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Picky Eaters
Tips on Pleasing Picky Toddler Palates
By Carma Haley Shoemaker
Once you recognize the reason behind your child's picky eating habits, you can approach the situation differently. "My daughter was a wonderful eater as a baby," says Sheri White, a mom from Frederick, Md. "Once she turned 3 that changed. She wouldn't eat anything I cooked, and dinnertime became a battleground. Unfortunately, I didn't really know anything about control issues and only now realize it was her way of trying to control what she could. Now, I offer her things she likes as well as things she needs, but I offer them in fun ways and with no pressure."
It's tough when you're concerned that your child's nutrition may be lacking, says Pieper. "But instead of turning the dinner table into a battleground, simply give the child a vitamin everyday," she says. "Whatever the child's favorite character, there is probably a vitamin out there in that character's shape. Children's vitamins are a good choice to supplement the diet and will ensure the child is getting essential nutrients."
Parents may have unacceptable expectations as to how much a toddler should eat. "A 2 1/2-year-old is rarely hungry the way a grownup is hungry," says Pieper. "They are rarely hungry on a three-meal-a-day schedule. If they run around, they get hungry; if they are growing, they get hungry. We recommend for a toddler that parents not have the expectation that the child is going to eat on their schedule. It's not developmentally correct."
Want to see more?
- Toddler Nutrition: Building a Healthy Relationship with Food
- The Challenge of Feeding Your Toddler
- How do we meet our toddler's nutritional needs when he's so picky?
- Join the discussion on our Family.com community!
- Take a Dip! Mealtime Options for Toddlers
- Toddlers That Just Won't Eat: Handling Picky Eaters, Light Eaters and Appetite Slumps
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