Through my years of parenting I have noticed one thing about two and three year olds; they don’t eat. On rare occasions you find the child who finishes every morsel on his plate. Yet, for the a majority of children it is around the ages of 18 months to 3 years that you notice a significant decline in their eating habits. The child hardly touches their breakfast so you assume he will eat lunch. Lunch comes and goes without eating more than an apple slice. So you wait for dinner thinking that is when he will make up for it. Par for the course, dinner is also hardly touched. How does your child survive on so little food? You begin to wonder if he is eating enough. You may even decide to indulge him in any food he likes as long as he is eating. How do you encourage a child to eat on a regular basis?
A child is not in the business of starving himself. If no pressure is applied you will notice an increase and decrease of appetite based on growth. The more pressure you place on a child to eat the more of an unproductive fight you will have on your hands. You do not want to make eating a power struggle or use it as a reward system. To instill healthy eating habits it is best to relax and offer the best choices for your child to eat. Allow your child to snack in between meals on fruit, yogurt, or vegetables. Another way to encourage healthy eating is by allowing your child to help prepare meals. A child is more likely to eat if he had a hand in preparing it even if it is a new food or healthier food. If you are concerned about growth then see your pediatrician to be certain your child’s weight is in proper proportion to his growth.