Nutricious Meals for a Toddler

That is very thin for a boy! My friend's son is 3 and just got weighed in at 39 lbs and that is 75th percentile! I have the same problem with my son. It helps when he sees other children eating something and also when he is preoccupied with something he likes. My son has started to say No much more often lately because I think he likes the feeling. Maybe someone else can offer him the food? I would keep the food plain, like no stews or chunky soups unless that is his thing. Maybe he can help you cook? Also, you could tell him he is tries a bite you can do something he likes. I have found that my son is much more agreeable when he can clean the litter box after wards (he loves this). I also try to make the eating fun my telling him to make a big bite or a little bite. It can be very time intensive. I am no expert and I am looking forward to tips from other moms too!

My daughter just turned 5 and is only 35 pounds. If I remember correctly, she is at or below the 25th percentile for height and weight. She is small but healthy and happy and quite strong. If your son is on the small side but doesn't exhibit any symptoms pointing to health problems then I wouldn't worry. Chances are he is just small, not unhealthy.

Regarding eating habits..When my kids were 2, 3, 4 their eating habits were all over the board. Some days they were hungry, other days they weren't. If they ate one good, "full" meal, they wouldn't eat well at the next meal. I wouldn't describe them as picky eaters, I just think that is the way of toddlers. I would offer my kids healthy meals and healthy snacks. I limited the junk. I limited drinking right before mealtime so they wouldn't fill up on liquids (about 30-60 minutes before meals). I also gave them a vitamin.

If you are interested, check into cookbooks like Deceptively Delicious which have recipes for hiding fruits and veggies in other foods. One easy thing to do is add jars of baby food to spaghetti sauce, ground beef when making burgers, meatloaf, etc. Make finger foods - that always seems to appeal more to kids on the run - fruit slices, rolled lunchmeats, veggie sticks, snack mixes (make one with his favorites - my kids like cereal, raisins, yogurt covered pretzels, mini teddy grahams, goldfish crackers), etc. Provide some dips to try - ketchup, ranch, yogurt. Best wishes to you!

I don't know any websites with recipes per se, but I wanted you to know that your son is okay. Toddlers may be picky but they won't actually starve themselves. My daughter was that way. She was rail thin and wold not eat anything other than peanut butter on bread for a month, then she moved on to chicken. The doctor told me if I could just get her to take a bite of banana here and a bit of green beans there she could eat peanut butter or chicken all she wanted (which was very little!). She was that way until she was almost four. I didn't ever cook anything special for her, I just made healthy things and made her a little plate with no added seasoning. I never made her eat it though. Now she is nearly ten and tall and slim and healthy. She does not have the eating problems that other kids her age have because we never made food an issue. All your son has to have are a few bites here and there and he will be okay. I did find one website with some good tips.

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/3/t030800.asp

It is not a meal but my pediatrician recommended the V8 splash drinks uncut to add some good nutients. Would he be more interested in trying things if he were part if the preparations? I know several schools are trying this with success. Hummus is a good "fooler" food - it's like junk food but is a veggie. I look forward to reading others responses.

I got some of those picky eater books and they didn't help (at least for us). Here are a few of the things I've discovered:

I have only healthy food in the house, so whatever they want to eat is okay.

It's okay if they eat a little at one meal or snack in-between. I don't measure nuturition by one meal, but by the week. Over a week it really evens out.

I will put food in tiny bowls (ramekins) or even ice cube trays.

I will have dipping sauces. Dunking can be fun.

I will skewer the food in chunks on pretzel sticks like mini shis-kebabs.

I have fed my boy, not to make him eat, but because he'd rather not futz with the fork & spoon finger coordination at this age.

I've made games, where he gives his food different names and he asks for them by the new names. "moop" "bada" "sheeeee"

Another game is me setting up a bite on his fork and then me saying something like "I'm going to feed you this bite because you can't do it. I'm just going to look over here first and then I'm going to feed you." of course he grabs the bite and does it himself. I have mock upset and he grins with total pride.

I don't force or guilt to eat, but I will try to make it more kid friendly with presentation and/or fun.

My son is also picky (he is 6 yrs old) and he has been since he was 2. He weighs 43 lbs and weighed about the same as your son when he was 3. He does eat much better now that he is older. Just keep offering him small amounts of everything you are eating plus some things he likes too. My son always gets a fruit and a veggie on his plate. I would make my him smoothies with fruit and honey and high fat yogurt and milk. We called them milk shakes. He likes mashed potatoes so when I make them they have lots of butter and milk and sometimes cheese in them. Does your son like bacon? Does he like to dip foods? My guess is sometime in the near future he will eat a bunch at one time. Don't let it drive you too crazy (it did drive me crazy but now I worry much less).

Check out this website: www.weelicious.com Also, just be consistent, I read that it takes 15 to 20 times of serving something before they actually try it. My daughter wouldn't touch zuchinni for the longest time and now she loves it. My girls are finicky too, they just don't eat a lot in one sitting. Sometimes we'll heat up the food for them later or give them bites off the table.

I don't have any food ideas..my kids are not picky, but they definitely have their days where they won't eat something. But, all I can say is don't give in to unhealthy foods. It seems like there are so many posts on here stating that their child will only eat chicken nuggets and candy and nothing else. It is the picky eaters that need the healthiest food because their diet isn't well-rounded to begin with.

Thee lowest two shelves of my pantry and fridge are filled with food for my kids. Most of the time I allow them free range ( I have a 2 year old and 4 1/2 yr old) of both whenever they want (sometimes just not right before dinner). The pantry is stocked with raisins, pistachios, low sugar cereal, gold fish, dried fruit and fruit cups, etc. The fridge is stocked with yogurt (lots of it), string cheese, cut up fruit and veggies, etc. Maybe you could designate a shelf or two in your pantry or fridge with some good snacks and maybe your little guy will be so proud he can help himself that he will eat more.

Good luck!