Toddler Eating Patterns

[Bann (Premo)]

My mom used to be upset when I gave Thing1 his choice of eat dinner or not. She thought I should at least offer fruit later, so he didn't go hungry. I told her he was definitely power struggling me - he would hold out for the fruit! She couldn't stand that he might not eat and thought I was going overboard. THIS is from the woman who made La Choy Chop Suey when I was a kid & either I had to eat it or get nothing. I hated it, it made me sick to my stomach! So, when she made it, I KNEW I wasn't getting dinner. To be fair to ME, I wasn't a toddler - I was about 11 or 12. By then, I think things are not really about manipulation and you could at least offer another option like PBJ. But no - I had to eat that crap or I didn't get anything else. I won't even choose that from a Chinese food restaurant to this day!

But when they are toddlers/preschoolers almost ALL kids will eat when they are hungry, it's a basic human necessity. My Peds used to say that over the course of a week, a normally developing toddler will actually eat enough food and not to worry about 1 meal here or there. It makes sense, because portion sizes are so much smaller.

[RareBreed]

I heard/read somewhere that a toddler's stomach is about the size of an adult's fist so a little food goes a long way. They don't have to eat much to get enough to eat.

[pelers]

Last night we had success with applesauce and chicken fries.

[sockgirl77 (Premo)]

Originally Posted by pelers

Last night we had success with applesauce and chicken fries.

That's success?

[pelers]

Originally Posted by sockgirl77

That's success?

The fact that he ate anything was success! Tonight's pork chops disguised as chicken nuggets were not a success.

[KDENISE977]

Oh man, I was all braggy that my son was eating just about everything...but, now he seems to have put the brakes on just about everything. I wonder if it's a stage they go through. He's eating very little at school and has refused dinner the past 3 nights. He'll eat fruit snacks (sugar free) and chicken nuggets (baked), that's about all for the past 3 days. Oh and water, milk, and juice.

[sockgirl77 (Premo)]

Originally Posted by KDENISE977

Oh man, I was all braggy that my son was eating just about everything...but, now he seems to have put the brakes on just about everything. I wonder if it's a stage they go through. He's eating very little at school and has refused dinner the past 3 nights. He'll eat fruit snacks (sugar free) and chicken nuggets (baked), that's about all for the past 3 days. Oh and water, milk, and juice.

It's a stage. My 5 year old goes through it every few months.

[KDENISE977]

Originally Posted by sockgirl77

It's a stage. My 5 year old goes through it every few months.

This is what I thought. But, he's either eating what I make, or not at all. I'm not starting that habit of making multiple dinners.

[Roman]

Originally Posted by KDENISE977

This is what I thought. But, he's either eating what I make, or not at all. I'm not starting that habit of making multiple dinners.

Just make sure he takes a vitamin every day. My Son (now 40), lived off of one sunny-side up egg a day for the longest time, then when he turned 10 years old, he would have ate the Kitchen Sink if he could. If they don't eat it, they don't need it. Just make sure that every bite they take is a nutricious one.