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Suggestions for Effectively Coping with Toddlers and Fussy Eating

As babies grow and mature into toddlers and begin eating table food, they often turn into pickier and fussier eaters. It isn’t unusual for mealtime to turn into a fight with toddlers because they don’t want to or refuse to eat their dinner. Fighting with your child over dinner can make the meal uncomfortable for everyone.

These tips will help you cope with your toddler’s fussy eating, making dinner a pleasant experience for all:

1. Make mealtime a family affair. Today’s families are so busy; they are pulled in several different directions with work, school, sports, and other extracurricular activities. You can rarely find a day when everyone is home at the same time. It’s often difficult to sit down at the dining table and eat a meal together. Challenge yourself to start eating dinner together at least three days each week. Make family dinners a priority. You may have to adjust the dinner time slightly but the time you eat isn't as important as
the fact that the meal is shared and enjoyed by the entire family. When your toddler sees his siblings or parents eating their veggies and meat, they will be more likely to try what’s on their plate, too.

2. Don’t offer alternatives. It’s too easy to walk into the trap of cooking two or more meals. Some mothers with two or three children fix something special for each child. It starts off innocently enough where the mother is trying to please a picky eater. But if a child knows they can get you to cook them a unique meal, they are going to opt for it the majority of the time even if they like what the rest of the family is eating. Everyone likes to be treated special and what better way than to have a meal prepared especially for you. While trying to appeal to each family member's taste preference is a nice thought, it can run you ragged. Stop the café-mentality in your family. Cook one healthy well-rounded meal for everyone in the family to enjoy. Your toddler may fight with you at first, but eventually will realize that you are not a short-order cook anymore. It will give them more respect for you and the meal if only one option is presented.

3. Introduce one new food at a time. Variety is the spice of life but don’t try to overload your toddler’s palate with too many new foods at once. Present your toddler with one new vegetable for one week. He may not even try it for several days, but continue to offer it to him each time you cook it anyway. Give him a chance to get acquainted with the smell, appearance, and taste of the new vegetable. If you offer him too many new foods at once, he may feel overwhelmed and not attempt to try anything new at all. Feel free to cook the new vegetable in a variety of ways. For example, broccoli can be steamed, served with a cheese sauce, or offered on a salad. You may find that your child likes it presented one way more than the other.

4. Fewer or no more snacks. Don’t offer your toddler snacks or drinks throughout the day. Give her one snack at the same time each day. Instead of sweetened drinks, let your toddler drink water. By eliminating snacks throughout the day, your toddler will most likely be hungrier at mealtime. She will also develop an appreciation for what is being served at dinner time.

5. Make mealtime fun. Everyone likes to have fun; mealtime is no exception. If your toddler plays with the food on her plate, don’t make a big deal about it. Instead, focus your toddler’s attention on something else. Engage your family in conversation about everyone’s day. Talk about each person's high point and low point of the day. Share your toddler’s accomplishment that day, like learning a new color or talking about a special activity. Draw your toddler’s attention away from the plate, and she is likely to eat
her food before she even realizes it.

Dealing with a toddler who is a fussy eater isn’t fun or easy but it is a part of parenting a maturing toddler. Try these five tips on your fussy eater, and then implement your own ideas. Many parents deal with picky eaters, so remember that you are not alone. You might even want to bring the subject up at your next play date. Sharing ideas and suggestions with other parents can lead to some great options for helping your toddler appreciate table food.