Common Problems with Child Nutrition

Food Jag Only wants to eat 1 food Improper nutrition Limits variety

How To Prevent Offer variety of foods at each meal Do not offer the food between meals Make foods appealing – Color and texture Don’t force eating – Will eat when hungry

Fear of New Food Don’t force on a child Frequent exposure Model good behavior – Children mimic adults

Refusing to eat what is served May “pick” at one meal Make up for it at the next Don’t give in! – Discipline issue

Healthy Snacks for Toddlers

Why snacks are important Essential for energy Don’t eat a lot at one sitting Balance out uneven diet Keep them from becoming cranky Boost intake of nutrients

Snack Schedule 2-3 snacks daily – Mid morning – Mid afternoon – After dinner Do not bribe with sweets Small portions

How to Incorporate Healthy Snacks Decide what’s an appropriate snack Stick to a snack schedule Work with a toddler’s independence, not against it

Appropriate Snacks High in protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals Avoid prepackaged or processed – High in sugar, salt, fat Simple finger foods – Low sugar cereals – Fresh fruit – Whole grain crackers – Mini muffins – Cheese

Appropriate Snacks, cont Small portions – ½ c dry cereal – ½ c milk – Banana – 5-6 crackers

Stick to a Schedule Serve meals and snacks at the same time daily – Routine Helps maintain a healthy weight – Learns hungry and fullness ques – Graze all day- likely to overeat Don’t allow to carry around a sugary drink all day

Work with the Toddler’s Independence Offer variety and let them choose Offer a favorite food with a new food Let the child know that meals and snacks are available at certain times

Snacks vs Sweets Don’t use sweets as a bribe Don’t let sweets become a regular snack Keep sweets out of sight and reach

Toddler Snack Ideas Create a menu book of 5 snack ideas for toddlers age 2-5 Develop a creative name for the snack – Example: “Ants on a Log” Be sure to include the recipe for how to assemble the snack