How to Get a Toddler to Eat Lunch

While the battle may seem to be without reason, a picky and independent toddler can make misery out of the midday meal. If your toddler is currently on a lunch-time strike against everything but macaroni, you might be worried about the lack of balance in his lunch, not to mention tired of the daily fight. By reducing the lunch-time struggle and saluting your toddler's burgeoning sense of independence, you can get something other than macaroni into his belly at noon.

Instructions

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      Offer lunch in small portions and in a large variety. AskDrSears.com suggests creating a "nibble tray," which is a plate or tray with small portions of a variety foods, like steamed carrots, whole wheat crackers, thinly sliced and small pieces of cheese and tiny pieces of soft fruits -- just make sure that foods are bite-sized and don't offer foods that could be a choking hazard. The American Association of Pediatrics says to keep the following foods away from children under 4 years of age: hot dogs, buts and seeds, chunks of meat or cheese, whole grapes, popcorn, peanut butter by itself and chunks of raw vegetables. Hard and sticky candy and chewing gum are also on the most hazardous for choking list. Offer only foods your toddler can easily swallow and won't choke on if he is distracted and doesn't chew properly or sucks in while laughing. When used safely, the nibble tree is a win-win. Your independent toddler can pick and choose what he wants, from what you offer of course. Nibble trays may also make your toddler more amenable to trying new tastes and textures.

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      Give your toddler choices at lunch-time, suggests Shari Nethersole, M.D. writing for the Family Education Network. If you're only planning on serving up one type of food, let your toddler practice his independence by putting him in charge. After announcing it's time for lunch, ask if he's rather have a sandwich or spaghetti -- or whatever the two choices are that day. When your toddler gets to choose, he may be more likely to eat.

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      Space snacks so they aren't too close to lunch-time. The American Academy of Family Physicians warns that eating snacks less than an hour away from lunch could remove your toddler's appetite. Instead, let your toddler know that it's almost lunchtime and offer a drink of water instead. Plan for three meals and two snacks per day, spacing snacks at least an hour away from mealtimes.

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      Serve a generous portion of a favorite food with a smaller portion of something new. Your toddler may turn his nose up at banana, but he might happily devour some slices when served with a PB&J. This way, your toddler gets exposure to new foods but still gets to eat his old favorites.

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      Introduce a new food several times to get your toddler used to the taste and texture, suggests KidsHealth.org. A child who says "no" to peas again and again may finally realize that he likes it when it appears on his plate several times. Don't be quick to label something as a food your child hates when he simply needs more exposure to decide whether or not it's something he likes.

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