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Expert Q&A

	By Allison Gamble Nutritionist/Diet Technician Highland Park Hospital, Illinois

My toddler won't eat anything we give him -- not even McDonald's. He eats afew bites, than says he is done. I know it is just a phase, but how do we meet his nutritional needs when he won't eat?

When a child eats too little or too much, it can be very frustratingforthe parents. Per Ellyn Satter M.S., R.D., an expert in children'snutrition,she recommends the following:

• Assess the situation. Is your child growing at a normal rate? If yourchild is growing at a normal rate for him, even if it is slower, it doesn'talways indicate a problem.
• Your child may not need a lot of food at this stage.
• Assess your child's eating habits. Are they filling up between mealsonhigh calorie juices or junk food? (However, it is important to offernutritious snacks in between meals because they aren't generally able to eata lot at regular meal times.)
• Are your meal times pleasant? Avoid scolding your children atmealtimes,or trying to control their food intake with bribes, threats, etc. This willcreate a poor relationship with your child and food.
• Keep offering a wide variety of foods to your child. Allow yourchild todecide what and how much to eat. Children have small stomachs and know howmuch they need!
• Offer easy to chew and swallow foods
• Are you cooking too low in fat? Preparing heart healthy meals isimportant, but not as important as creating a healthy relationship betweenyour child and food.

You are probably right. Your son is going through a phase. So, it isimportant to keep offering a wide variety of foods that look appetizing toyour son. Eventually he will want more food, when he needs it. Going outofyour way to prepare or get special foods is not necessary. Keep offeringthesame foods you and your husband are eating. Otherwise, you are setting up aprecedent that your son controls the meal times. Toddlers need parents toset boundaries. You provide the foods, and your child decides what and howmuch to eat of the foods offered.

Of course, if his weight gain and growth seem interrupted by his disinterestin food, then you need to take him to his physician. Otherwise, be patientand supportive, and the problem will take care of itself.

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