18 Mo Doesn't Eat Well

I have two little boys (4 and 2) who do not eat veggies. I started giving them Odwalla's Original Superfood smoothie. It is green - probably the only green food that I can get them to consume. It's expensive - $7.99 for the big bottle (sometimes Market Basket has it on sale for $4.99) You'll find it in the produce dept. I know lots of people make green smoothies for their kids - I just haven't had any luck with the home made green ones.

I also make them a blended sweet potato and red lentil soup that they love. I can send the recipe if you'd like to try it. Good luck!

I've got an 18mo with special needs and feeding has almost always been an issue for us. He didn't even take solids until well over a year old - and still doesn't feed himself. We use bottles as he can't use a cup or straw, but he does eat his meals and snacks in solid form (usually).
Every day though, to ensure that he is getting enough calories and good nutrients, we make a smoothie baba (as it's called in our house). Fruits, veggies, dinner leftovers (tonight was rice and turkey stirfry) - whatever he needs to eat, gets pureed (KitchenAid blender has been wonderful for this purpose), and he drinks it out of the bottle. I've found he'll take just about anything if it's in a bottle! If your 18mo isn't taking bottles anymore, you can still do the same thing and just put the puree into a cup, so she drinks it like a smoothie. It's not always possible to force kids to eat, and sometimes it's better to just know that they're getting what they need.

Also, check out wholesometoddlerfood.com - it gives you insight on how much your child should actually be eating each day, and creative recipes and ideas to get more in them. 40 calories per inch of height is the current recommendation :)

My middle daughter has always been a troubled eater because of dietary restrictions and self-restricting diet (Sensory Processing Disorder, Autism, etc). I provide foods I know she likes and are healthy for her and I allow her to snack a lot in between meals. She drinks soy milk and really V-8 and Lactaid milk, and in the summer I make yogurt smoothies with her favorite fruits (which I buy frozen so that the smoothie is nice and cold).

The key for us in not struggling at meals was making foods she did eat and could be considered healthy available to her whenever she wanted it. If she asks for a fruit or veggie or yogurt I never say no. I buy what I know she'll eat and is safe for her to eat (per the restricted diet) and I supplement her diet with Gummi Vites multi-vitamins because they're allergen-free.

There's a name for this method of eating throughout the day (versus sticking to three meals with a snack or two). It's called grazing, and it can be really effective for difficult eaters.

She's a baby. Give her food that is healthy and age-appropriate (small, soft pieces). Do NOT allow a baby to start dictating how things are done. You're just asking for trouble!

I'd be juicing like crazy - only fresh fruits and veggies - throw in an apple and it sweetens everything, you can't taste the veggies. I'd recommend a juicer that doesn't leave a lot of pulp behind as you want the fiber.

Mix fruit and veggie purees into things like hummus, oatmeal and yogurt for her to dip. I put veggies in everything to get those servings in where I can!

Encourage her parents to keep offering healthy foods (and steer clear of packaged, processed ones or else she won't take to the good stuff!) and not give up - much of my reading and experience showed that sometimes you have to offer over 15 times before the child will take it.

Good luck!

forget the drinks.....if there are no underlying health/cognitive issues, then she truly needs to learn to comply with eating.

If you allow her to set the rules, then you will regret this before she is 3.... possibly before she's 2.

Let her help chose the meal, making sure to cover all elements of the food pyramid. Let her help serve the plate. Offer a reward for complying & eating like a big girl. If she doesn't eat, then remove the plate...do NOT offer a drink as a substitute.....& when she's hungry, offer the plate again.

You are not doing any service by allowing her to have "healthy" drinks.

EDIT: **I just looked at your other ?s. Are you raising your nieces? I noticed you asked a ? last summer about a 2y.o. niece....? Interesting.

I would recommend Reliv's NOW for Kids - it's a comprehensive supplement developed by the same world-renowned food scientist who developed ProSoBee infant formula. It includes all necessary nutrients plus DHA for brain development. It's also easier to digest than Pediasure because it contains no emulsifiers. I would not recommend children's vitamins - besides having warning labels on them, they are not absorbed easily, and the gummy ones are the worst. Most pediatricians will tell you they are a waste of money. NOW for Kids is available in vanilla and chocolate, and there is a money-back guarantee plus lots of great customer support and help from other parents. Let me know if you'd like more info.

Smoothies! You can sneak some veggies in there too! i kinda disagree with those that say you set the rules. I have a difficult eater who is now 28 months and there is no getting her to eat something if she's made her mind up she doesnt want it. All you can do is offer nutritious foods and if she's hungry enough and wants to eat it she will. I agree with the juicing. Who cares what form she gets it in as long as she gets it. It wont last forever. My comment to those that say give them what you want them to eat or else let them be hungry...I saw come watch my daughter while she's up all night cause she hungry!

Try feeding her when she's done feeding herself. My 18 month old (almost 19) is on Pediasure along with whole milk, she's had all sorts of tests, we're doing a food diary now, she's "failure to thrive" (16 lbs 10 oz). I found she will eat a tsp or two and then when she pushes her bowl away and says "no!" if I can sneak in a bite or two I can usually get her to eat most of what I serve her. I serve her by the federal food program guidelines which isn't really a lot but at that age their tummies aren't big enough to take more! (1/8 c fruit, 1/8 c veg, - I usually only do 1/8 cup main meat/dish too unless it's something i know she'll eat good then 1/4.) I bought 1/8 cup coffee scoops and extra measuring spoons (2 TB= 1/8 cup) to make it easier to keep track of what is really is eating. Also her dr told me to give her the food first and then when she's done eating and between meals offer her the milk so she's getting the nutrients she needs from the food and not just filling up on the milk.