For a toddler, so many things are changing such as learning how to communicate, discovering things independently, and even their appetite. They are learning what foods and textures they like and what they don’t. Each toddler’s appetite is different, and even their favorite foods may change daily. Although this time may be frustrating, this is normal toddler behavior. In time, your child’s appetite and eating habits will level out, but for now you can follow these tips to create a healthy relationship for your toddler’s food choices and habits:
Respect your toddler’s appetite – or lack of one.
If they refuse a meal, don’t give attention to it. It is important for them to understand their own hunger cues. The responsibility to provide food is for the parent, and it is the child’s decision to eat it. By pressuring children to eat meals or punishing them when they don’t, may cause them to dislike foods they really like.
Be patient with new foods and offer variety.
Just because your toddler refused it once, doesn’t mean you should give up. Your child may need repeated exposure before their taste buds accept it.
Set a good example.
You want your child to create a positive and healthy relationship with food, so do your best to guide them on a path toward healthy eating.
Stick to a routine and share a meal together as a family, when possible.
Use this time to model healthy eating habits such as having no media distractions (TV, cell phones, etc.) and serving one balanced meal for the whole family.
Make food FUN. Create themed meals to learn about different cultures or get creative by arranging them in fun and colorful shapes.
Let them be Tiny Chefs.
Some cooking tasks (with lots of supervision and patience) are perfect for toddlers such as mashing, stirring, or counting measurements. By knowing that they helped prepare the meal, it may motivate them to try what they made.
Lastly, if you are concerned about your toddler’s diet, speak with their pediatrician who can help ensure that your child is getting all the important nutrients to grow and develop.
If you have any questions regarding this topic or any other parenting topic, please call the Parent Line at 808-526-1222 or 1-800-816-1222.
Source: The Parent Line – https://www.theparentline.org/wp-content/uploads/Summer-2025-Newsletter.pdf