Fussy Little Eater

Q. My toddler only wants to eat the same food day in day out. This can’t be good for him how do I cope with this?

It is very normal for toddlers to like routine and become picky over certain foods (usually the beige, sweeter types). It is important to give them a range of different foods so they get a whole variety of the all nutrients they need. It’s easy said than done, but you need to be the one in control here. Don’t take all of his favourite foods away, but start introducing some choice that you control e.g. offer him a choice of two different vegetables to have for dinner and serve that choice alongside something he recognises and likes.

Start a non-food related award system (such as stickers or filling a jar with pieces of dried pasta and when its filled giving him an activity treat or toy) and he gets a point/ sticker/ piece of pasta for every new food he tries, even if it is just a bite. But if he absolutely refuses to eat the new food, don’t make a fuss, just take the food away and don’t offer him anything else. He may get hungry later, in which case you can offer him a healthy snack, but he can’t have his usual foods. This may take a few weeks of tantrums, but stick with it, it will make a difference to his choices in the future.  Good luck!

Alice Fotheringham

Infant nutrition specialist at Piccolo

For more information check out www.Mylittlepiccolo.com

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