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4 challenging toddler eating habits and how to manage them

As every parent knows, toddlers are notorious for their unpredictable eating habits. One day they might devour a plate of broccoli, and the next day they might show no interest in it. This is entirely normal, but it can be challenging for parents. Here we highlight four of the most common challenging toddler habits and give advice on how to handle them. 

Saying no to the food you offer

Around the age of two, toddlers start to gain a sense of autonomy and along with that comes the desire to assert their independence and control. One common area where toddlers tend to assert their control is at mealtimes, by sometimes rejecting the food that you offer. 

Solution: Instead of just placing a plate of food in front of your toddler with their meal already served, sit down to eat as a family and put the serving dishes in the centre of the table. Give them the control of choosing two of the four types of food on offer. That allows your child to feel that they are part of the process, thus maintaining their sense of autonomy. Also explain to them why you have chosen the other two foods. Educating your child about healthy food choices from a young age will set them up to make better decisions around food when they are older. 

Refusing all veggies

A lot of veggies have strong flavours and unusual smells that can be off-putting for toddlers. However, eating a balanced diet is essential to help your child develop good eating habits, and vegetables are a key part of that. 

Solution: Don’t give up. Keep offering vegetables at mealtimes – often children need to taste a new food several times before they learn to enjoy it. You can also “disguise” vegetables by adding them to some of their favourite foods. You’ll find plenty of sneaky veggie-loaded recipes right here on the Squish website, like these Veggie-loaded Burgers, Veggie-packed Cottage Pie and Veg Mac and Cheese – there’s even a recipe for Sneaky Veg Waffles! All the recipes contain Squish 100% Vegetable Puree. Squish 100% Veg Purees make feeding fussy toddlers a lot easier. They’re available in a variety of flavours, contain no nasties like colourants, flavourants and preservatives, and come with a resealable lid so that you can use what you need then pop them in the fridge for later. 

More play time than mealtime

You know food should be savoured, but sometimes mealtimes with your little one seems more like play time and a lot of the food ends up on the floor. Here’s the truth, playing with and interacting with food and its different textures is a great learning experience for your child. Place their foods in front of them, protect their clothes with a good bib or by taking them off in the warmer months, and allow them to play, eat and explore. 

Solution: Toddlers love to mimic behaviour, so to ensure that they eat enough, eat with them! The chances of them eating are higher when others around them are doing it too. Once you are satisfied that they have eaten enough, allow them to explore and play – seeing as bath time is up next! It is important not to rush your toddler. If long suppers are delaying bath time or long breakfasts are making you late for work, try starting mealtime a little earlier. Remove all distractions, like toys and television, and learn to recognise when your child is full. 

Only eating “beige” foods

It isn’t unusual for toddlers to go through the phase of only eating beige-coloured food like crackers, bread, yoghurt, potatoes, pasta and rice. The reason is that these foods often have a more neutral flavour and are less scary for picky eaters. Frequently the more colourful the food, the more flavourful it is – and the taste might simply seem too intense for your little one. Beige foods are “safe” foods. 

Solution: Remember, this is just a phase, and it will pass. In the meantime, you can seek out nutrient-rich beige foods and add them to their plain meals. Spread hummus over a wrap, roll it up and cut it into pieces, steam some chicken breasts and serve with Squish 100% Veg Puree as a dip, or make this tasty Beany Dip and serve with crackers or pita for a more nutritious finger food supper.