How much should my toddler be eating?

You asked and you shall now receive. It’s only fair for us to share all of this stored up knowledge about a toddlers and what happens when they start toddling (and talking)! We now will answer, in a very public forum, all of those burning questions about children in their second year. Each Wednesday, we will tackle a commonly-asked-question from the point of view of a parent with a toddler. Chiming in to give her feedback will be an expert who has been there and done that. Earmark, share and add your own input to today’s question; it’s good karma.

How much should my toddler be eating?

Expert: Marsha Greenberg

Toddlers generally eat less at a meal and snack more because they are so busy focusing on moving and self help skills- “do it myself” – including choosing how much they will eat. If you are concerned about your toddler try to offer healthy snacks: pasta and veggies in a bag, fruit smoothies, pancake rollups filled with peanut butter, dips for fruits and veggies or something your toddler loves are just a few examples. Toddlers have safe foods they love and may be reluctant to experiment. It may take your toddler 15 times before they are willing to take a small bite of something. Don’t give up!

Try to create healthy eating environments and model your own healthy eating behavior for your toddler and remember this time will also pass and your toddler will begin to participate more easily at meal times.

Picky eaters may hold fast to their limited diet so try and to avoid bribery and most important remind yourself that power struggles over food leak out to other areas of development and do not change eating patterns in a way that tends to be successful for you or your toddler.

Pediatric Nutritionist, Ellen Satter has a number of excellent books to help guide parents thru this time in a way that can reduce our own stress as toddlers throw more food then they eat.

Marsha Greenberg M.S., M.S. W

Marsha is a therapist in New York City. She is the author of the newly released book, Raising Your Toddler, by Globe Pequot Press. She has masters degrees in Child and Family Development and Social Work from the University of Michigan. As the Director of the Health Systems Child Care Program for over 14 years, she was responsible for over 250 children between the ages of 6 weeks and 6 years of age. Marsha teaches in the Early Childhood Special Education department at NYU and has a private psychotherapy practice in NYC. Marsha is the mother of three grown sons and has three grandsons (aged 4 and 18 months and 4 months) with a new grandchild on the way.