Feeding Toddlers - 2 part ??

1. we saw the new ped on Friday - and after we explained EVERYTHING going on with Em's eating (or lack thereof and ALL of her stomach virus') - we got some real sound advice & knowledge. One thing he told us is that if she's eaitng one meal a day (and she typically does), and we're TRYING for a balanced day at the other meals, then we're on the BONUS plan. his daughter is 20 days different (didn't ask younger or older) than Em and there are days when she won't even do the ONE meal. this leads me to my ????

i find that if we 'skip' breakfast (she's a late'ish sleeper anyway"....and go right to lunch a few hours after she's awake....we have a LOT more success. Case in point - today - she woke up at 11:00 and wasn't hungry at all (didn't want bottle, didn't want sippy of water). I waited until NOW to feed her lunch (she was acting hungry) and she ate the whole thing and i'm now feeding blueberries. do any of your kids only eat 2 meals a day???

2. how much fruit is TOO MUCH fruit? so far she's eaten like 10 blueberries. should i switch it up and give her some strawberries or just let her go on blueberries? how many is TOO many??? can TOO much fruit be harmful in any way?

Re: Feeding Toddlers - 2 part ??

You had to know I was going to answer!

There are MANY days Samantha doesn't want anything to do with breakfast and some days where she wants nothing to do with lunch either.

She's not really a "picky" eater. But from what I've read and heard from other toddler mommies it's fairly common.

What I've started doing, is I keep frozen Vans Waffles/French Toast Sticks/Pancakes etc, and after heating one up, will give it to her while she's playing in the morning rather than putting her in her high chair. I call it the "portable" breakfast. She's happy, and I'm not stressed because she's not eating "properly" KWIM?

Sometimes with lunch if she's acting the same way, I put her lunch in one of those snack cups (cut up turkey or cheese, or something similar). Again, portable, she's happy because she can play and eat at the same time. These are also the days I will allow her extra snacks throughout the day.

Dinner we don't usually have a problem with, but I ALWAYS make sure she has some sort of protein with dinner.

IMO and in my experience with Samantha, I don't think there is such a thing as too much fruit. Some days all she wants are blueberries and other days she shakes her head no at them and pushes them away. I stick with what I know she already likes.

HTH!

Re: Feeding Toddlers - 2 part ??

thank you so much Mich.....

i just feel so weird, only giving her 2 meals a day....

but it worked like a charm last night - she ate a nice amount of dinner and was quite happy!

Re: Feeding Toddlers - 2 part ??

Glad to hear that Jess!! My Dr told us its ok if she doesn't eat 3 meals a day she will not starve so we just go with whatever Miss Riley wants.

Denise

Re: Feeding Toddlers - 2 part ??

DS is similar. I used to stress about breakfast and try to get him to eat a few things. Now if he eats yogurt, or a sausage, or even a few cookies, he's hungrier by lunch and will eat more willingly. I also realized the same with a snack after nap. If I don't give him a really big or heavy snack, he eats dinner more willingly. I had read how important snacks were, and kept trying to push them, but they weren't really helping in our situation.

Re: Feeding Toddlers - 2 part ??

DS is 4 and there have been MANY days where he won't eat breakfast. So, if he's not hungry, I don't force him.

Some days, he won't eat lunch. Some nights, he won't eat dinner. I try to never force him. He'll eat when he's hungry. HOWEVER, now that he's older, he'll try to ask for a snack or a cookie and that's a no. But, for your daughter, it's innocent and she's just not hungry.

As for fruit, DS loves fruit and I've always given him whatever he asks for. For a while he was on a banana kick. Then he moved to strawberries. I would just watch to make sure she doesn't get constipated or the runs, which I'm sure you do anyway. If she's fine, give her what she wants.