1. Family Style Eating

Sharing a meal together as a family is a great way to model healthy eating habits. Make sure that there are no media distractions like TV or cell phones during mealtime. It’s important to serve one meal for the whole family and resist the urge to make another meal if your child refuses what you’ve served. This only encourages picky eating. Try to include at least one food your child likes with each meal and continue to provide a balanced meal, whether they eat it or not.

2. Provide a Variety of Nutritious Foods

Though your little one may not eat everything you offer, the important thing is to provide them with a wide variety of nutritious foods to choose from. Let them explore the different colors, textures, and flavors of fruits, vegetables, and other food groups. These include grains, roots, tubers, and plantains; pulses (beans, peas, lentils), nuts, and seeds; dairy products (milk, yogurt, cheese); meat, fish, poultry; eggs; vitamin-A rich fruits and vegetables, and other sele and vegetables. If your child is struggling with a specific vegetable, try offering both the raw and cooked versions—they may love one and reject the other

3. Try a different version of the same dish

Often, kids prefer to avoid a new food because it is prepared a certain way. For example, if your child doesn’t like steamed vegetables, try adding them to the soup. If they don’t like a particular texture, try blending it into a fine paste, making it more palatable. If they dislike hard-boiled eggs, try making a veggie-filled omelet. Try all different techniques for baking, frying, cooking, and steaming. There is a good chance that they will eat that food a certain way.

4. Keep portions small

Toddlers and young children have much smaller stomachs than adults—about the size of a clenched fist—so they cannot eat the same portions as their parents at the table. Make sure you offer your child an age-appropriate amount of nutritious food and praise them for eating, even if it is just a little bit.

5. Make Food Fun

Toddlers are incredibly open to trying foods arranged in fun and creative ways. Make food look yummy by setting them in fun and colorful shapes. Kids also love foods involving dip. Finger foods are also usually a hit with toddlers. Cut solid foods into small bite-size pieces to avoid the risk of choking.

6. Involve Kids in Meal Planning

Put your toddler’s growing interest in exercising control to good use. Let your child pick which fruit and vegetable to make for dinner or during visits to the grocery store or farmer’s market. Read kid-friendly cookbooks together and let your child pick out new recipes to try.

7. Try, Try Again

Just because a child refuses food once, don’t give up. Keep offering new foods and those your child didn’t like before. It can take as many as ten or more food tastings before a toddler’s taste buds accept it. Scheduled meals and limiting snacks can help ensure your child is hungry when new food is introduced.

8. Be a Good Role Model

Young children like to copy the behavior of the adults they love and trust. If your child sees you eating healthy foods or a food they haven’t tried before, they’re more likely to want to try it too. Sit down, eat together, and talk about the food on your plate and how yummy it is. You’ll likely raise a more adventurous eater if they know you’re taking the journey with them!

In conclusion, it’s vital for your toddler’s growth and development that you teach them how to eat well. By following these simple tips; you can help your child develop a love for nutritious foods that will last a lifetime. Remember, it’s important to be patient and persistent in your efforts – your child’s taste buds will eventually catch up!