Picture this: It's a typical weeknight, and you're preparing dinner after a busy workday. The roasted chicken and potatoes are nearly done, and you're adding the final seasonings to the sautéed broccoli. As your family approaches the dinner table, your 2-year-old protests.

After running a few laps around the table and finally being placed in their booster chair, they push away their plate and respond with a firm "No!" to any attempts to encourage eating. Sound familiar?

Let's address the five most common questions parents have about their toddler's nutrition and provide practical solutions that can help make mealtimes less stressful.

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Why Do Toddler Eating Habits Change?

Between 18 and 24 months, little ones go through remarkable changes that affect how they eat and interact with food. This is caused by:

• Teething: Although the first tooth may appear between 6 and 12 months, most primary teeth erupt between 15 and 24 months old. As a result, eating can sometimes become uncomfortable.
• Language Skills: Toddlers begin to use words to express their likes and dislikes. By ages 24 to 30 months, language skills progress from just a few words to short phrases or sentences.
• Emotional Growth: Kids are still learning to regulate their emotions and understand social expectations. They may express strong opinions at mealtime or even have tantrums.
• Social Influences: In playgroups, daycare, or preschool settings, children often adopt the eating habits of their peers.

All of these challenges may cause parents to question the nutritional value of their child’s diet.

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5 Common Questions from Parents

I regularly hear parents’ concerns about their toddlers' eating behaviors in clinical pediatric practice. They are dismayed that their infant, who “ate everything,” is now a toddler who frowns and pushes away certain foods. They wonder, “What happened?”

Based on my experience, here are some of the most common questions parents ask and suggestions for addressing these challenges.

1. "Some days, my 2-year-old doesn’t want to eat. Are they eating enough to grow?"
2. "How do I make sure my toddler eats enough protein when they refuse meat and chicken?"
3. "How do I convince my toddler to eat vegetables?"
4. "How can I encourage my toddler to drink more water instead of juice?"
5. "Why is my toddler overweight when I offer only healthy foods?"

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1. "Some Days, My 2-Year-Old Doesn't Want to Eat. Are They Eating Enough To Grow?"

Unbeknownst to many parents, it's very normal for toddlers to eat more food on some days than others. You might notice one of two patterns:

1. Your child eats small snacks throughout the day but very little at meals.
2. Your little one eats breakfast, lunch, and snacks but no dinner.

In each situation, your toddler is less hungry when refusing food, and their body self-regulates food intake. This happens because toddlers grow much slower than infants and don't need to consume as many calories. These inconsistent eating patterns usually don't affect overall growth or weight gain.

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To help establish healthy mealtime routines:

• Have your toddler sit with the family at the table for meals, whether they eat or not.
• Don't replace refused meals with favorite foods or milk, as this can increase picky eating and may lead to constipation or iron deficiency.
• Offer a plate of food consistently, even if it goes uneaten.
• Remove the plate of food if uneaten after 20 minutes without discussion.
• Show how much you and the rest of the family enjoy the food, as toddlers learn by imitating others.
• Avoid punishing your toddler for refusing to eat, as this can create negative feelings about food.

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2. "How Do I Make Sure My Toddler Eats Enough Protein When They Refuse Meat and Chicken?"

This concern is particularly common in non-vegetarian households where parents believe dietary protein should come primarily from meat sources. These are some reasons young toddlers might refuse meat or poultry:

1. The texture of meat and poultry requires advanced oro-motor skills that don't fully develop until age three, so chewing takes more time and effort. [1] As a result, many toddlers either spit out the meat, hold it in one cheek, or refuse to try it.
2. Teething pain, particularly during the eruption of molars (13–19 months) and canine teeth, can cause sensitive gums that can cause discomfort when eating foods that require more chewing effort.
3. Some children may simply dislike the taste and continue to refuse meat and poultry beyond their toddler years.

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To ensure adequate protein consumption, try these approaches:

• Offer finely ground poultry or meat in forms like meatballs or tacos.
• Add meat to soups to soften the texture.
• Provide alternative protein sources such as soy, quinoa, buckwheat, beans, peas, chickpeas, lentils, eggs, and nut butter.

» Learn more about the protein needs of toddlers

3. "How Do I Convince My Toddler to Eat Vegetables?"

Many toddlers eat very few vegetables, whether due to a sweet taste preference or exposure to foods like chicken nuggets and pizza in social settings. They may agree to eat only a select few or stop eating them altogether. In some cases, the color is the problem—for example, kids who refuse to eat green foods.

Here's what you can do:

• Consistently include vegetables on your child's plate, as repeated exposure may encourage future acceptance. Over time, they may be willing to taste the vegetable or take more than a few bites.
• Toddlers learn by observing and imitating the behavior of others. If veggies are only added to your child’s plate, they will wonder why no one else at the table is eating any. Seeing them as a normal part of family meals may encourage an eventual willingness to eat them. [3]
• Consider creative preparation methods, such as "hiding" vegetables in fruit smoothies, zucchini muffins, or pumpkin pancakes. Putting a small piece of the vegetable onto the plate for visual exposure is still a good idea.
• Regularly offer "favorite vegetables" while introducing others. Broccoli is often a favorite among toddlers, perhaps because the florets resemble trees. When offering non-favorites, suggest comparisons to ones your child likes or prepare and season them in a similar way.

