You’ve worked for hours to prepare a meal your toddler will eat, still mortified that the Brussel sprouts from lunch ended up on the floor and the walls…and the ceiling. Don’t give up on your picky eater yet. You can make mealtime more enjoyable (for you and your tot).

Don’t be afraid to ask your toddler for help. Take him to the grocery store with you and let him pick out an item he would like, or allow him to help you put together a colorful meal in the kitchen. Involvement will make your child more engaged in the process, and more likely to try new things. Worrying about packing all essential nutrients in one meal is not necessary. Proper nutrients will even themselves out with various meals throughout the week. Being supportive of a creative and colorful meal also helps promote fruits and vegetables, which are missing in most diets. Fruits and vegetables also hold more fiber and allow your picky eater to feel satisfied, so he doesn’t feel the need to snack on junk food.

Take a moment to step outside of the box. Making homemade smoothies is an activity you can do together. Your toddler will feel a sense of pride in eating something she has helped create.  Also, making shapes with food stimulates creativity and entices your toddler to allow her palate to explore new foods. As suggested in “10 Tips for the Picky Eater” on ARBetterBeginnings.com, “creativity can be found by adding chopped broccoli or green peppers to spaghetti sauce, topping cereal with fruit slices, or mixing grated zucchini and carrots into casseroles and soups.” Additionally, the experts suggest that dessert should not be offered as a reward. Rewarding good eating with a dessert can label the sugar-filled foods as the most desirable.

Remember: Routine is an important part of your toddler’s growth. Ask your childcare provider when snack time is scheduled. Knowing when your toddler snacks during the week will avoid unnecessary stress on the weekends or days off. Avoiding distractions, eating “on the go” and not staying seated for the entire meal will help mold your toddler’s cooperation. Snack time and meal time should be in the same location. Differentiating snack time from play time will help prevent him from getting up during the meal. Make sure toys are put away and music and television are turned off, so attention is on the meal. Consistency will allow him to focus on the task at hand.

Introduce new foods gradually. To keep your toddler from feeling overwhelmed, include at least one of her favorite foods in each meal. The Baby Center suggests introducing new foods at a time when you know your toddler is hungry. Remember to be mindful of portion sizes, too. The Baby Center says, “A serving size for a toddler is about 1/4 of a single portion for an adult. A serving of meat for a 1-year-old is about the size of the palm of her hand, and a serving of vegetables is only about 1 or 2 tablespoons.” If she is on a routine of three meals per day with snacks in between, don’t be offended if she doesn’t finish all of her food. Toddlers are known for ‘grazing’ their foods throughout the day.

Take these simple steps and you may be able to avoid cleaning your toddler’s next meal off the ceiling. Then again, with toddlers, there are no guarantees!

Need additional help with mealtime and other toddler topics? Visit www.ARbetterbeginnings.com
and browse the Resource Library for tips on everything from brain development to choosing appropriate toys.