| > | | | | don’t like. Try to be a good example and |
| Your toddler could be a fussy eater and refuse to try | | | | consider a variety of foods in front of him/her. It could |
| a new food. More or less half of all toddlers fit this | | | | motivate him/her to do the same. |
| attitude, so it’s no wonder that food matters are | | | | 3. Prepare the meal with your child. |
| source of worries for parents. Setting up healthy | | | | Your child will be more likely to eat food he has helped |
| patterns of eating is very important to avoid problems | | | | to make. |
| like eating disorders and obesity later in life. Different | | | | 4. Encourage self-feeding from a young age. |
| strategies could help your child take a wider choice of | | | | If your child is actively involved in eating rather than just |
| foods. It can be necessary to give a food to your | | | | sitting and receiving food from you, you can |
| toddler as many as ten different times before they | | | | encourage your child to take an interest in the food |
| want to eat it. The problem is that lots of parents get | | | | being offered. |
| discouraged and give up before the 4th or 5th try. | | | | 5. Find alternative food your child will eat from |
| Here are tips you can do to get your toddler eat their | | | | each food group. |
| foods. | | | | If he/she does not like milk, try giving cheese or |
| 1. Make the food you serve look interesting. | | | | yoghurt. |
| Try to make foods fun by including some differently | | | | 6. Ensure that your expectations are attainable. |
| colored foods on his plate. Colorful foods like raisins, | | | | Your child is not like you and you cannot expect him |
| carrot sticks, apples, cheese sticks, grapes, and | | | | her to eat like you. |
| crackers can all be fun and healthy foods for your | | | | 7. Serve child size food. |
| toddler. Let them put in their minds that eating good | | | | Your child can ask for a second round! Generally give |
| food is important so they will grow strong and big, and | | | | 3 small meals each day with a snack between those |
| how these foods will help them play longer and run | | | | meals. |
| faster. | | | | Try not to worry much, and keep in mind that unless a |
| 2. Be a good role model. | | | | child is sick, they’ll eat. Children are good at |
| If you are a fussy eater then your child can be a fussy | | | | judging their fullness and hunger signals. Stay relaxed |
| eater as well. Children learn behaviors from their | | | | during meal time and offer him/her a wide selection of |
| parents. If you limit yourself to narrow food choices, | | | | foods, and most of all, remember to show a good |
| your child can mimic your actions and behaviors. Do | | | | example by trying a wide selection of foods yourself. |
| not limit his/her food selection to only those foods you | | | | You might find out you and your toddler share a new |
| want. Your child’s tastes are different with | | | | discovered favorite food! |
| yours, and maybe you are just giving them foods they | | | | |