» Find creative ways to include veggies in your kid's meals

4. "How Can I Encourage My Toddler to Drink More Water Instead of Juice?"

Our brains are "wired" to experience pleasure when we eat sweet foods, including sweet beverages like juice. However, even 100% juice has a higher concentration of natural sugar than whole fruit, and drinking it often can decrease interest in drinking plain water. [4]

The best way to prevent your toddler from developing a preference for juice is not to offer it at all. This includes avoiding it when they're still a baby.

» Learn to make these yummy veggie meals for your picky eater

As this can be challenging, here are some tips:

• Limit juice purchases for your household.
• Encourage grandparents and other caregivers to only offer water.
• Infuse water with lemons, cucumbers, or berries to flavor it
• Dilute juice to a ratio of 75% water/25% juice
• Send water bottles to daycare or preschool instead of juice

» Beat the picky eater phase with toddler meal ideas they can’t resist

5. "Why Is My Toddler Overweight When I Offer Only Healthy Foods?"

The World Health Organization has documented a global increase in obesity rates among children under five. Even more concerning, research indicates that obese children will likely continue to struggle with weight throughout their childhood and adult years. [5]

What makes this situation particularly challenging is that even health-conscious parents who prioritize nutritious foods may find their toddlers gaining excess weight. The issue often lies not in what children eat but in patterns of consumption that can easily go unnoticed.

» End mealtime battles: Try strategies for stress-free eating

Understanding the Daily Pattern Problem

Consider a typical weekday in a modern toddler's life:

• Morning: Starting the day with a hearty breakfast at home.
• School: Enjoying a second breakfast with classmates at 9:30 AM.
• Mid-morning: A quick snack to keep them going at 11 AM.
• Lunch: A satisfying meal at noon.
• Afternoon: A light snack before heading home at 3 PM.
• Evening: A balanced dinner at 6 PM, followed by a sweet treat or fruit for a bedtime snack.

While each meal might contain healthy choices, this frequent eating pattern can easily lead to overconsumption. Remember, toddlers only need 1,000 to 1,400 calories daily—far less than many parents realize. [6]

» Learn more about how to ensure healthy weight gain in toddlers

Solutions For Maintaining Healthy Toddler Weight

1. Coordinate All Meals: To prevent double meals, keep a consistent schedule between home and daycare. Talk to all caregivers about meal timing and portions, and track what your child eats throughout the day.
2. Follow a Regular Schedule: Stick to three main meals and two planned snacks daily, spaced at least two hours apart. Having a predictable routine helps prevent unnecessary snacking and teaches healthy eating patterns.
3. Control Portions Properly: Use toddler-sized plates and serve age-appropriate portions. Wait 10–15 minutes before offering seconds to allow time for fullness cues.
4. Choose Smart Snacks: Read nutrition labels carefully on packaged foods to understand nutritional content. Many "healthy" options contain hidden sugars and excessive calories. [d]
5. Create Healthy Habits: Serve water instead of juice or milk as the main drink. Keep mealtimes screen-free and focused on family interaction. Try to make meals positive experiences without using food as a reward or comfort.

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Growing Healthy Eaters, One Meal at a Time

It's tough, we know. But every little step and positive interaction with food builds a strong foundation for your toddler's healthy eating habits. Your daily choices and how you approach mealtimes are powerful teachers.

Remember, this is just one phase of their journey. By modeling healthy eating now, you're investing in their future well-being.

The key is consistency. Keep offering those veggies, enjoying family meals together, and celebrating even the smallest wins. You might be surprised by how quickly your picky eater starts asking for more!

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References

[1] K. Porter, S. Smart, N. Hennessey, and N. Cocks, “Chewing skills in two and three year old children: Gender and age comparisons on an adapted version of the test of mastication and swallowing (TOMASS-C),” International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 38–44, Dec. 2022, doi: 10.1080/17549507.2022.2152867. Available: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36511843/

[2] Choc, “How much protein does my child need?,” CHOC - Children’s Health Hub, Nov. 11, 2022. https://health.choc.org/how-much-protein-does-my-child-need/

[3] I. Mäkelä, E. Koivuniemi, T. Vahlberg, M. M. Raats, and K. Laitinen, “Self-Reported Parental healthy dietary behavior relates to views on child feeding and health and diet quality,” Nutrients, vol. 15, no. 4, p. 1024, Feb. 2023, doi: 10.3390/nu15041024. Available: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/4/1024

[4] F. R. Greer, “Juice Consumption in Infancy—Does it Matter?,” The Journal of Pediatrics, vol. 245, pp. 9–11, Mar. 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2022.03.050. Available: https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(22)00300-6/fulltext

[d] D. H. Coyle, M. Shahid, K. Parkins, M. Hu, M. Padovan, and E. K. Dunford, “An evaluation of the nutritional and promotional profile of commercial foods for infants and toddlers in the United States,” Nutrients, vol. 16, no. 16, p. 2782, Aug. 2024, doi: 10.3390/nu16162782. Available: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/16/2782

[5] Balasundaram P, Krishna S. Obesity Effects on Child Health. [Updated 2023 Apr 10]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available: https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK570613/

[6] E. M. W. R. Ms, “What and how much to feed your toddler,” WebMD, Mar. 26, 2024. https://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/what-and-how-much-to-feed-your-toddler