Picky-Eaters?
by Rebecca L. Henderson
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Is your child a picky eater? Are there times where it seems that he or she eats everything in
site at one point and then at the next hardly touches the plate? According to the American
Academy of Pediatrics, this is all a part of the growing process for young children. This article
pertains to the younger children around the age of just beginning to take solid foods until
four years of age.
You'll probably notice a sharp drop in your toddler's appetite after his or her first birthday.
Suddenly she's picky about what she eats, turns her head away after just a few bites, or
resists coming to the table at mealtimes. It may seem as if she should be eating more now
that she's so active, but there's a good reason for the change. Her/his growth rate has
slowed, and he/she doesn't require as much food now.
Your toddler needs about 1,000 calories/day to meet their needs for growth, energy, and
good nutrition. If you've ever been on a 1,000 calorie diet, you know its not a lot of food.
But your child will do just fine with it, divided among three small meals and two snacks a
day. The eating habits of toddlers are erratic and unpredictable (as you already may know)
from one day to the next. He/she may eat everything in sight at breakfast but almost
nothing else for the rest of the day. Or he/she may eat only his/her favorite food for three
days in a row, then reject it entirely.
As a general rule, it's a real mistake to turn mealtimes into sparring matches to get
him/her to eat a balanced diet. A good idea for you as parents to do is to see if you are
setting a good example for your toddler. Do you mostly stop at McDonalds at the end of
the day or are you and the rest of your family eating a well-balanced diet. You are your
child's role model!! That is the main thing to always keep in mind. The harder you push
your child to eat, the less likely he is to comply. Instead, offer your child a selection of
nutritious foods at each mealtime, and let them choose what he/she wants. Vary the
tastes and consistencies as often as you can. Hard as it may to believe, your child's diet
will balance out over several days if you make a range of wholesome foods available and
don't pressure him to eat a particular one at any given time.
Here is the four basic nutrition's food groups that your toddler needs
- Meat, fish, poultry, eggs
- Dairy products
- Fruits and vegetables
- Cereal grains, potatoes, rice, breads, pasta
When planning your child's meal, remember that cholesterol and other fats are very important for
his/her normal growth and development, so they should not be restricted during this period. Our
diets are very different from our children's for the most part that they still have most of their
growing to do and we have hit our peak. Unfortunately for us parents, the only way most of us
grow anymore is out! Children will want candy and cookies and soda, and it can be a part of their
diet if it is given in moderation. A lot of parents give sweets as rewards. For picky-eaters, my
best advice to parents is to try a variety of foods that maybe you don't buy often or maybe even
you don't like, just to see what they truly crave. Everyone's taste buds are different so not
everyone likes the same thing. The picky-eaters will come around!
© Rebecca L. Henderson
Reprinted with permission from Kid Fitness Visit Kid Fitness to find out more about children's nutrition and fitness.
