how do I get my toddler to eat a bigger variety of foods?

Question

My 16 month old doesnt like to try new foods and I cant get her to even try vegies. She ate well when on baby food, but those days are over.

Answer 1

She might be a little young for this tactic, but what worked for me was arranging the veggies into smiling faces on the plate. Call brocolli "little trees"...that kind of stuff. Don't worry about her fussy eating at this point. If she's at a normal weight, nothing to worry about. Consult your pediatrician if you're concerned she's not getting the right nutrients. There are nutritional juices and various other supplements that she would probably enjoy.

Answer 2

Totally normal :) Just keep putting them in front of her and eventually she'll pick them up. It's not unusual for you to have to put something in front of them 20 times or more before they want to touch it and maybe a few more before they'll take a bite.

Also, get her involved in preparing the food. Whatever is age-appropriate (and you'd be surprised what they can do if you just show them!) Maybe start by allowing her to serve herself with a spoon from the serving dish and applaud her efforts... give her a little appetizer knife (rounded on all edges... like a spreader) and have her spread butter around on her bread. Have her pull seedless grapes off the stems... show her how to slice bananas with that same little appetizer knife/spreader.

Give her a wide variety of food and food experiences, and keep in mind that she'll eat as much as she needs to stay healthy... because toddlers get fussy and active, but will not starve themselves to death :)

If you're concerned about her size/weight etc, see if she'll drink Toddler formula instead of milk and then just take a deep breath and know that this, too, will pass. Just keep exposing her to food and she'll learn to love a wide variety of foods, just because she sees you eating them and they're in front of her until she's comfortable with trying them.

Good luck!

Answer 3

kids are very difficult when it comes to eating. Try introducing the foods in a fun way (they say not to play with your food but.....)
Make something out of veggies and help her tear it apart and eat it!! Or give her some veggie dip so she can let them 'swim' in it and then eat it (it helps with taste also). or if you have to 'mush' it up like baby food, maybe she'll eat it better. Or award her for eating healthy stuff like that.....like tell her if she eats all her carrots then she can have a cookie, or sucker, or those fruit snacks that kids like. Just introduce it differently than just sitting it in front of her.

Answer 4

keep on trying.. time for her to.. get over it.. it's all over now, she's going to be a woman soon.. :D

she'll give in.

i have a funny weining me off the baby bottle story but... in short i got over it.. with a dramatic climax.. broken brown glass and tears all over!

:D

have you tried... apple sauce? mashing the peas a bit? mashed potatoes? simple and small amounts a tad whipped? maybe she's having trouble adjusting internally too?

i had that and i got scared.. didn't wan't to eat solids because i was in pain and farted alot.. and i had to go more often so i was like hey if i stick with the old stuff that won't happen!

NOT!

maybe that's it too? who knows just keep trying!
babies are stubborn they appreciate their youth :D those little bodies have to go through alot when change happens..

that even happens when you're an adult.. i get gerd so bad i don't want to eat... just lazy and don't want the fuss.

Answer 5

All you can do if offer. Make sure there is plenty of variety in your family's diet. Reduce any unhealthly foods from your regular fare. I alwasy played up veggies as a "special treat". If they didn't want I played up how grateful I was to have their extras. After a while, they didn't want to "share" with me anymore.

Answer 6

Personal experience, with 4 yr old triplets, has taught me that my kids will eat anything off my plate before they'll touch the same exact foods on their plates!

Kids want to be like their parents. Let your little one see you enjoying your veggies, and he'll/she'll want in on the action.

Good luck, and patience be with you...

Answer 7

Maybe you can try disguising them a bit. Chop cooked veggies up in an electric mini chopper and serve them, or mix them in with mashed potatoes. You could also try making different breads or muffins that contain veggies, just so she's getting some in her diet.

Answer 8

Fun in food (smiley faces or airplanes made of veggies in plate do work). I had my toddlers help me arranging food in their plates. the only thing that actually worked is to give them no other option. Sounds harsh but it works and a kid will not make himself starve!!!

Answer 9

make their plate food with small amount of foods they like, more of what they don't want to try. whatever they refuse to try gets put in the fridge. next time they are hungry and want food, bring out the plate of food for them to eat. if they get hungry enough they will try it.

Answer 10

Well alot of babies have trouble with the texture not the taste of the food .Keep placing the vegetables on her plate in small portions. give her something to dip them in such as your favorite dressing, peanut butter, ketchup> it sounds gross I know but it works.Good luck!