Meal Suggestions for a 21 Month Old

Hi E.,

From what I've understood all these years, just relax and continue feeding her what she likes. She is still very young and in time will want to experiment with other tastes. Give her a daily vitamin so you know she is getting everything she needs, and she'll be just fine. The important thing is not to make dinner time stressful for her or you.

From my experience, do not use the "clean plate club" this can lead to eating disorders. I did the same thing with my first daughter she is now 13 and has a weight problem. From doing this when she was little it expanded her stomach. Her doctor explained it to me as her stomach is like a balloon and when she eats and gets full it expands then when she get hungry she will want to fill up again. With my other 2 daughters 11 and 6, I let them graze and they are at the correct weight for their age and height. I would introduce new foods along with what she likes but, just give her less of her usual food. Also, my brother was a "Picky" eater and when my mom took him into the doctor she found out he had food allergies that was why he did not eat what was given. Ask your childs doctor about being tested for food allergies.

Hello E., I raised 3 kids who are now all grown and on their own. I had a rule in our house starting very young. There was always dessert, a small amount, but only for those who ate their meals. We didn't snack in between meals at all, so if they "chose" not to eat, that was their choice. Guess what, when the next meal came around they were hungry enought to eat most anything. Each one did try to hold out for a couple of days, but as their doctor told me, no child has ever starved themselves to death. When they are hungry they will eat most anything. Just hang in there instead of giving in. Stick to your rules without bending at all. Even when away from home. Once your daughter knows that this is the way life is she will exept it without a fight. Good luck.

Both of my daughters went through periods where they would only eat certain things and I thought the same thing. I spoke with her Dr, did some research and as long as she is getting enough milk (for the calcium) and protien (PB, milk, yogurt), cereal also has good vitamins in it and maybe get her a multi vitamin (my daughters love those gummy bear ones cuz they think they are getting candy and not a gross vitamin). But she will grow out of it, just start putting diff things on her plate, dont say anything or push cuz then she will most likely not eat it, just put it there and then make sure you are eating the same thing and causually say how good it is. It worked for my 2, after a bit they started eating more things and now they eat everything, they occasionally get stuck in a rut where they want the same thing for a week again though and we just go with it.

Hi E.,
A couple of things that I have done is have them help me make the meal and let them eat off my plate. It's amazing to me that if I have them help make a pizza with lots of veggies they will eat all of it. They love to help out. I would get a step stool (if you don't have one) and have her "help" you. You could have her wash veggies or something else age appropiate. I don't know about your daughter but my kids love to pick off my plate. It doesn't usually matter what's on it. So if I want them to try something or eat a little bit more of something, I'll offer it off my plate. That works more for my 2 year old opposed to my almost 5 year old. Both of my kids are GREAT eaters so I don't have many issues though. Good luck. Hope I was some help.
Chris

There is nothing wrong with the food you are giving her. They all have protein. Do your best to keep things as homemade as possible so it's not overly processed but other than that it's not like she only eats fast food. My kids always want what I have so sit down in the living room and throughly enjoy a new food item and see if she wants a bite. Here's a website that has great nutritional information www.wholesomebabyfood.com
Don't worry who said we always need variety in food all the time.

-M.

I am lucky to have a 4 year old who will eat pretty much anything except potatos and cereal. But here are a few suggestions, the most important thing is that she eat healthy foods and get enough variety to ensure she gets all the vitamins she needs. Yogurt is a great food as are cereal and bananas and peanut butter. Spagetti isn't bad either. Mac N cheese is overly processed (but still a favorite in my house). I would try to introduce a new veggie or fruit along with something she will eat. Give her a smaller portion of her favorite and tell her she can have more once she eats the fruit/veggie/whatever.

A few favorites are my house are corn on the cob (she should be able to hold and eat with some help); watermelon; cantelope, pineapple, green beans, peas (are easy to mix into the mac and cheese too), carrots (give her some ranch and let her dip), cucumbers (also good for dipping).

E.,
From what I see from your daughters menu, she is getting carbohydrates, protein, dairy, some fruit and veggie. Sounds like a pretty complete diet. Don't worry about it, your daughter will go through these phases. My son is 23 and I remember when he would eat nothing but ham and cheese sandwiches for breakfast, baked potato with cheese for lunch and pick at dinner.
As long as she is getting sufficient fluids and calories she will be fine.
Don't sweat the small stuff.

My two year old is tall and skinny and eats really well. On occasion she will get picky so I give her cheese and crackers which she devours. I use healthy crackers (Kashi) small chunks of cheese, pieces of cucumber, tomato and whatever fruit I have at hand. The plate is colorful and healthy and she is able to eat everything by hand - she usually eats it all.

My son has always liked making smoothies...He could pick which fruit he wanted and help put it in, push the buttons, etc. I always use frozen fruit, a single size serving of vanilla yogurt, some milk, and a dash of flax seed. I also discovered that if it was a food that could have food coloring put in it, he'd eat it if he got to pick the color! MMMMmmmm...blue cottage cheese!

My daughter went thru that phase around 17-20 months. I think the key is to keep trying new things, and to try them a couple of times. Don't give up on a food because she won't eat it one time. If you keep offering something to her, she's eventually going to eat it, or you'll know that its truly something she doesn't like the taste of.

Another thought...one thing that my daughter totally falls for is the trick of what's on MY plate. If I'm eating, my daughter wants to eat too, and she wants to eat exactly what I'm eating. I've gotten her to eat healthy foods (like broccoli) this way. I'll give her her own plate and I'll sit down with mine...she sees its different, points to my plate, and says Mommy I want that. Knowing that she is like this, I PURPOSEFULLY put extra vegetables & other things I want her to eat on my plate so that she will want it. It doesn't work on all kids, but it worked on mine!

I've just recently had this problem (It went on for a full month..and at the end my son wasn't eating ANYTHING unless it was M&C or PBJ.. god help us), so I brought it up at my sons doctor visit, and the doctor told me essentially.. Giving them Pbj or mac and cheese is fine, but only one per day, and essentially making it about the foods that are really good for them. If they don't want to eat it, put it away, and bring it back out next time they're hungry. She said to only give 4oz of milk with meals, No more than 16 oz of milk a day, No Juice, No snacks. It might seem like they'll never eat, but they won't starve themselves, and will eventually try the new foods, or old foods they used to eat regularly again.

After about 5 or 6 days of cranky hungry child only eating nibbles here or there, He finally broke down and started to eat what I gave him.. then it was like he'd never stopped.. he wants to eat CONSTANTLY now. It was torture to get to this point, but well worth it in the end, now that he's getting all the vitamins he should be again, and isn't so anti everything on his plate it opens up a lot more meal possibilities.

It helped us to get some of the Gerber Graduates Ravioli.. for some reason, they struck him as delicious again, after almost a year of having no interest in anything "baby" foodish.

Kids do funny things with eating as they go through developmental stages. Don't make a power struggle or discipline opportunity out of it. Just let her eat what she will. It'll pass. Believe me, she won't eat like this when she goes to college.

Make her food look fun - cut hot dogs into spider shapes, make eggs and bacon into a smiley face...etc. There are a ton of books you can find with great ideas like that. Also, you might want to try The Sneaky Chef - it will help her get some veggies in without even realizing it. Good Luck!

Have you tried mixing other foods in with mac and cheese or putting a tablespoon of mac and cheese and a tablespoon of something else on her plate. Tell her she needs to eat everything on her plate before she gets seconds. Also, I talk to my daughter about being 2...so she needs to eat 2 bites of "such and such" before she gets more of her favorites. As long as you keep introducing new tastes I don't think there's anything wrong with her eating her favorites as long as she's getting enough nutrition. Her favorites will change...

Let her pick something out. She may pick lasagna v. spaghhetti, but it's different. Also emphaize always trying things. She doesn't have to like it, just try it. And have healthy snacks available as well.

E.,

I have a 23 month old who is in that same phase. He use to eat everything I gave him. Now its PBJ, Mac N Cheese, Grilled Cheese or Dino Nuggets.
Thankfully he loves fruit so I give him a ton. The Mac N Cheese is either Amy's or homemade and I add canned tomatoes to it. PBJ is with natural PB and reduced sugar jelly from Trader Joe's.

I am finding he wants to eat on his own - no cutting of food. He will eat an apple if I do not cut it.

They are really trying to be independent right now. He eats corn on the cob only if he can eat it off the cob. He is too funny.

Just keep putting food in front of her, from what I hear they will eventually eat it. LOL.

Good Luck.

One thing that I try when she gets stuck on a food, is to try a little reverse psychology and tell them they can't have something because it's for big kids. They won't starve. They will try new things eventually, mix in some good for you stuff into the mac and cheese, like cooked broccoli or etc. You can mix carrots, peas, corn, zucinni and other veggies into the spaghetti, make it a primavera instead of meat sauce, just a thought.

Or just run out of peanut butter, and mac and cheese, make sure there isn't any in the house, you can't give them what you don't have, and then let her pick what she wants from what there is.

everything you listed is good for her and healthy. You can ibtroduce new things gradually, someone that young really doesnt have a huge variety of taste and as she sees other people eat things she will want to try new things too. It looks like a macroni product is something she likes, try new things like mostaccoli and lasagna, you can even put a lot of different veggies in you sauce for spaghetti, like carrots and even spinich, just little bits at a time. Kids like veggies and dips too, you may want to offer that as a snack and she what she picks out.

I wouldn't worry too much about the variety issue - as long as she's getting all the nutrients she needs in the form of a mix of healthy grains, proteins, dairy, and fruits/veggies, I don't think it really matters if she eats the same exact thing every night. My daughter is the same age and she goes through phases. I oringially began to worry (just like you) but then figured that as long as she was getting what she needed, it wouldn't hurt her to have a lack of variety.