I am happy to announce that this young blog has reached a milestone! This is my 50th post!!
To celebrate this milestone, I decided to ask my Twitter followers to share their own toddler nutrition tips. I felt that this would be a good way to celebrate our collective wisdom. After all, nothing beats the real-world practical tips from parents who are living the daily challenge of feeding 2-5 year old toddlers!
Here you go then! Enjoy these tips and try them out if you like them. And yes, do not forget to follow these wonderful people on Twitter. Simply click the hyperlink to their Twitter ID below.
On Trying New Foods
- @portraitsbyeric – When introducing a new food, make sure to give it at least a 3 to 4 day testing period for reactions. Can be different types of reactions. Such as breaking out on arms and sneezing after eating certain foods as an example.
- @stylekid – Don’t wait to long to introduct new and or ethnic food choices! Let them explore new flavors from an early age!
- @MiltonStokes – No need to engage in food fights. Just keep introducing a new food. It may take 10 or more tries.
- @AndreaLifeCoach – Resist temptation to take the easy way when it comes to feeding toddlers. Have some favorites & mix in new tastes/new foods
- @nahiacreations – New foods, don’t give up on the 1st, 3rd, 10th try.
- @viralmarketmom – They go through a phase when they refuse eat – doctors say not to worry – does not hurt them – they’ll eat when ready.
On Fruits and Veggies
- @smallsteps5 – Always have fresh fruit readily available in an attractive bowl. Eat healthy in front of your kids. Keep trying foods because it may take time before a toddler/child is familiar with it.
- @FoodieTot - Appeal to toddlers’ curiosity by exploring vegetables in varied colors — yellow beans, orange peppers, purple carrots.
- @momsatwork – Feed them in courses, with the healthful stuff (fruits/veggies) first — when they’re hungriest.
- @hendlind – I give her the veggies first, then the rest of the meal. Otherwise she throws them on the floor :)
- @littletechgirl – Hide veggies in stuff that they like: chunky veggy filled spaghetti, etc. :)
- @thefutureisred – Cook simple things with your child frozen yogurt pops, mashed potatoes/squash, fruit slushies in the blender
- @MommyMellie – Have fun with dip! Yogurt is a great dip and helped my two try new foods, including raw veggies!
- @MagicDandelions – Add grated zucchini to boiling pasta during last minute of cooking. You can hardly taste it in spaghetti, alfredo, etc. yet is a simple, fast way to add extra serving of veggies to a meal. :)
On Snacks and Juices
- @rebeccasullivan – My 2 year old’s nutritionist said purple grape juice is vitamin-rich albeit dangerous if they spill!
- @phdinparenting – Snacks, snacks and more snacks! A lot of kids won’t eat much during a meal, but will graze over the course of the day.
- @sthrnfairytale – Grapes, cheese cubes and apple chunks on coffee stirrers are a great, fun and nutritious snack for little hands and mouths
- @SchoolLunch – Both my 2 year old and 5 year old love salt free rice cakes with ripe avocado smeared on them… It has become the usual snack between lunch and dinner around 3:30 PM.
- @laviyah – My nutritional suggestion would be smoothies! They are an awesome way for children to get whole food nutrition. The base for most of my smoothies is home made sesame seed milk. Sesame seeds have an incredibly high calcium content.
- @LaMamaNaturale – Snacks include organic-clementines r hot right now/any fruit really, hummus and veggies, Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies- :)
- @LaMamaNaturale – We’re not big on juice just yet- but if Mr. Tristar does get juice it’s organic and watered down about 1/4 juice- rest H2O
- @MamaHeartsBaby – DD loves plain yogurt & cottage cheese, sometimes we’ll add flax seed oil to up the nutrition factor. She loves it!
On Reducing Sugar
- @ReizaM – If you don’t start with sugar, there’s no need to reduce. We never started our kids with candy/sweets and no problems.
- @phdinparenting – Mix pureed fruit with plain yoghurt instead of buying prepared yoghurt
- @kristydegregory – I switched our yogurt/choc milk to organic brands using evaporated cane juice instead of sugar. I also switch from cookie treats to organic fruit/nutsmix with choc covered almonds w/evaporated cane juice in the choc.
