Is My Toddler Eating Enough?

Many parents worry if they're toddler is eating enough to maintain health.

"He eats so little"

"She's a picky eater."

"I wish he'd eat more, this can't be healthy."

These are common worries. Most of the time, there is nothing to worry about, however. Toddlers naturally eat very little in comparison to the rest of the family. They have small stomachs and it takes little to fill them. When it comes to the "picky" child, there is usually nothing to worry about either. Children, like adults, have their likes and dislikes. Sometimes, too, they go through phases when they only want one or two kinds of foods. This is no cause for alarm. Studies have shown that if you watch their eating habits over a time period, you'll see that it all balanced out in the end. And if you're still nursing, then you've got even less reason for concern as you know you're child is getting what he or she needs to be healthy.

Suggestions:

• Remember that a serving size for them is only one-fourth to one-third of an adult serving size. That means one-fourth of a banana will fill them rather than the entire banana.
  
• Provide him with a wide variety of healthy choices. One thing I did when my older children were small, was to place a fruit and/or veggie platter out. I made it colorful so that there was a balance of nutrients. They chose what they wanted, not what I dictated. Their instincts will cause them to eat what their bodies need.
  

Below is a sample of meals for a toddler. You can see the amounts are quite small.

Breakfast:

1/4 chopped banana
1/4 cup whole grain cereal
1/2 cup juice

Snack:

2 crackers
1/3 cup juice

Lunch:

1 tablespoon of beans or other protein food
1 to 2 tablespoons cooked chopped carrots
1/4 homemade whole-grain pumpkin muffin
1/2 cup yogurt mixed with applesauce

Snack:

ripe fruit such as papaya

Dinner:

1/4 cup Small pasta shapes, cooked al dente
1/8-1/4 sweet potato
1/4 cup Soft cooked vegetable such as green beans or broccoli florets
Fresh ripe fruit

Snack:

Small piece of bagel, juice

There is an entire world of foods to offer your child. These are simply a small sample of finger foods. For the older toddler, a good suggestion is to place approx 2 bites of each food you serve on their plate. If you're offering 5 or 6 foods per meal, you can be assured that you're child will get a healthy balance of nutrients.