Surviving meal-time with your toddler is like going to war on the battle field!
Let me start by saying I wish picky eating was something that could be avoided entirely but unfortunately, our darling offsprings have this way of being extremely fussy and difficult when it comes to meal times.
I often wonder are you being picky or is this just normal toddler behaviour?
Coming from a first-time mom, I just genuinely didn't know what to expect from the time Luna turned 18 months.
Toddlers are extremely selective and they go through phases of wanting to be independent and use their newly-found voices and words - including that all time favourite “NO”.
It makes it hard for us moms to decipher what to feed them daily, but it’s important to implement a good foundation and routine from the start in order to survive meal times!
Surviving meal-time with your toddler
- Set a schedule from early: This is something we have been doing since Luna was 6 months old. She has three meals a day and snacks (fruits, biscuit, chips) in between. We implemented the high chair right away but she hasn’t used that since around 14 months. She’s now going on to two-and-a-half and eats on her little toddler chair and table. In order to develop a great routine and proper eating skills, I believe this is crucial! Of course, we also need to look at milk intake so I would usually give her breakfast about an hour after her first bottle in the morning, lunch right as she’s up from her nap, and dinner about an hour before bed time. It’s important to sit them down when they are hungry or else they might grow to dislike meal times and want to wiggle out of the high chair, not stay seated in their toddler chair, throw foods, spit out foods and just overall develop a less than ideal relationship with meal time.
- Let them be a part of the process: One of Luna’s favorite meals is Alfredo pasta with parmesan cheese on top and she likes to sprinkle the parsley. We’ve been doing this since she was one and not only does she like being involved in the process, I know that she will be more willing to eat if she sees how it’s made (sometimes I wonder if she’s trying to keep an eye on me to make sure I don’t add in anything extra!) We make pizza, scrambled eggs, pasta, rice, peas, cut up fruits together, and I try to talk to her a lot through it. Hearing all the little remarks she makes and how excited she gets to be a part of the process really helps, and even if she doesn’t eat it right away, she may eat it a little later or another time. Consistency is key with this; bring your toddler into the kitchen with you and I guarantee they will be more willing to try foods – especially if they see you eating too!
- Introduce new foods with favorites: This is something I don’t do as often as I should, but when I do it mostly works out! If I know Luna loves pasta, I might throw in some carrot sticks or broccoli at the side to see if she will pick them up and try them. It doesn’t always work but we need to remain consistent, and exposure is key! The more they see the food coming up, the more likely they might be to try in the long run, so it honestly can’t hurt!
- Listen, don’t force: As a parent, of course it’s frustrating to see your child (who you know is hungry) refusing a meal. But most times there's a reason for it - either they aren't that hungry and would like to play instead, or they are maybe too distracted or just simply don’t want that meal. One mistake I’ve made in the past is completely scrapping that meal and making something else. I believe this can create a habit where the child thinks “if I always say no, mummy will make something else”, and this definitely should not be the case. If Luna says no to a meal, I will say “okay maybe later then” and I’ll put it away and bring it back in an hour. But I will try not to give her anything else in between that!
One day at a time
Honestly, all I can say is take each day at a time.
It’s frustrating but these toddlers go through so many emotions and stages, so it becomes kind of normal!
Food should be fun and enjoyable for them, and not a stressful time for either of you!