TODDLER SNACKING

Snacking for Younger Toddlers

Picky eating is common in toddlers. The world has become an exciting place and food may be less important when there are so many other things to do and places to explore. There are other reasons why toddlers' eating patterns change which include:

• Slower Growth

Growth slows down in the second year. This means toddlers often have small appetites and need less food. The amount eaten from day-to-day can change dramatically. Although this sometimes worries parents, this change is normal and doesn't mean your child is being difficult or is unwell.
• Grazing and Snacking

Toddlers rarely follow a traditional meal pattern. They tend to need small and regular snacks. This suits small tummy sizes and provides the energy to keep moving all day. The amount eaten at mealtimes, in particular the evening meal, may be smaller than parents would like. However, children can balance the amount of food eaten with exactly how much they need if they are not forced to overeat or finish all the food on the plate.

This means that healthy toddler snacking is important to help provide the energy and nutrition your child needs during the day.

Things to remember

• The parent may decide what and when to feed, but the child will decide whether or not to eat and how much they'll eat.
• Toddlers' appetites and food intake can vary daily.
• new foods may be rejected at first, so be patient and keep offering them.

DID YOU KNOW that a toddler can use as much energy in 1 hour as an adult can use in a whole week!!

Older Toddler Snacking

Older toddlers are often erratic eaters. They love food one day and dislike it the next, or the meal they refused at home is eaten happily away from home. This can frustrate and baffle most parents, but it's a common eating pattern for a healthy and active older toddler.

TIP - Make sure you have lunch and dinner ready around meal times for when they say...'I'm hungry'.

If you've had an expectionally busy day and find yourself under prepared, keeping some leftovers in the fridge or freezer is a great lifesaver.

Have fun with food
You can use food activities with older toddlers to help them become familiar with foods and learn simple ideas about nutrition. Letting children get involved in basic food preparation - like making a cake, sandwiches or salad - teaches them about healthy foods. Other learning opportunities include:

• Exploration of shapes, colours and how foods grow.
• Development of skills like pouring, stirring and cutting.
• Learning simple hygiene, like washing hands before touching food or eating.
• Sharing food with other people.

Healthy Snacks
Snacks between meals play an important part in the energy intake of young children, so keep these as healthy, nutritious and as interesting as possible. Ideas include:

• Fresh and dried fruits.
• Crackers with cheese and dips.
• Yoghurt (can be frozen in hot weather in place of icecreams).
• Raisin bread, fruit loaf or toasted muffins.
• Plain biscuits, scones or buns.
• sticks such as capsicum (hard vegetables should be grated or steamed for children under three years of age to reduce the risk of choking).

Tips for feeding older toddlers successfully

• Offer a variety of foods every day.
• Enjoy eating as a family. Make them feel big and an important family member.
• Don't force your child to eat when tired or not hungry.
• Offer water and milk instead of juice or cordial.
• Dilute their fruit juice by adding 50% water.
• Offer healthy snacks between meals.
• Get your child involved in simple meal preparation.
• Accept some food refusal without worry.
• Be a role model for your child and eat a healthy diet.

Great snack ideas and recipes more

Source: betterhealthchannel.com.au