MY TODDLER WON'T EAT ● A dietitian's tips on what you can do about it!

"My toddler won't eat! What can I do about it?"
In this second instalment of the Q&A series, I answer a question from a parent worried about her child's seemingly poor appetite.
If you've ever wondered whether it's normal for your child not to eat, or have been curious about how to increase your child's appetite, this video is likely worth a watch!
To learn more about supplements for plant-based kids: www.morethanjustveggies.com/v...
Helpful tips when dealing with picky eaters: www.morethanjustveggies.com/t...
Vegan meal ideas for kids: www.morethanjustveggies.com/6...
For the WHO growth charts: www.who.int/tools/child-growt...
Get a FREE copy of the the vegan meal planner I currently use to plan my family's meals for the week: www.morethanjustveggies.com/f...
- ❤︎
Alina Petre, MSc. RD.
MORE INFO | www.morethanjustveggies.com
VEGAN MEAL PLANNING COURSE | www.morethanjustveggies.com/m...
A DIETITIAN'S GUIDE TO VEGAN SUPPLEMENTS FOR KIDS | www.morethanjustveggies.com/r...

[@balletlau]

This was a very helpful video. Thank you.

[@jodeelee7896]

Thank you

[@shrivangandi7290]

Your the best

[@isaymysay]

Thank you for this video, this was actually helpful. Most advice on this topic talks about phases, but my 17 month old, like your friends child, has never been a good eater. She has gone from 75th percentile at birth to 25th currently. She has been somewhat following her curve lately but our Drs are still concerned about her growth and I know she isn't eating enough on the day to day to get all the nutrients she needs. If I allowed her to choose how much she eats at each meal she would honestly never eat more than two bites, literally. She has always been this way, she is just not interested in food at all. What would your advice be for a child who, when left to choose how much they eat, just doesn't eat anything? How long do you recommend persevering with this approach? Thanks again.

[@veggiesandmore]

This is a tough question to answer, since there could be so many more factors at play than what may appear at first glance. The drop in percentiles on your daughter's growth curve does seem alarming (unlike the example in this video, where the child was low on the growth curve, but constantly so since birth). In your daughter's case, I would probably recommend switching approaches. I think the best strategy here would be to get in touch with a registered dietitian that can help identify all factors at play, and provide you with advice tailored to your specific situation. Hopefully this helps. Child nutrition can be a tough cookie to crack. So hang in there :)

[@Aahelboy]

Hi! This was quite helpful but I have a question, not sure if you’ll get the time to get to it but I’ll try, my 19 month old doesn’t want to eat anything other than crackers, dry cereal & basically dry items, he would love berries & grapes earlier but has suddenly just stopped. I end up giving him fruit puréed together which again, the first bite is is always a struggle!! HELP!!!!

[@veggiesandmore]

Hi Sidra. How interesting. Was there an event or reason that you believe prompted your son to start started avoiding textures he previously enjoyed? There are many reasons why kids can become picky eaters, and several ways to help them feel comfortable with a wider variety of foods. The strategy to use will depend based on many variables, so I'm afraid I can't offer you one simple direct solution. What I can tell you is that, in the case of extreme picky eaters, the sooner you seek treatment, generally the better the outcomes. If you'd like for us to dig deeper and come up with tailored strategies to help your little man start accepting a wider variety of foods and textures, feel free to reach out to me by email at: [e-mail].

[@seekingtruthandcompassion1707]

Hi alina im 27 weeks with twins and my iron is very low i take iron in a multi but my midwife is giving me extra iron to take but i am disappointed that i havnt been able to meet my needs :( i also find calcium a little tricky :( when not pregnant i can just manage my levels so i knew it was highly likely i would get low carrying twins any tips to increase iron ? :)

[@veggiesandmore]

Hi Jessica. Please don't be too hard on yourself! Low iron levels in pregnancy are actually very common, including in those eating animal products. And carrying twins makes it extra challenging to maintain adequate levels through diet alone. This has actually been a topic that I've thought of covering but it's been on the backburner because I've been prioritizing creating content relating to questions that people have asked me. So your question just brought this topic closer to the top of the list 😊 As for calcium, you should be able to find a video on the channel about it and here's a link to an article with more suggestions: www.morethanjustveggies.com/calcium-rich-vegan-foods/ Hope this helps for now!

[@veggiesandmore]

Oh, and regarding tips to improve iron, at this point, supplements will make the biggest difference. But there is a video about how to increase iron naturally on the channel and you can find more info about iron including the plant foods richest in it here: www.morethanjustveggies.com/iron-for-vegetarians-and-vegans/amp/

[@caunehcasmallerangulah879]

My 17 month boy doesn't like any food ,and I take him to the hospital many times but no change ,now his even get thinner and loosing weight what should I do?

[@veggiesandmore]

It sounds like your little one needs more personalised care, which is definitely not something I can advise on without knowing all the details of his case. I strongly advise you to reach out to your paediatrician to devise a plan of action. A referral to a paediatric dietitian would likely also be very helpful. If you can't find any dietitians in your region and would rather book a nutrition consultation with me, feel free to email me directly so we can set it up. Good luck!

[@caunehcasmallerangulah879]

@@veggiesandmore thanks very much,I will try to find one ..I will be in touch again

[@Andrea-tz9ul]

What if your toddler only want snack foods

[@veggiesandmore]

That's a tough one! Toddlers usually prefer "snack" foods compared to foods you'd typically find in a meal. I believe exposure is key. The more often you offer them a food, the more likely they are to accept it eventually. Remember, the ":what" falls under your responsibility, no matter how much your toddler would like to take that responsibility on! So I'd suggest trying to come up with interesting ways to offer "non-snacky" foods more consistently, so that he/she gets exposed to them more often :)

[@malumaza6743]

Would you say the chances of a child on the spectrum starving themselves is more likely than a typical one? My 33 month old who has autism has stopped eating for a week now

[@veggiesandmore]

It's not typical for a child to refuse to eat for long periods of time. Children on the autism spectrum can have different challenges when it comes to accepting a wide variety of flavors and textures so a more tailored approach (under the guidance of your pediatrician or registered dietitian) would likely be beneficial.