Toddlers appetite

Question
Dear Rapitis,
I have a 13-month old son who has always been a very picky eater. He is still breasfed and has no allergies. Since he has been on solids, his appetite for solids is almost always off. But when it is on, he eats all that I offer him so I don't think he has any problems chewing or swallowing. Now that he is 13 months old, he eats only about 2 ounces at every meal but he nurses well after that. I offer pieces of fruits for snacks but he doesn't want them. He was on the 90 percentile in weight and height when he was 9 months, but at his 12-month check-up he was 70 percentile in weight but still 90 percentile in height. My question is how much he should eat at every meal given that he is a very active toodler, and what should I do to get him to eat more? I already tried baby food, table food, to spoonfeed him and to let him self-feed. Nothing seems to boost his appetite.

Thank you.  

Answer
Hello Sanaa!

  Thank you for your nutrition question. There isn't a toddler food pyramid. The Kids' Food Pyramid is for children aged 2-6 years, but you can still use it to guide what your younger toddler eats, including 6 servings of grains, 3 servings of vegetables, 2 servings of fruits, 2 servings from the milk/dairy group, 2 servings from the meat and protein group, and a limited amount of fats and sweets. Just remember that the serving sizes will be smaller for younger toddlers and are equal to about 1/4 an adult's serving size. You can also follow these feeding strategies to help make mealtime go more smoothly.  
 
Give your toddler a choice between two foods. Allowing him to choose will empower him and help avoid struggles.


Expand your toddler's "food world" by continuing to pair new foods with foods your child already likes.


Allow your toddler to leave food on the plate. Appetites and food choices change daily, so don't be concerned when it seems like she "eats like a bird" one day and "eats like a horse" the next.


Avoid using any type of food as a bribe or reward. Trying to get your toddler to eat his veggies by offering dessert as a reward will only backfire, as it communicates to your child that veggies are less desirable than dessert.


Serve a variety of desserts, from fresh or canned fruits to cake or a cookie, on occasion. Don't overdo on any of them and keep portions small.


Avoid turning the dinner table into a battleground.



Maybe your child doesn't like certain foods yet, but you want to make sure he gets similar nutrients from other foods. Here are a few smart food swaps.
Instead of carrots, serve a sweet potato or butternut squash.
Instead of broccoli, serve mango or cantaloupe.
Instead of beef, serve turkey, softened or mashed kidney beans, cheese or small tofu cubes.
Instead of milk (if he refuses to drink it), serve yogurt, cheese, calcium-fortified juice or calcium-fortified soy milk.


Don't force a child to eat, even if he misses a meal, and don't feel obligated to cook an extra meal. He will catch up at the next regular meal.
Help your child learn to eat slowly by serving and eating meals together in a calm, relaxed manner. This may help her become more in touch with her appetite.

Here is a sample menu also:



Scrambled egg with a little grated cheese in a mini-pita
Corn muffin spread with cream cheese
Breakfast cereal "trail mix" (toss together a couple different types of cereal, including oat rings or another whole grain cereal)  

"Parfait" with layers of cottage cheese or yogurt, and chopped fruit
Chicken salad on crackers or pita wedges
Cooked broccoli trees and baby carrots, dunked in mild refried bean dip
Vegetable soup with beans and pasta  

Confetti pasta (cooked pasta mixed with garbanzo beans, mixed vegetables, and small chunks of cheese)
Chicken "fried" rice (pieces of chicken saut楗?with favorite vegetables and instant brown rice)
"Club" sandwich fingers made by layering whole wheat bread, turkey breast, white bread, cheese, whole wheat bread; then cutting into fingers. You can also add tomato.  

Half a small tortilla spread with hummus and rolled up
Mini-smoothie made by blending frozen banana with milk or yogurt
Mini-bran muffin
Vanilla steamer (warm milk with a bit of vanilla extract and small amount of sugar)
Juice "spritzer" made with seltzer and a splash of fruit juice or a bit of pureed fruit
Whole grain pretzels dunked in apple butter  


For more answers to your nutrition questions check out "Ask the Nutritionists" by George Rapitis at www.authorhouse.com or favorite bookstore.

-George Rapitis, Bsc. Nutritionist
www.juiceblend.com

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