Toddlers are notorious for being picky eaters. I remember being so excited when my babies reached the age of 6 months and started experimenting with various foods - they loved food and loved to eat! As they got older, they were especially excited about food they saw us eating.
Fast-forward a few months, and all of a sudden they developed a mind of their own! Toddlers know what they like, and they know what they don't like, and this is true for everything, from the clothes they wear to the foods they eat (or don't eat, as the case may be).
The thing is, you can't expect to reason with a toddler. They are not reasonable, and they are not supposed to be reasonable - they haven't yet developed that ability. So it's futile to say " but it's good for you" and it's definitely never a good idea to try to force children to eat - this could lead to miserable battles, and even if you "win," to a lifetime of food issues for your child.
Instead of reasoning, forcing or begging, try enticing. We all appreciate food when it's presented in a way that appeals to our senses, and toddlers are no different. Since toddlers are very independent and love to feed themselves, one of the best ways to get them excited about food is to give them finger foods.
An ideal daily menu for toddlers should include about 3 ounces of grains, 2 cups of milk, 2 ounces of meat, beans or legumes, 1 cup of vegetables, 1 cup of fruit, and a tablespoon of fat and oils.
This is not a lot of food - in fact, if you were to take all the food your toddler eats in a day, it could easily fit on a dinner plate. The trick is to get your toddler to actually eat all those "good for you" foods voluntarily.
When searching for toddler meal ideas, the concept of finger foods comes up fairly often. This is because finger foods give toddlers a sense of control and independence, which are very important to them - so they tend to eat finger foods happily or at least are open to trying them.
For example, a simple toddler recipe that tends to become an immediate hit with most toddlers and is also very healthy, is to cut half an apple to slices and serve it to your toddler with a tablespoon of peanut butter for dipping, and a glass of milk. This simple meal, which your toddler is likely to eat happily, takes care of half of her milk, meat and fruit requirements for the day.
Another great toddler meal idea is to serve half a cup of baby carrots with a dip made
From either hummus (if your toddler will eat it) or cottage cheese.
A few more simple toddler finger food recipes and ideas:
1. String cheese is a huge favorite with toddlers. My toddlers used to like it so much that I was actually taken by surprise when they reached school age and decided that they don't like it anymore! String cheese and a piece of fruit make a great meal for toddlers.
2. Cooked whole-wheat pasta of any shape, with a little olive oil and grated cheese on top.
3. Banana wrap. Warm a flour tortilla in the microwave for 10 seconds, spread with peanut butter and jelly, place a banana at the edge and roll over to make a wrap.
4. Mini "Pizza." Spread catsup over half a mini-bagel (whole wheat is best), add shredded cheese and toppings (my kids used to love black olives) and warm in a 350-degrees oven for about 5 minutes or until the cheese melts. Catsup is rich in anti oxidants and can be considered as a veggie serving. Try to find a brand that does not contain high fructose corn syrup.
5. Fish sticks. Either make them yourself or buy frozen ones. Serve with catsup or applesauce for dipping - toddlers love dips!
When planning a daily menu for toddler, it's important to remember that all you need to do is offer a variety of healthy foods, and let your toddler decide how much she wants to eat. Don't pressure your child to eat more than she wants to. Even if her diet seems out of balance on a particular day, usually it will balance out over the course of a week.
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