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Home › Articles › Toddler Nutrition › Square Meals

Square Meals

Do Kids Need Three Square Meals a Day?

By Donna Smith

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Stephens is adamant about not skipping meals, and gets gentle reminders from her daughter. "Without even realizing it, my 2-year-old reminds me on occasion just why I try to be diligent with their diets," she says. "Her vocabulary is developed enough that she can tell me if she is hungry, yet there are times she becomes extremely irritable and I realize she just needs to eat. Blood sugar levels can really play havoc with our bodies, even if our stomachs are not growling!"

And don't be afraid to try new foods! "Children are very influenced by the foods eaten by the people around them," O'Shea says. "In fact, we are all born with an apprehension for new foods ... in fact, if you think about it, adults demonstrate this too – for example trying a new ethnic cuisine." Introducing new foods in a positive way can lead to a child that eats a complex, exciting diet.

But be patient; it can take several times for a child to accept a new food. "If a child doesn't like a food the first time, introduce it again – it can take several times before it is something they are willing to try," O'Shea says. "Also, remember that nonverbal cues have a big impact. For example, if you tell your child he must eat his squash, but you won't eat it or turn your nose up at it, it will have an unwelcome result."

"I hope to instill lifelong healthy eating habits by setting limits and good examples for my children," Stephens says. "In a society ridden with obesity and general unhealthiness (all too often self-inflicted), I can think of few greater gifts than the self-respect to properly care for the bodies we have been given to fulfill our life purpose."

Round Table on Vitamins

Francis M. Berg, a licensed nutritionist, family wellness specialist and author of Underage and Overweight: America's Childhood Obesity Epidemic (Hatherleigh Press, 2004), answers your vitamin questions.

Q. Do children really need supplements at all? And what about the ones available with extras (iron, vitamin C, etc.)?

A. This will depend on the child's overall diet and the advice of your healthcare provider. For the infant, iron, fluoride or vitamin D may be included with vitamin drops. The child with a healthy balanced diet, eating sufficiently of all five food groups (bread and cereals, vegetables, fruit, meat and alternates, milk) probably does not need vitamin and mineral supplements at all. Real food is far superior to supplements, and the American Dietetic Association reminds us that a child's meals and snacks will supply all the vitamins and other nutrients that active growing children need. If your child has feeding problems, avoids an entire food group or you are concerned about his or her diet, talk with your doctor or registered dietitian.

Q. At what age should a child go from drops to chewables, and then chewables to pills that are swallowed whole?

A. This is a developmental issue – some children will be able to chew a vitamin pill earlier than others, and later to swallow it whole. Don't rush it. And be sure to store pills out of reach of children, and explain that they are not candy, even if they look and taste like it. Look for a childproof cap.


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