Feed for Toddlers

“Parents decide what and when food is served. Children decide whether and how much.” - Anonymous

Key Concepts:

Between the ages of 1-4, children should eat approximately three meals and two snacks per day.
90% of all food allergies are caused by one of eight foods, including milk, eggs, wheat, soy, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, and shellfish.
Picky eating is a normal part of development! Did your child love strawberries yesterday and is now refusing them and yelling? Sounds about right!
The research tells us that carving out time to eat together has been linked to many benefits, including improved diet and self-esteem.
Feeding time provides a great opportunity for your child to develop their hand eye coordination and fine motor skills.

Try “supportive prompts” like “How about trying this string bean? It’s crunchy and fun to chew.”
Try to give your toddler some creative agency with their meal. For example, let them sprinkle (throw?!) cheese on their taco meat.
Offer new foods at snack time. This allows for your child to try a food without ruining a meal for you (read: throwing it on the ground and screaming).
Limit distractions during mealtime - keep the focus on your toddler and family (TVs off, phones away).
Keep mealtimes consistent and try to offer a meal before your child reaches that hangry state.
Fill your child’s plate with an appropriate amount of food, but let them decide how much they eat.
Listen to your baby! Look for hunger cues (pointing to food, excitement when food is in sight) and fullness cues (turning head away, shaking head no, pushing food away).
If you’re unsure of whether a food is a choking hazard, start by trying the Toilet Paper Roll Test - if the food item can fit through the roll, it’s considered a choking hazard.