Toddler Nutrition Help

It is normal at this age to stop eating as much. Until 2 years old babies grow a a very rapid pace. At 2 they start to grow at a snails pace. When this happens they don't need as much food...also they become aware of choices and independence so they challenge it. Good luck and keep offering different foods. Don't force food on him or it may create an eating disorder or rebelliousness. We also need to remember they are only 2 and have very small stomaches.

Kids go thru fazes with food. Don't give up, but don't worry either. If you provide a variety of nutritious foods, like fruits and veggies, that are available when he wants them, he will eat when he's hungry.

We cut out the juice entirely and went to just water (to cut out empty calories that made dd feel full when she hadn't actually eaten anything) and also limited milk to one glass per day (usually at dinnertime).

DD eats when she's hungry and it doesn't always fit in with actual "mealtimes" but she will sit at the table now and talk about her day with her dad, even if she doesn't want to eat.

For us, it was most important to make the right foods available all the time, so the snacks that she did eat were healthy enough to get her thru not eating so much.
Good luck.

Yes, it's very normal. My almost 2 year old is also picky. What he eats today, he will reject tomorrow. I'm frustrated but he's otherwise content so don't worry. Just keep trying...whatever you eat, offer it to him. Funny thing with my son is that I can fix him a sandwich with cheese on it and offer it to him and he'll reject it but if I put that same exact sandwich on MY plate and pretend it's mine, he will fight me for it. Little tricks of the trade, I suppose, but pretend it's your food and offer it to him. It might work! Good luck but do not worry. It's a very normal phase.

Hi M.,

I know we moms worry but kids do know when they need to eat real food. As a mom who worries like you I recomend using a natural vitamin like Arbonne's fruit punch vitamin drink. Kid's don't realize they are getting all their vitamins but you will. Take a look at it www.J..myarbonne.com click shop online click Nutrional Hybrids to read about them.
All the best.

This is normal, but there IS a cook/receipe book out there that "hides" good foods in other foods (for example pureed veggies in tomato sauce), just keep trying to intriduce other things...................... If he ate baby food take baby food add an egg and breadcrumbs, roll into a ball and fry my kids liked that for a while and it's quite healthy................

I know this may seem harsh, but I'm sure that I'm not the only one saying it.

Don't give in.
Stick to your guns and show him that you're boss.
Don't be the food-nazi, but don't let him know that you can be swayed. He's at the age where he's testing limits and food is just going to be the beginning.

Keep control, momma.
Introduce him to smoothies, tell him they are yummy shakes.
Add a little protein powder and fresh or frozen fruits, keep away from high-fructose syrups and junk foods.

To be 'safe' I would rule out the medical to make sure it is 'just' a toddler thing. the potatoes has me thinking something is bothering his tummy or throat because they're very bland. and liquids are easy to get down...

If your insurance allows it, I'd get him tested for allergies. We know when foods are going to bother us. Maybe he's allergic to something, even very mildly allergic. I'd go to a Pediatric Allergist, who deals w/ these kinds of things all the time. It MIGHT just be his 2yr old molars coming in and it hurts to eat and again, potatoes are 'easy.' Take a peek in his mouth...

My Daughter is almost 2 and doesn't like to eat a lot either. I will tell her eat a little more and you can get down or eat the turkey and you can have an ice pop. It seems to work for me. She usually eats and then gets what she wants. Try it, it might work.

Hi M.

Try envolving him in the preperation of the food. I also agree with the mom that says stick to your guns. If he see's that there is an option to not eat then he won't. Good Luck & God Bless.

If his pediatrician OK's his weight, don't worry too much. Try making it a game. Explain to him how machines, and cars need fuel to work and his food is fuel for his body. Also try cutting it up in small pieces he can eat with his fingers. Or serve it in rows, like a train, or a traffic jam. Make it fun! Good luck.