Toddler Finicky About Fruits & Vegetables
If you're concerned that your child isn't consuming an adequate amount of fruits and vegetables, your observation is accurate. Numerous young children fall short of meeting their dietary requirements for these food groups.
It's not uncommon for your child to decline fruits and vegetables.
Children have an innate preference for sweets and fats, and acquiring a taste for a variety of foods is a learned process. If you exclusively provide your child with their preferred items, they may consume those in excess and be reluctant to experiment with new foods. Conversely, excessive pressure to consume fruits and vegetables is discouraged, as children tend to resist foods that are pushed onto them.
What should a well-intentioned parent do in this situation?
· Be Patient
It may be necessary to present a new food to your child as many as 15 times or even more before she is open to trying it. This principle can also be applicable to selective spouses and other family members. Over time, she will become familiar with the food by seeing it, smelling it, possibly tasting it, and even touching it. Ideally, her willingness to try it will increase if she observes you and other family members enjoying it. It's important not to resort to bribery or pleading. If you avoid putting pressure on her, she will likely give it a try eventually.
· Try serving a variety of fruits and vegetables in many forms
This approach can prevent your child from developing a food jag, which is a strong preference for consuming only a limited selection of foods repeatedly. If your child declines the food you've prepared, it's important to resist the temptation to offer her an alternative when she gets hungry later. This will encourage her to explore and consume less preferred foods to avoid hunger. Potatoes can be prepared in various ways, such as baking, boiling, making chips, or as part of a creamy dish. Toddlers require a slightly higher fat intake in their diets compared to older children and adults. You can enhance the flavor of vegetables with cheese sauces, cream sauces, gravy, and butter, while cream cheese, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream can make fruits more appealing.
Serving Size Of Toddlers
Very young children require a diverse range of nutrient-rich foods, much like older kids and adults. An adequate serving size for toddlers typically falls between one-quarter to one-half of an adult serving. Alternatively, a quick method to estimate serving sizes for children is allocating 1 tablespoon per year of age. For instance, a 2-year-old would be provided with 2 tablespoons of fruits or vegetables, while a 4-year-old would receive 4 tablespoons or approximately a quarter-cup serving.
· Grain Group:
Include approximately 3 ounces of grains daily, with the aim of having at least half of them as whole grains. This is equivalent to about three standard slices of bread, a chapati, half a cup of cereal, or a quarter cup of cooked rice or semolina pasta.
· Vegetable Group:
Consume one cup of raw and/or cooked vegetables on a daily basis.
· Fruit Group :
Give one cup of fresh, frozen, canned, dried, or 100% fruit juice daily.
· Milk Group:
Consume two cups daily. Whole milk is advised for children under the age of 2, while older children can opt for lower-fat, calcium-rich options like fat-free or low-fat milk. Additionally, dairy products like cheese, yogurt, and paneer are suitable choices.
· Meat /Beans :
Give a total of 2 ounces per day, with options that include one ounce of lean meat or chicken along with one egg, or 1 ounce of fish paired with a quarter cup of cooked beans such as chickpeas."
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