Food Fights

As children near three years of age, their food preferences become more pronounced. At this stage, you should have an idea of her preferences.  Does she like casserole types of dishes where food from different food groups is mixed together? Does she prefer seeing the different food groups distinctly on her plate? By now she should also be able to tell you what kind of food she would like to eat if given a choice between two or three well known options.  Here are some practical ideas for meal times:

• Have one meal for the whole family. Don’t tire yourself by cooking a separate meal for your toddler every evening. In general, toddlers are able to eat whatever their parents are eating, provided it is not too spicy or rich.
• Dish up small portions on her favorite plate. Better yet, let her choose which plate she would like to eat from. By giving her choices during mealtimes you are telling her that decisions count and she is less likely to try to make a stand by refusing to eat.
• Cut her food into bite sized pieces if she likes  it that way.
• Never force her to eat, but require of her to sit with the family while you eat. In this way she learns that not only is meal time important for refueling our bodies with food, but it is also a special time for family members to interact.
• Make at least one dish or side dish that she likes during a meal. If she doesn’t like fish and you are serving fish, give her plenty of her favorite starch like potatoes or rice.
• If your toddler likes casseroles, stew or soup, you can ‘hide’ a wide array of vegetables in your dishes. Simply put spinach, carrots or butternut in a food processor and chop until fine. Add to the dish during the cooking time. She will eat nutritious food without her even knowing it.
• Never use food as a reward or punishment. It can result  to negative attitudes about food and eating and even eating disorders.                                                                                                                                   

Don’t despair during food fights! You have a powerful force at your side. Nature has endowed every child with an urge for survival – she will eat when she is hungry! Just give her healthy choices and she will eventually eat her food.