Feeding Toddlers

LEARNING HOW TO DEAL WITH A PICKY EATER

What and How Much to Feed Your Toddler

Food

Group

Daily Servings,

12-24 months

Daily Servings,

24-36 months

Serving Size

Examples

Grains 3, at least half

from whole-grain

sources

5, at least half

from whole-grain

sources

1 slice of whole-grain bread; 1 mini bagel; 1/2 cup

cooked pasta, rice, or cereal; 1 cup ready-to-eat

cereal

Fruits 1 1 1/2 1 small apple; 1 cup sliced or cubed fruit; 1 large

banana

Vegetables 1 1 1/2 1 cup cooked mashed or finely chopped

vegetables including legumes (chickpeas, black

beans, etc.)

Protein 2 2-4 1 cooked egg; 1 ounce cooked meat, poultry, or

seafood; 1 tablespoon nut butter; 1/4 cup cooked

legumes

Milk 2 2 1 cup milk or yogurt; 2 ounces processed

American cheese; 1 1/2 ounces natural cheese,

such as cheddar (low-fat for ages 2 and older)

Picky Eating• Being picky as a child (“neophobia”) is normal and adaptive with wide temperamental variation (“eats everything” to “only likes three foods”).

• From an evolutionary perspective, for simple survival children should be skeptical about eating any new food.

• On average, a food is offered 10 times before a child will accept it.

• Children have a more acute sense of taste than adults and should not always be expected to eat what their parents or caregivers are eating.

Ellyn SatterDivision of Responsibility

Parent is responsible for WHAT, WHEN and WHERE

Child is responsible for WHETHER and HOW MUCH

Parents’ Feeding Jobs • Choose and prepare the food

• Provide regular meals and snacks

• Make eating times pleasant

• Show children what they have to learn about food and mealtime behavior

• Not let children graze for food or beverages between meal and snack times

• Let children grow up to get bodies that are right for them

Children’s Eating Jobs• Children will eat

• They will eat the amount they need

• They will learn to eat the food their parents eat

• They will grow predictably

• They will learn to behave well at the table

When to Worry• When the child is underweight/not following growth curve

• Concerns about micronutrient deficiency (Fe, Ca, vitamin D)

• Pattern of pickiness suggests an oral-motor problem or food sensitivity

• When extreme or prolonged

Parents Feeding Jobs • Choose and prepare the

food

• Provide regular meals

and snacks

• Make eating times

pleasant

• Show children what

they have to learn about food

and mealtime behavior

• Not let children graze

for food or beverages

between meal and snack

times

• Let children grow up

to get bodies that are right

for them

Children’s Eating Jobs• Children will eat

• They will eat the amount

they need

• They will learn to eat the

food their parents eat

• They will grow

predictably

• They will learn to

behave well at the table

Feeding Toddlers Learning How To Deal With Picky Eaters

What a toddler is

like

“Toddlers are skeptical: They

have to sneak up on new

food. They will learn to like

it, if you let them approach

it at their own speed. After

many times of seeing it on

the table and seeing you eat

it, they will taste it—and

take it back out again.

They’ll do that many times,

then eventually they will

know it well enough so they

swallow it—and like it.”

-Ellyn Satter

Parent is responsible for WHAT, WHEN, and WHERE.

The child is responsible for WHETHER and HOW

MUCH.

What and How Much to Feed Your Toddler

FINAL LESSON PLAN

Title: Feeding Your Toddler: Dealing With Picky Eaters Methods Used Role Play Powerpoint Phillips “66” Discussion

Target Audience: Mothers with toddlers

Class Size: 25

Terminal Objective Class participants will describe different ways to overcome picky eating with their toddlers.

