#asktheexpert
What's the best way to expose or encourage a toddler to eat properly or atleast by herself. We have tried everything but doesn't work.

Question

#asktheexpert 
What's the best way to expose or encourage a toddler to eat properly or atleast by herself. We have tried everything but doesn't work.

Accepted Answer

Sprouted grains, green leafy vegetables, pulses, ragi, soya and its products, etc. Milk products like curd, buttermilk, butter, ghee, cheese, paneer etc are good sources of calcium.

Kids who have completed 1 year dont have to gain as much weight as they did in their first year. So their appetite is going to reduce. Ideally they must triple birth weight by 1 year. After 1 year kids can eat anything that the family eats adjusted for spices. Do not force feed baby and let baby decide how much he/she wants to eat. Research on BLW for babies and Traditional weaning techniques for babies on FB.

Give caloric and nutrient dense foods such as avocados, ghee, butter, paneer, cheese, dry fruits like almonds, cashews, raisins, dates, sesame seeds, anjeer, apricots. Use banana, potato, proteins like chana and other pulses in baby's recipes.

Don't feed only milk all the time as it can cause anemia in kids and that in turn causes drop in appetite. Ensure that child has a balanced diet with lots of different varieties of vegetables and fruits, multi grains etc. Avoid biscuits, chocolates, cakes, sweets, fried snacks and all processed food as they are low in fiber, high in sugar, not nutritious, and decrease hunger.

1. Set an approx tym & routinr for meals like my kid wakes up at around 9-9:30 so we give him a cup of milk first. Then after half n hour some breakfast. Usually diff variety of dosa as he loves it.
2. Around 12 - a fruit or some snacks like roasted makhana or sumthing.
3. Lunch btwn 1-2 then he naps
4. Soup or yogurt or some fruit once he wakes up then he goes out fr playing
5. Dinner around 8-9

Setting schedule makes him hungry at that time and he wants and eats food at that tym. All days are not good. At times he doesnt want to eat anything that is cooked or eats very little. It is ok. We dont force feed. 
Giving in little quantities helps a lot. It doesnt overwhelm him or us.
At times wen he doesnt like anything that is cooked we make his fav like add cheese on dosa or chapati or make his fav cheese pasta etc. Then give him food after sometime. Like today he wasnt drinking milk so i added a pinch of custurd powder in his dry fruit
Please reach out if u want to discuss any more. Happy to help.
Not all kids are adventurous to try everything. It's okay momma, they're going to eventually try other stuff too.  You can involve him in the buying, cleaning, cooking process so he gets interested in veggies. Don't push him to eat anything please, it will only worsen his aversion and make him associate mealtimes with stress, which can lead to long term problems. Join the group Traditional Weaning (Introducing Solids) India and Gentle Parenting India groups on FB for more guidance

#asktheexpert What's the best way to expose or encourage a toddler to eat properly or atleast by herself. We have tried everything but doesn't work.