Toddler eating habits are one of the top causes for parenting frustration. Whether its because you put the food on the blue plate instead of the red one or your child doesn’t like the look of the rice touching the broccoli , toddlers have opinions about almost everything. This period of childhood can definitely test you as a parent.
If you feel like your child exists on air and unicorn tears, you are not alone. This is a common sentiment expressed by many parents. In fact, toddler eating is a hot topic during well child visits for children aged 12-24 months. While it is important for a growing child to eat nutritious food, you cannot control the amount of your child’s food intake.
Your job is to serve a variety of foods and their job is to eat the foods that they like.
Causes of Toddler Eating Habits
Around their first birthday, children begin to shift from getting most of their calories from an all liquid diet to one that also includes solid foods. This change is also accompanied by a relatively decreased need for calories. Up until their first birthday, children grow rapidly. After 12 months of age, kids grow still, just not as rapidly.
This change in growth velocity means that toddlers need fewer calories. On average, a one-year-old needs about 1,000 calories per day, which is roughly half of what an average adult requires.
When transitioning your child to table food, I recommend to incorporate them into your family meal eating routines. A one-year-old child should have around 5-6 meals and snacks per day. You should have 3 planned meals and 2-3 planned snack times daily. Although toddlers may prefer to graze, it is important to resist the urge to constantly feed them throughout the day. Healthy eating habits and a positive relationship with food starts with learning how to eat at planned intervals.
Family mealtimes and balanced meals help children to develop healthy eating habits. First of all, you need to maintain realistic expectations. You can’t expect your one year old to stay seated at the dinner table for a 30 minute meal with the family. However, they can participate and start to learn table manners even at a young age.
Picky Eating Habits Are Normal
Young children are picky eaters. Just like they have an opinion about the color of their cup, they have an opinion about their food likes and dislikes. This is normal as they are still learning to try new healthy foods. You should provide a small portion of a variety of healthy options. Then, it is up to your child what they want to eat.
Offer fresh fruit, cooked or raw vegetables, protein foods, and whole grains for meals and snacks. Limit foods and beverages that have added sugar. This includes fruit juice, which is almost 100% sugar.
As a general guideline, pediatricians recommend a serving size that equals approximately one tablespoon for each year of age. For instance, if you are having a chicken dinner with potatoes and carrots, a one-year-old would need about a tablespoon of chopped or shredded chicken, a tablespoon of diced soft carrots, and a tablespoon of diced cooked potatoes. This is the starting portion. If they request more food, you can give them more of the healthy food choices.
If your child doesn’t eat the meal you prepared, save it for their next meal. Don’t make them something else just because they prefer it. If your child isn’t eating, it’s probably because they’re not hungry. Teach them to recognize their hunger and fullness cues. If they ask for food before the next planned meal or snack, try to make them wait.
With time and routine, this will become easier.
What about Milk?
For toddlers, I recommend that my patients drink either milk or water with their meals. Children under the age of two should be limited to 2-3 cups of milk per day. It should be offered in a cup and offered with meals. Avoid offering low fat milk or whole milk in a bottle after your child’s first birthday. Milk becomes a supplement to their diet at this age instead of their sole source of calories as before. It can be a difficult mental shift for parents.
You may also choose to not offer your child milk at all. This is absolutely fine as long as you are replacing those nutrients with other whole foods. Cow’s milk is an easy way for a child to get fat, protein, calcium and Vitamin D.
Pouches of Pureed Foods
Ready made pouches of pureed foods continue to grow in popularity. These pureed food pouches offer convenience on the go. They are great for when you’re busy and can’t prepare a healthy meal. However, pouches should not replace the majority of your toddler’s food intake.
Young children need to explore various textures, shapes, and colors. Feeding themselves a wide variety of foods also helps develop their fine and gross motor skills. Additionally, skills such as bringing food to their mouth and chewing are important milestones as well. Pureed ingredients combined in a squeezable pouch do not provide these opportunities for your child.
My other concern with pouches is that they are available to offer your child a constant intake of calories throughout the day. Pouches are easy to hand to a child in order to keep them quiet or to distract them from their latest tantrum. However, this can teach them unhealthy eating habits. Pureed foods in pouches should be consumed in moderation and only as part of planned meals and snacks.
Concluding Thoughts
Toddlers can test your patience as a parent. These years are some of the hardest to navigate. If you would like to have a pediatrician who you can call directly with parenting questions, be sure to schedule a free meet and greet appointment with Dr. Wadley.
© 127 Pediatrics; October 2023
This article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice.
Dr. Andrea Wadley is the owner, pediatrician, and breastfeeding medicine specialist for 127 Pediatrics. She has an established house-calls-only concierge pediatric practice in Colleyville, TX. She is also the owner and operator of the 127 Pediatrics Online Breastfeeding Medicine and Education Center.
