How to Get a 2-Year-Old Toddler to Eat Solid Food

Toddlers require plenty of healthy foods in order to grow and develop, but many are extremely picky and refuse to eat on a regular basis. Parents with picky toddlers should realize that this is common and take the necessary steps to encourage their children to eat more. Most 2-year-old children can be introduced to new foods, and they should regularly eat grains, vegetables, fruits and proteins.

Instructions

    • 1

      Eat family meals together, making sure to eat a wide variety of foods in front of your toddler and talk about how much you enjoy eating each food. Toddlers enjoy imitating their parents, so this helps to encourage them to try the same foods that you eat.

    • 2

      Avoid force-feeding at any time, as children will not starve themselves. Instead, offer food at meal and snack times, but if your child refuses, tell her that she will then need to wait until the next scheduled meal or snack. A hungry child is more likely to try new foods, so it is important that you stick to your words and make her wait. Generally, each meal or snack for toddlers should be a couple hours apart.

    • 3

      Offer two choices for your toddler at each meal. This will give him a sense of control while preventing the common struggle where the child says no to each choice. Providing only two choices means that he has to choose one or the other or you will choose one for him.

    • 4

      Encourage her to help you prepare meals. This will make meal time more fun as she had a role in creating the dishes. For example, allow her to rinse vegetables in cold water or arrange the foods on the cooking tray before cooking.

    • 5

      Continue to expose him to different kinds of food, even if he is picky. Repeated exposure increases the chances that he will eventually try something as he becomes familiar with the food's appearance.

    • 6

      Use distraction during meals. Cut her food into different shapes or point out colors. Have fun during meals so that she is less focused on the food in front of her and more likely to pick things up without thought and eat them.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • Lunch Ideas for Toddlers at Day Care
      Even though your toddler isnt with you for lunch, you can still serve him the same nutritious foods that he delights in at home. While the day care setting presents obstacles that may get in the way of him having foods that require complicated prepar
    • Feeding Your Preschooler
      Calorie and fat consumptionFeeding Your Preschooler As your child moves toward six, his nutrient needs continue to evolve into a more adultlike diet. Pound for pound, youngsters require less energy with increasing age. Since the amount of fat kids ne
    • Can a Toddler Eat Too Much?
      When the toddler years hit, some parents notice their tots’ appetites easing off, with some turning into rather picky eaters at mealtime. Other preschoolers have no problem cleaning their plates, leaving you to wonder what to make of your