Anyone else have a toddler that barely eats dinner?

She is so picky to begin with and dinner is a battle. She will eat a piece of cheese, and a cracker and be fine with that.

Sometimes she asks for cereal or mini muffins.

once and a while I will get her to eat mac and cheese or pb&j.

I dont stress about it TOO much cause she eats OK during the day and is 31lbs at just over 2, but I srsly dont know how she survives lol.

Re: Anyone else have a toddler that barely eats dinner?

My DD is a BIG eater, but she eats a ton earlier in the day and some days dinner is very light. Tonight she had a cookie, cheese stick and some ditalini. I don't battle with her either - if she's hungry she will eat.

Re: Anyone else have a toddler that barely eats dinner?

My DD is about the same weight and age. She often eats next to nothing for dinner during the week but it's because her daycare gives them an afternoon snack at like 3:30 (usually fruit, cheese and some kind of cracker). She eats well during the rest of the day and can eat like a horse on the weekends when she doesn't have as many snacks so I don't worry at all.

Re: Anyone else have a toddler that barely eats dinner?

DS has no dinner most nights. Tonight I think he had one bite, that was a lot for him. He will ask for ice cream or snacks later on but we tell him he needs to eat dinner first and usually thats enough to stop him from asking again He eats a good lunch everyday and thats about it.

Re: Anyone else have a toddler that barely eats dinner?

Yes...there are so many nights that he goes to bed without eating dinner. I figure if he is hungry he will eat.

Re: Anyone else have a toddler that barely eats dinner?

Same here, DS is 27 months and (33 inches / 27 lbs.) and refuses dinner most days. He does eat breakfast, lunch and the two snacks I give at daycare though. I figure as long as he's eating mostly during the daytime, he's fine.

Re: Anyone else have a toddler that barely eats dinner?

Yup, tonight she had yogurt for dinner. I tried giving her 2 other things (perogies, which we were eating and her usual pasta that she loves) but she refused both. She was exhausted though and I think she's teething pretty bad... MIL said she ate great during the day though so i'm okay with it. She just had her milk and went to bed.

Re: Anyone else have a toddler that barely eats dinner?

My DD is not a good eater. She will be 2 in April.
Dinner most nights is Oatmeal or scrambled eggs.
Once in a while she will have a few bites of pizza or mac n cheese. But it is literally 2-3 bites.
She does love fruit and yogurt so I can't complain there.
But if you give her the option (which I don't) I think she would eat cookies, crackers , cake and ice cream all day long.

Re: Anyone else have a toddler that barely eats dinner?

Mine is the same...everything I've read said this is normal for toddlers (and a small meal at the end of the day is healthier than a big one)

Re: Anyone else have a toddler that barely eats dinner?

DS used to be an amazing meal eater.

As he has gotten older I have noticed he will now typically eat 2 solid meals. The 3rd is a flop. Sometimes its breakfast, sometimes lunch, sometimes dinner. Dinner is usually the flakiest meal of them all.

DS is allowed to have a snack after nap time. But I make sure he is done eating it by 5 to give enough time for him to get hungry again for dinner at 6:30.

Re: Anyone else have a toddler that barely eats dinner?

Yes! DD just seems to peter out throughout the day. She eats her best at breakfast and it's downhill from there. Tonight she ate a pear and a yogurt drink. She tasted her pasta and then nodded no. She practically stared her broccoli off the plate. It is what it is!

Message edited 3/16/2011 9:57:07 PM.