Ask The Expert is a weekly column on Littlestomaks.com. The idea is to have a reader-submitted question answered by a nutrition expert or a pediatrician. Feel free to submit your question in the comments section below.
This week, Registered Dietitian Rebecca Subbiah offers tips for getting your toddler to eat better.
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| Rebecca Subbiah, RD, LDN, cPT Rebecca Subbiah RD, LDN cPT is a Freelance writer, Registered Dietitian and Personal Trainer, with over 8 years of experience in a variety of clinical areas. She has worked both in the United Kingdom and America. Her forte is weight management and motivational interviewing.
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Question: How do I get my 3 year old to eat better and make mealtimes more enjoyable?
Answer:
Here are a few easy tips for you to encourage your 3 year old to eat better.
- Don’t make mealtimes a battle.
- Little ones don’t have much control over things and refusing to eat and being fussy is their way of showing independence.
- Stay calm over what you have cooked and don’t worry if they don’t eat much the next meal they will make up for it!
- Get your little one involved in grocery shopping and choosing new fruits and vegetables, then on returning home get them in the kitchen even if its just washing the produce or shirring things.
- Visit Ethnic grocery stores and restaurants to expose your child to new and exciting foods.
- Sit your little one with kids who do eat vegetables they might copy them!
- Have a rule to just try a new food and if they don’t want it no worries maybe next time they will.
- Add vegetables to mashed potatoes, spaghetti sauce and soups.
- Make smiley faces on the plate or fun shaped sandwiches
- Have fun more than likely its just a stage
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Disclaimer – Information provided in Ask The Expert column on Littlestomaks.com is intended to give you general guidance on a question related to toddler nutrition. It is not meant to be treated as medical advice. You are welcome to contact this expert for a detailed consultation on your specific situation to determine what actions, if any, you should take regarding nutrition and health of your toddlers. We do not recommend you to take any action based solely on the information presented in this column. Experts have agreed to provide their professional opinion on toddler nutrition related questions on a voluntary basis and no compensation is offered to them by Littlestomaks.com.
