Feeding Toddlers

Feeding by Age - Feeding Toddlers

Whenever I'm trying to watch what I eat, I keep a food diary.  I find that writing down every single thing I eat keeps me from overeating, mostly because it doesn't seem worth popping a cookie into my mouth if I then have to find my list, write it down and calculate the calories.  I find that it also keeps me very aware of how much fruit, veggies, whole grains, dairy and protein I've eaten throughout the day. Recently, I started making lists of what my son eats each day as a way of double-checking that he is getting enough of the five food groups.  Check out a typical day in the culinary life of my 15 month old.

Read more: Food Diary of a Toddler

Feeding by Age - Feeding Toddlers

It's so easy to stumble out of bed, pour a simple bowl of cold cereal, microwave a packet of oatmeal or even open a container of yogurt.  For many of us, just finding SOMETHING our toddlers will eat for breakfast is a daily challenge.  Here are a few ideas to brighten your toddler's breakfast plate.

Read more: Break the Boring Breakfast Routine with Interesting Food

Feeding by Age - Feeding Toddlers

We all have our own favorite comfort foods.  In my family, the favorites range from tacos to roast beef, macaroni and cheese to chicken and rice casserole.  With a few tweaks, your favorite comfort food recipes can make tasty, healthy meals for your toddler.

Read more: Comfort Food Toddler Style

Feeding by Age - Feeding Toddlers

Fresh fruit is so good for our kids.  Little ones can't seem to get enough tasty berries, crispy apples or sweet fruits like plums, pears and mandarin oranges.  Try these recipes out on your little one to put a new twist on your toddler's favorite fruits!

Read more: Get Fruity with Fruity Pizza and Fruit Skewers!

Feeding by Age - Feeding Toddlers

My husband and I made a pact while I was pregnant with our son.  If there ever comes a time when he cannot behave in a restaurant, we will not go out to eat.  Ever.  We were quite aware that we might be sentencing ourselves to 18 years of eating only at home, but it was worth it not to be the people whose kid throws spaghetti at everyone within a 4 foot radius.  Fortunately, we've gotten lucky (so far). Our little guy loves to go out to eat, and behaves like a perfect gentleman. 

Well, usually, anyway.

Read more: Dining Out With Toddlers

Feeding by Age - Feeding Toddlers

Chock-full of veggies, lean meat and cheese, this lasagna is one of my son's favorites.  It's sure to please your toddler's palate, too!

Read more: Dean's Favorite Vegetable Lasagna

Feeding by Age - Feeding Toddlers

Toddlers are the pickiest of picky eaters.  They become fixated on one food and refuse to eat anything else, only to turn on that favorite food the very next day.  We, their parents, are left to wonder how we will ever meet their RDAs of anything when most days it can be a fight just to get SOMETHING in them.  The trick to feeding toddlers?  (Is there one?) Find their favorite foods and use them to your advantage!  Let's explore some ideas and recipes that are packed with both kids' favorite ingredients and nutrition.

Read more: Pleasing Your Picky Eater

Feeding by Age - Feeding Toddlers

My 14 month old has four teeth.  FOUR.  His palate is quite sophisticated, but figuring out how to make things chewable for him is one of my biggest challenges as a cook these days.  What do you do when your  toddler's appetite increases but his tooth count doesn't?  Through a lot of trial and error,  I've figured out some ways to make some family favorites work, no matter how many teeth are in your head.

Read more: Low on teeth? Still high on options!

Feeding by Age - Feeding Toddlers

Sometimes it just seems easier to have one parent feed the toddler while the other prepares dinner for the rest of the family.  Or maybe your little one has a completely different dinner time and isn't even awake when the "big people" eat.  We've all heard the old saying "The family that eats together stays together."  This may or may not be true, but toddlers who eat with the rest of the family are certainly exposed to a lot of valuable life lessons during meal time.

Read more: The Family Dinner Table and Toddlers

Feeding by Age - Feeding Toddlers

Most toddlers would rather throw peas than eat them.  This keeps us, their moms and dads, on our toes at mealtime.  Just how do you get a toddler to eat his veggies when all he ever wants is macaroni or bread?  Easy--you get sneaky!

Read more: Turkey Meatloaf (with Disguised Veggies)