If your toddler screws her face up at everything you put in front of her, don’t be downhearted. Picky eating is normal behaviour for young children, for a variety of reasons. Some have a genuine fear of new experiences and will instinctively approach new foods cautiously. Others may be sensitive to certain tastes and textures. And most toddlers, from around 18 months, have a real drive towards independence and will be experimenting with these whenever possible, including at the meal table.

It’s just a phase

Her fussiness is very likely to be just a passing phase that she’ll grow out of. But parents often worry that if a child doesn’t eat up she won’t be getting all the nutrients she needs. Don’t worry — it won’t harm her if she misses a few meals or refuses certain foods. And if you take a look at what she eats over a week, rather than each day, the chances are you’ll discover she’s eating more than you realise.

Ways to encourage healthy eating

Keep meal times relaxed
The golden rule is don’t get into a fight with your child, or make her sit there until she eats up. Instead, try and compromise: “I can see you don’t want your fish pie, but you can manage a few bites of broccoli, can’t you?” Then give in gracefully: “I know you don’t like this today, but you might next week."

Offer a wide variety of foods
Accept that your toddler won’t like everything you put in front her but keep offering a wide variety so she doesn’t become hooked on just a few foods. Try, for example, to regularly introduce one new food with two familiar foods.

Think about the texture and appearance
Lots of children react more strongly to texture than taste. For example, many prefer food with a firm bite, like just-cooked vegetables, while others like to eat each item served separately, rather than mixed up on their plate. Having fun with food — drawing a smiley face on the shell of a boiled egg, for example, or making a picture with slices of raw salad — can help them enjoy eating meals.

Make eating fun
Sitting down as a family or with your child’s friends to eat can make a big difference, especially if your toddler sees you enjoying your food. Don’t expect too much though — toddlers don’t have the patience to sit round at the table for too long.

Get her involved
Spark your toddler’s interest by taking her to the shops when you buy supper and getting her to help with the cooking.

Find out more

• Raising Kids
  www.raisingkids.co.uk
  
  
• The Art of Hiding Vegetables: Sneaky Ways to Feed Your Children Healthy Food by Karen Bali and Sally K Child (£7.99, White Ladder Press Ltd)
  
  
• Now read our features on healthy eating for toddlers and getting your child to eat

• Watch our short film on encouraging your child to try new foods