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Home › Articles › Toddler Nutrition › Feeding Issues With Toddlers

Feeding Issues With Toddlers

Is My Toddler Getting Proper Nutrition?

By Melinda Copp

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4. My toddler won't eat red meat.
Ever see your little one chew a piece of meat and then spit it out? Or simply chuck it off the tray? Toddlers tend to avoid red meat because they have trouble chewing it up.

"Toddler's have one-third the jaw strength of an adult," Meyers says. Softer meats are good alternatives, such as fish, hamburger and high quality lunchmeats. Hard to chew red meats and other foods also pose choking hazards for toddlers.

"Never serve anything larger than a dime," Meyers says. Be sure to cut your toddler's food into small, manageable pieces and never leave your child unattended while he's eating.

5. My toddler prefers junk food.
If your toddler is a junk food junkie, then you should take a look at your own eating habits. You may offer your little one apple slices, but if you're eating a chocolate chip cookie, your toddler will see the difference and want to try your snack.

"Kids model their parents," Dr. Shubin says. "If you eat junk, that's what they'll want."

Use this as an opportunity to strengthen your healthy eating habits and keep plenty of fresh fruit, cheese and whole-wheat crackers in the house.

"If you're going to eat junk, do it when your toddler isn't looking," Dr. Shubin says.

Toddlerhood is a fun stage in life, so don't spend too much time wrapped up in nutrition concerns. As a parent, do your part by offering healthy foods to your child and modeling proper eating habits. And trust that over time, even the pickiest of eaters will get a balanced diet.


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