- @thefutureisred – We use no sugar in our house. only raw honey, maple syrup and stevia.
- @journeywJackson – Lots of whole grain snacks and tons of fruit keep him interested and away from most unnatural sugars
- @Valerie4012 – Instead of candy I try to give my 3yo dried fruit. Still sweet but not nearly as bad for her.
- @JoyofDiabetes – We only give them a choice of 1 dessert after dinner…they choose. we allow it or not…usually just limit the quantity
- @thepassivedad – No sodas, but we do allow ice cream once a week for our 5 and 3 year old.
On Mealtime Behavior
- @VanillaPumpkin – Be in control of meal time, little reason for them to much differently than the rest of the family.
- @DrAyala – Don’t make a special kids’ meal:It’s impractical, unnecessary,& counterproductive. make 1 good meal you can enjoy together
- @peekababy – Buy a cheap, washable rug and put it under the high chair. Listen when they say they are ‘all done’ or plate will fly.
- @svtwinmom – Some might disagree in favor or real conversation, but I read thru piles of books during mealtimes. Kids eat & learn at the same time. Rotate thru chapter & pic books. My boys are 4. Some ex: anything Usborne or Barefoot Books & whatever is topical or of interest to my boys. Current faves are new books: Beware the Frog by William Bee (full of surprises) and One by Kathryn Otoshi. Rec by local children’s bookstore.
- @journeywJackson – We put small toys, blocks, cars, etc on top of high chair…helps most times
- @mommadefoods – Empower your child to make healthy choices about what to eat and how much. They will feel empowered, for example, if you offer them the option of healthy choice #1 or healthy choice #2, such as peas or carrots.
- @goodLifeEats – Son sees OT for feeding: she says parent’s job is what,where,&when to eat, toddlers job is how much.
On Supplements
- @DrAyala – supplement tip: For healthy children a healthy diet is the best source of vitamins and minerals. No supplements needed!
- @goodLifeEats – Son drinks pediasure instead of milk for vit & calorie supps. Also takes omega & calcium gummy vitamins (Great price @ Costco)
- While it is always recommended that your child should get all the necessary minerals and vitamins from a balanced diet which includes plenty of fruits and veggies, here are 5 reasons to consider a multivitamin supplement for your toddler
- If you are considering a multivitamin supplement for your child, here is a review of a few popular brands.
Miscellaneous Tips
- @portraitsbyeric – Use a rice milk or almond milk versus what is being marketed pasteurized cow’s milk. To get the veggies in early – make your own veggie drink or purchase a 100% veggie drink with no sugar such as Vfruit which has an Apple, Carrot and Pineapple Blend. To alleviate wheat challenges – use spelt pasta, spelt bread, etc. when purchasing juice for toddlers – make sure it is 100% juice. Read the labels. Dilute the juice with water also.
- @sthrnfairytale – Green food coloring mixed into eggs and then scrambled with eggs and ham while reading.. Green Eggs and Ham. A winner!
- @redwhiteandgrew – Not only are beans/rice a cheap and “perfect protein combo,” but the varieties provide endless options. Growing even small amts. of food fosters appreciation/desire for whole foods. Tots can try .
- @goodLifeEats – Get kids involved in cooking/groc. shopping, helps teach about healthy food choices & is fun activity. mine love it!
- @goodLifeEats – Most kiddos love pasta, buy whole wheat because it’s healthier.
- @portraitsbyeric – Check your local Health Food store and see if they offer Toddler Cooking classes. They instill healthy eating & nutrition. Usually 1x a month until summer. They also stress not overeating. Our twins attended for a yr and a half. Cooked great.
Do you have a nutrition tip you would like to share?
Photo source: clspeace on Flickr.com
©2009 Littlestomaks.com
{ 2 comments }
Congrats on your 50th post! What a perfect way to celebrate. Not only have you armed us with 50 new ways to approach our children and eating, you’ve put us in touch with the Twitter parenting community. Thank you!
Hello,
Any suggestions on what to give a still nursing 16 month old as a drink. She still loves breastmilk and also drinks water. I would like to stay away from cow’s milk due to all the negative press about dairy. Should I incorporate diluted juice, soy milk or rice milk? What would be best? Are there problems associated with any of these drinks? Of course I would only use organic.
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