Role Models for Healthy Habits

Unwilling two year old

• Janel F. Hi Maria, It’s great you’re offering her good food at each meal! Are you eating meals with her? Are you eating the same foods you’re offering her at mealtime? This is so beneficial as it is positive role modeling on what healthy eating and mealtime behaviors look like. It is important to provide regular and scheduled meals and snacks so she’s not grazing or filling up between meals. In fact, if she’s never eating at mealtime, you may even consider dropping snacks so that she’s hungry and more willing to eat at mealtime what is provided, with no strings attached, and no bribing or coaxing her to eat anything. If she doesn’t want to eat what you serve, that’s ok! But you need to remind her that is what is for dinner and she can choose not to eat and wait until the next meal. If there are any foods she will eat, like buttered bread or plain pasta, try and include these foods in the meals you provide so that there is something preferred and familiar that she will be more willing to try. Giving in to any food outside of what you have prepared for a meal (whether it be applesauce or goldfish) teaches her that she can ultimately get what she wants with enough screaming! I highly recommend the book Child of Mine by Ellen Satter (or at least checking out her website) for feeding tips on the division of responsibility, which states: The parent decides the what, where and when of food. The child decides how much they eat and whether they eat at all. If you find she has trouble with certain textures of foods or extreme pickiness or sensory issues, you may consider working with a feeding therapist as well.

• Maria Hi Janel, That is very helpful advice. We will try it! I suspect the snacks are definitely the culprit here. Thank you!!!