Healthy Eating for Toddlers
Babies are like toddlers when it comes to eating. They are born with an internal hunger gauge that tells them when they are hungry and when they are full and they let you know. Babies are in charge of when they eat and how much they eat. You just have to supply the breast milk or formula. By the time your baby is a year old, he or she will be able to eat many of the same foods the rest of the family eats. This is a good time to lay the foundation for healthy eating. Toddlers need to eat at least every three to four hours. Three meals a day plus two or three snacks should be fine. Set up a regular snack and meal schedule and make sure that you have nutritious foods and snacks for her to eat and drink. You provide the choices, and your toddler will decide if she wants to eat and how much to eat. Healthy and kid-friendly snack ideas include: string cheese, whole-wheat crackers and peanut butter, frozen juice bars made with 100 percent real fruit, fresh or dried fruit, and low-fat yogurt. Avoid food and drinks high in sugar or fats. If candy, cookies and soft drinks are available, most children will choose these foods rather than a more nutritious snack. Have your toddler eat with the family as much as possible. Make meals a fun and relaxing time to be together. Trust your child to know when she is hungry and what she wants to eat from the choices that you have provided. Toddlers can be picky eaters. Your toddler may love one kind of food for weeks and suddenly decide not to have anything to do with it. Also, some days your toddler will be hungry and other days eat almost nothing. Your toddler has an internal hunger gauge that controls how much to eat. If you override those signals, your child won't be able to tune into that internal hunger gauge as easily. As always when raising a toddler, good advice is always easier than the reality. If you have specific questions about feeding your toddler, ask your child's pediatrician for some suggestions.