Toddler fussy eaters

• To avoid fussy eating, introduce a varied diet of different textures and foods.
• Serve your children with the same healthy meals as yourself, this can encourage them to try more foods. 
• When parents and carers have a varied healthy diet this then becomes the ‘norm’ within the house.
• Don't fall into the trap of making alternative meals for everyone in the family. Serve one meal for everyone at one time in order to encourage social time and discourage other options being requested, this will allow for your child to know this is the meal they're having and there won't be an alternative. 
• Be consistent. Don't be afraid to save their meals to safely reheat when they're hungry. 
• Discuss with your childcare providers the concerns around fussy eating and see if they can offer support with this. 
• Joining in with mealtimes with other children that are enjoying a variety of meals can encourage toddlers to try more.
   

Limiting sugary snacks and sweet treats can help to avoid a fussy eater. Too many sweet snacks and they may develop a preference for these foods and refuse to try healthier options. 

Aim not to provide a sugary snack for puddings, as often toddlers will work out what's coming next and not attempt their main meal.
 

• Praise and recognition are a great way to encourage children to try more foods, sticker charts and rewards, set little goals with them to motivate their efforts
• Create a reward chart for trying new foods and give a reward even if the food isn’t enjoyed
• Take your children shopping to help choose meals and foods
• Safely allocate cooking roles to your children. Peeling mushrooms. Stirring cold ingredients (avoiding the stove or cooker, a safe place, such as at a dining table is ideal)
• With an older child, encourage them to help more with food preparation. Giving them a child friendly blunt knife to chop some soft vegetables whilst discussing the benefits can really encourage them to take a nibble of a new vegetable
• Praise their efforts, ‘wow, you make the best spaghetti bolognese, do you like it?’, or ‘This is going to make me feel really energetic and healthy, thank you’
• Present colourful and appetising meals
• Bake using ingredients they wouldn't usually like
• Add fruit and vegetables to meals they eat, such as beetroot in chocolate sponge or a bolognese sauce packed with vegetables.
• Watch CBeebies shows like ‘I can cook’ together, which are usually on around lunch time
   

• Help your child to section off their plates according to Public Health England's eat well plate
• Place a copy of the eat well plate within the dining and kitchen area to refer to 
• Chat about healthy options when preparing food together 
   

Speak to your health visitor to see if they can advise of any local healthy family workshops.  

Take a look at the HENRY website which supports babies and children getting the best possible start in life through improved nutrition, emotional wellbeing, parenting skills, breastfeeding and getting more active. 

Additional resources:

• Change4Life
• ‎Change4Life Food Scanner on the App Store