AND tip of the day: Coping with a Picky Toddler

 

 

TIP OF THE DAY

 

February 26, 2013

Coping with a Picky Toddler

Do you feel like your child survives on dry cereal and air? Every parent of a young child has been through the pain of a picky eating phase, but how can you ensure toddlers get the nutrition they need without constant worry about their well-being?
Many parents go right to forcing or bribing their kids to eat foods but that rarely gets the desired result, making mealtime a tense situation for everyone. Your job as a parent is buying and preparing a variety of delicious, healthful foods; offering regular meals and snacks; and making the mealtime as pleasant as possible, the rest is up to your children. Whether they eat, how much they eat and what they eat is their responsibility.
Children are often more open to new foods when everyone surrounding them is relaxed about eating. Although your child may not eat perfectly every day, rest assured, they tend to eat well enough over the course of several days or a week.
For more information on feeding your picky toddler, consult a registered dietitian in your area and visit the Academy's Nutrition for Infants and Toddlers page.


SOURCE: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics