Toddler Nutrition

Ever since your baby's 6 month visit you have been able to proudly proclaim that your child is a great eater. They love every food they try and will eat anything you put in front of them. You feel like you have unlocked some parenting secret and are so glad that you have avoided this pickiness you've heard other moms talk about. Feeling like a master of motherhood you proceed along happily until all of sudden shortly after their first birthday everything goes awry. Your child now turns their nose at some of the foods that they loved just yesterday. They eat a few bites and then lose interest in eating or refuse to come to the table to eat all together. What happened? Surely something must be wrong. 

This is a common story and one I have experienced personally. It can be alarming that your child who seems to have transitioned from baby to toddler overnight is becoming more and more active all while eating less and less.  The good news is that there is a very reasonable explanation for all of this and you are definitely not alone. 

The reason that toddlers have a decrease in appetite is because their growth rate has slowed. Their bodies are not requiring as many calories per day for growth so their brains are signaled to decrease their appetite. 

According to healthychildren.org: 

Ideally a one-year-old should consume 1,000 calories per day split over three meals and two snacks. However, if you have a toddler, you know that they are nothing if not unpredictable. They may have days where they eat almost all 1,000 calories in the morning and then nothing the rest of the day. They may refuse to eat anything but one food for days straight and then wakes up and decide they don't like that food anymore and want something different. They may have days where they eat slightly more or less than the recommended 1,000 calories. The point is don't stress about this. It is normal for toddlers to eat erratically. Also, I have never met any parent, including myself, who has actually kept track of the exact number of calories consumed per day by their child. You don't need to do this either. 

Here are some tips to help you and your child find some balance during the toddler years: 

1. Encourage but don't pressure your child to eat at certain times. Even though it may not feel like it so long as you are offering a variety of wholesome foods everyday your child's diet will balance itself out over several days. 

2. Toddlers need the same basic nutrients that adults do. If you provide your child with selections from each of the basic food groups and allow them to experiment with different colors, tastes, and textures they are likely to wind up eating a balanced diet. 

3. Try to avoid adding too much seasoning, butter, or sweetener to your child's food. While we may like food better that way it is better for young children to get used to the authentic taste of the foods they are trying.  

4. Offer child sized portions. Parents commonly offer too much food. The serving size for a toddler is one tablespoon of each food for your child's age. This is about 1/4th of the adult serving size. 

5. Model healthy eating habits for your child. When they see you eating a wide variety of foods and enjoying foods from all food groups, they are more likely to be willing to experiment as well. 

6. Pace snacks about two hours before the next meal so that your child is hungry at mealtime. Because the toddler stomach is so small, they will need to eat every few hours. Timing snacks to allow for their hunger cues to set in will encourage a more effective mealtime. 

Keep in mind that a child who is growing well is getting enough to eat! Your toddlers unpredictable eating habits are expected and normal. 

For any questions or concerns about your child's specific needs feel free to give us a call to schedule an appointment. Your provider would be happy to address your child's unique needs and offer you some peace of mind. 

Author

Sarah Elliott Pediatric Nurse Practitioner specializing in primary care. Practicing in Nashville, TN.