In article ,
Ignoramus13806 wrote:

My son is 2.5. He oftentimes refuses to eat much during regular
meals. This is frustrating because we cook for him etc. Then he might
get something -- like a piece of cheese or some such thing -- in
between. I now think that it is unhealthy and that if he wants to eat
during a meal, that's great. If he does not, he gets nothing until the
next one. Would that be a reasonable policy.

No. Toddlers have small stomachs that need refilling more often. Also, if my
2.5yo is anything to go by, toddlers are not good at identifying their own
hunger signals. I have found that crabbiness often vanishes when DS's tummy
is filled up again. Anyway, here is a list of tips that have worked for me so
far (from a previous post):

* Have meals together as a family. I don't expect DS to eat alone, nor do we
watch TV while eating
* Have a pleasant atmosphere at mealtimes (I find that saying grace promotes a
mood of thankfulness and peacefulness)
* Offer the child the same food that everybody else is eating (unless it
involves chillies!), mashed or cut up if necessary
* Pay no attention to likes and dislikes at this age -- they change every
week. Just offer them what you're eating. If they don't want it, they don't
eat it.
* Put very small amounts of a few foods on his plate -- lots of food is
confusing and off-putting
* Replace whatever he has eaten after a little while
* Fulfil any requests the child makes for more food
* Don't hang over the child while he eats (have you ever had someone stare at
you while you eat? It's a real appetite-killer). Eat and talk as you would
do at a table of adults.
* Encourage independent eating. When the child seems ready/eager to use a
spoon or fork, let him.
* Offer only water to drink, except on special occasions
* Have meals and snacks at about the same time each day
* Never make a big deal out of what he eats or doesn't eat -- trust his
judgement
* Expect mess and be prepared for it -- use a "splat mat" if you have carpet,
put a bib on the child, roll his sleeves up, have a washcloth handy for wiping
face/hands afterward, etc
* We don't usually have dessert, and therefore don't use bribery

We never give him anything with sugar and no junk food. He does not
know what junk food is at this point.

I would be very surprised if he has never eaten any sugar -- or do you mean
sucrose? It's laudable to keep children away from junk food, but I personally
don't sweat over the occasional cake or chip. People can get a bit tooo
intense about foods at times.

--
Chookie -- Sydney, Australia
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