Help! My toddler is a fussy eater.

A lot of parents worry that their toddler is not following a healthy diet by continuously refusing certain foods.  With the best will in the world it can be difficult to get it right every day.

Here are some tips to help increase the variety and amount of foods that your toddler will consume and turn the nightmare of meal times into a more enjoyable experience for both you and your little one:

• Praise your toddler when they have eaten well.
• Don’t allow your toddler graze on snacks during the day.
•  Try and develop a daily routine of three meals and two to three snacks around your toddlers sleeping pattern. 
• Encourage your toddler to help you prepare and shop for meals.
• A lot of toddlers fill up on drinks during the day e.g. fruit juices, squash and milk. Limit your toddler’s milk intake to 300ml per day and offer water in place of fruit juices and squashes.
• Don’t offer sweet foods as a reward for eating well
• Toddlers learn from copying what they see you and older siblings doing so include them in family meals as much as possible.
• Create a relaxing environment around meal times, free from distractions e.g. tv, books and toys.
• Don’t be put off if you toddler doesn’t take a new food the first time, it can take up to 10 times before a toddler will take a new food.
• When your toddler has had enough remove the food without comment.
• Toddlers love finger foods as they will be able feed themselves. Examples of healthy finger foods include: