{"id":24002,"date":"2021-01-21T21:07:44","date_gmt":"2021-01-22T02:07:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucbaby.ca\/?p=24002"},"modified":"2023-10-15T18:10:50","modified_gmt":"2023-10-15T22:10:50","slug":"tips-for-feeding-picky-toddlers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ucbaby.ca\/zh-hans\/tips-for-feeding-picky-toddlers","title":{"rendered":"Tips for Feeding Picky Toddlers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Maybe your baby was a healthy eater, wolfing down every veggie pur\u00e9e you\u2019d put in front of him or her. But if he or she has turned into a toddler who refuses to eat anything but chicken nuggets and plain pasta, well you\u2019re not alone. Feeding picky eaters is a stage of toddler development that a lot of parents are not excited about.<\/p>\n

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About half of all toddlers are picky eaters which may lead to concerned parents. But don\u2019t worry, usually, these phases pass quickly. But until your child\u2019s food preferences mature, consider these healthy tips to prevent mealtime battles.<\/p>\n

1. Turn Your Toddler Into Chef\u2019s Mini Helper and Make it Fun.<\/h2>\n

Start off in the grocery store and ask your child to help you pick out fruits, vegetables, and other healthy foods. Don\u2019t buy anything you don\u2019t want your child to eat.<\/p>\n

Then at home, inviting your toddler to lend you a hand in the kitchen while cooking can actually help your toddler want to try new foods more because they helped prepare them!<\/p>\n

Encourage your child to help you rinse veggies, stir batter or set the table. Keep your little one away from the hot stove or anything hot, for that matter.<\/p>\n

Serve broccoli and other veggies with a favourite dipping sauce. Cut foods into various fun shapes with cookie cutters. Serve a variety of brightly coloured foods and you may even offer breakfast foods for dinner.<\/p>\n

2. Set a Good Example.<\/h2>\n

If you eat a variety of healthy foods, your child is more likely to follow suit. So it\u2019s best to try not to let your little one see you eating chips or soda pop throughout the day. Instead, save your guilty pleasures for when they\u2019re napping and dispose of the evidence just in case!<\/p>\n

3. Respect Your Child\u2019s Appetite – or Lack of One<\/h2>\n

Forcing your child (or bribing) might only ignite a power struggle over food. This is often how mealtime can be associated with anxiety or frustration and we don\u2019t want that! If your toddler isn\u2019t hungry, don\u2019t force a meal or snack, and if he or she doesn\u2019t clean off the entire plate, don\u2019t force it.<\/p>\n

Serve smaller portions to avoid overwhelming your child and give them the opportunity to ask for more food or offer more after they\u2019re done.<\/p>\n

4. Sneak in Fruits and Veggies<\/h2>\n

A mom has got to do what a mom has got to do. So if your little one is fussy about eating their fruits or veggies, sneak them in. Here are a couple of ideas on how:<\/p>\n