If you’re a parent, it can be hard to know what your toddler needs to eat. There are so many things that they could be eating, and some of them sound good, but others sound like they might not be good for them. A lot of it comes down to trial and error, but there are some things that you can do to make sure that your toddler is getting the right nutrition at every meal.

If you’re looking for a healthy way to get your toddler to eat, try these tips!

I don’t like a broccoli!

1. Start with small bites. Your child may be hungry at first, but they won’t eat as much if you give them a big bite of food.
If your toddler likes fruits and vegetables, don’t hesitate to make them part of their regular diet. Offer them cut-up pieces of fruit or vegetables with a little dip or dip sauce (such as yogurt) on the side. This way, you don’t have to worry about what else they’re eating and they’ll get used to these new tastes!

Child is very unhappy with having to eat vegetables. There is a lot of vegetables on his plate. He hates vegetables.

2. Offer other options, too! It’s okay to offer something else if your toddler refuses their meal.
First, we recommend not giving your child anything they’re not willing to eat. We know that when you’re a parent, you want what’s best for your child—but in this case, that means trusting their own preferences! If they don’t like carrots or Brussels sprouts or broccoli, try offering them other things instead of force-feeding them something they don’t want.

Shot of a family of four cooking together in their kitchen at home

3. Make it fun! When your toddler is ready to eat, have them help prepare the meal by cutting the food into fun shapes, mixing it up with different spices or flavors, or making it appeal to them more than just plain old food (like macaroni and cheese).

4. Another great idea is taking your toddler out to buy some fruits or vegetables so they can see what they are and experience how they look before eating them. This will help build their confidence when it comes time for dinner later on!

Toddlers are a lot like little adults: they love to eat, and they need to eat well. But they can’t eat everything they want all the time—not unless you’re feeding them with a spoon and a juice box.

So how do you balance giving your toddler the best possible foods while still keeping your kid healthy? We’ve got some tips:

1) Pick your battles. If your kid has a food craving, don’t let it dictate what they’ll eat. Instead, try substituting something else with similar nutrients (like applesauce or yogurt instead of ice cream) or offering less sugary treats and more nutritious options (like fish sticks or chicken nuggets).

2) Be prepared! Always have healthy snacks on hand so that when your kid does get hungry, there’s something available immediately. And keep an eye out for signs that they’re getting too much sugar—they may be looking for a snack more often than usual, or not wanting to play because of stomach aches.

Healthy eating is important for toddlers, and it’s something you can help them learn at home.

At first, it may seem like a lot of work—but we promise, it’s worth it!

What more ideas do you have to encourage healthy eating among toddlers? Let us know on the comment section.

Lots of Love,

Dr. Ruguru Kimani.