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7 toddler eating habits you DON’T need to worry about
Toddlers are strong-willed, opinionated and change their minds constantly – and their approach to eating is no different. But what is considered normal toddler eating behaviour and when should you be concerned? These 7 eating habits are commonly thought to be red flags but, most of the time, they’re nothing to worry about.
They have days when they eat a lot, and others when you wonder how they’ll survive on so little. You likely also have days when you feel ravenous, and those where you simply aren’t hungry – as long as your child has days when they eat a decent amount, this behaviour is not something to worry about.
They’re picky about the fruits and vegetables they eat. Fussy or picky eating is actually a normal developmental stage, especially in children between the ages of 2 and 4. It’s okay if they only like carrots and gem squash, however, it is important to keep exposing them to other vegetables, and different combinations of fruits and veggies – studies have shown that it may take between 10 and 15 exposures before a child will even agree to try a new food. Try Squish Apple, Potato + Sweetcorn 100% Fruit + Vegetable Puree, or Squish Apple, Beetroot + Guava 100% Fruit + Vegetable Puree as a convenient and fuss free way to try interesting flavour combinations.
They change their mind daily – or even from meal to meal. Just because a toddler liked strawberries at breakfast, that doesn’t mean they haven’t developed a full-on aversion to them come lunch time. It’s normal, and you can expect this to happen often over the next few years.
They have days when they refuse to eat anything other than yoghurt/toast/pasta (or whatever their current favourite food is). Rather than worrying that they’ve only eaten bread today, look at what they eat over the course of a week. So long as they’re taking in nutrients from the range of food groups, there’s no need to be concerned.
They eat a big breakfast, a normal-sized lunch and only pick at dinner (or the other way around). Rather than assessing how much they eat at individual meals, look at the day (or, even better, a week) as a whole to determine if they’ve taken in enough nutrients.
They want to eat what’s on your plate. Even if you’ve served up the exact same meal for both of you, your little one might decide they like the look of yours more. One way to encourage them to eat from their own plate is to serve the food family-style on the table, rather than dishing up in the kitchen and carrying plates to the table. That way, your little one can see that everyone is eating the same thing, and they’ll be able to choose what they want on their plate.
They are easily distracted. Expecting your toddler to sit still for the 25 or so minutes it takes the grown-ups to eat a meal is somewhat unrealistic – that feels like an eternity to a little one! It’s important to get them used to sitting down to eat as a family, even if you only manage to keep them engaged for 5 minutes.
Content created by www.babyyumyum.co.za and should not be considered a substitute for medical advice.