to “graze” while playing, choose portable snacks that can be eaten on the go. Yogurt tubes, chopped vegetables and crackers spread with cream cheese are healthy and filling options that can tide your toddler over until the next meal. Prepare snacks at the beginning of the week so they are readily available and you won’t find yourself scrambling for less-healthy options.
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Jae Ireland specializes in keyword research and internet marketing. Getting her start with a small internet marketing firm in 2005, she has since designed and written for well over twenty commercial and informational websites. Her areas of interest and expertise include fashion, parenting, home improvement and health and fitness.
