Many toddlers are picky eaters. However, I haven’t met a toddler who doesn’t love macaroni and cheese. I also haven’t met a toddler who will eat an item from each of the food groups on a daily basis. According to my son’s pediatrician, as long as he is eating when he is hungry, I shouldn’t worry.
The problem I have with this philosophy is that our pediatrician isn’t doing my grocery shopping. Last month, my son was determined to eat macaroni and cheese for almost every meal. I could add green beans, peas or potatoes to the meal and he would eat them. He just wanted to make sure that macaroni and cheese was on his plate. This month, however, he hasn’t touched macaroni and cheese.
While not knowing what my son will eat is frustrating for me when I am trying to plan our menu, my main concern is his health. I do exactly what his pediatrician recommends. I offer a variety of foods several times per day. I let him choose what he eats and when he eats it.
There are some rules that I try to follow in order to make sure that my son does eat a variety of foods. If I offer green beans at lunch and he eats them, I do not offer them again on the same day. It’s my way of ensuring that he chooses something different for dinner.
It is recommended that toddlers consume between 1,000 and 1,400 calories per day. They have very active lifestyles and they need to eat frequently. It is normal for toddlers to eat at least five times per day. This should include breakfast, a morning snack, lunch, an afternoon snack and dinner. Each should be at least two hours apart.
The goal, according to nutritionists, is for toddlers to consume the following:
*Three to five ounces of grains (cereal, bread, rice or pasta)
*One to one and one half cups of vegetables
*One to one and one half cups of fruit
*Two to four ounces of meat, poultry or fish and beans
*Two cups of milk
It is not cause for concern if your toddler does not meet the daily requirements listed above. This is a goal and the foods listed should be offered. If your toddler does not eat what is offered, that does not mean that they are not healthy. As long as they are eating on a regular basis, they should be fine.
It is up to us, as parents, to make sure to offer the proper foods to our toddlers. We should make sure they are eating when they are hungry. It is also important that we make sure that they are consuming enough fluids to stay properly hydrated.
Beyond offering proper foods, we must trust that our toddlers are eating what appeals to them. We have to realize that toddler eating habits are different from our own. Our children know when they are hungry. They know when they feel full.
I have learned to tolerate the finicky eating habits that my son exhibits. As long as he is healthy and happy, I have done my job as a mother. The fact that he eats nachos and ice cream together when we go out to a buffet is something I will just have to overlook.
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