Terminal Concept Picky eating is a normal phase of childhood and can be managed with appropriate interventions. Domain Cognitive Taxonomic Level

Application

References http://www.ellynsatter.com/resources/DORfeeding.pdf

http://ellynsatterinstitute.org/cms-assets/documents/99504-574853.howtofeedtoddler.pdf

http://www.webmd.com/parenting/guide/what-and-how-much-to-feed-your-toddler Preparation: Print out picky eating handouts. Pre-assessment

Have class members write down their specific concerns about their child’s eating habits before the class starts so you can be sure to address them all during the half hour class period. Time (if in class): N/A

Introduction Role Play: Act out a typical dinner scenario with a picky child and a rule driven parent. Ask for a “picky eater” volunteer (age 5-10) Ask for a “frustrated adult” volunteer Tell the picky eater: they don’t like vegetables, they would rather go play, and they don’t feel like eating right now. Tell the frustrated adult: it has been a long day, they can never get their child

to eat all the food Question: How many of you experience this kind of situation on a regular basis? (rhetorical question-have participants raise hands) Time: 3 minutes

Supporting Objectives

Content Outline Time Learning Experiences

Participants will recognize approximately how much their child should be eating every day.

Powerpoint Slides: 1. What and How much to feed your toddler? Average for MOST toddlers (but can change depending on the child) Food Group Daily

Servings,

12-24 months

Daily Servings,

24-36 months

Serving Size

Examples

Grains 3, at least half

from whole-

grain sources

5, at least half from

whole-grain sources

1 slice of whole-grain bread; 1 mini

bagel; 1/2 cup cooked pasta, rice, or

cereal; 1 cup ready-to-eat cereal

Fruits 1 1 1/2 1 small apple; 1 cup sliced or cubed

fruit; 1 large banana

Vegetables 1 1 1/2 1 cup cooked mashed or finely chopped

vegetables including legumes

(chickpeas, black beans, etc.)

Protein 2 2-4 1 cooked egg; 1 ounce cooked meat,

poultry, or seafood; 1 tablespoon nut

butter; 1/4 cup cooked legumes

Milk 2 2 1 cup milk or yogurt; 2 ounces

processed American cheese; 1 1/2

ounces natural cheese, such as cheddar

(low-fat for ages 2 and older)

3 minutes

How many of your toddlers actually eat about this much every day?

Participants will recognize that picky eating is normal and will have more sympathy towards their children and their eating habits. Participants will recite their responsibilities as a parent feeding their child. Participants will recognize what their roles are as a food provider. Parents will recognize what their child’s role is when they

2. Picky Eating Being picky as a child (“neophobia”) is normal and adaptive with wide temperamental variation (“eats everything” to “only likes three foods”). From an evolutionary perspective, for simple survival children should be skeptical about eating any new food. On average, a food is offered 10 times before a child will accept it. Children have a more acute sense of taste than adults and should not always be expected to eat what their parents or caregivers are eating. 5. Ellyn Satter: Division of Responsibility Parent is responsible for WHAT, WHEN and WHERE Child is responsible for WHETHER and HOW MUCH 6. Parent’s Feeding Jobs Choose and prepare the food Provide regular meals and snacks Make eating times pleasant Show children what they have to learn about food and mealtime behavior Not let children graze for food or beverages between meal and snack times Let children grow up to get bodies that are right for them 7. Children’s Eating Jobs Children will eat They will eat the amount they need They will learn to eat the food their parents eat They will grow predictably They will learn to behave well at the table

5 minutes 2 minutes 2 Minutes 2 minutes

Make a list of foods on whiteboards that students claimed to not like when they were younger. Talk about how that is normal. It takes time to like certain foods. Ask participants if they can give an example of what this might mean (ex. It is the parents responsibility to choose what to eat for dinner that night and at what time) Ask participants if they have any idea what their jobs are (before revealing the slide) Ask participants if they have any

eat. Participants will recognize when exactly they should really worry about their child’s eating habits.

8. When to Worry When the child is underweight/not following growth curve Concerns about micronutrient deficiency (Fe, Ca, vitamin D) Pattern of pickiness suggests an oral-motor problem or food sensitivity When extreme or prolonged

2 minute

idea what their child’s eating jobs are (before revealing the slide)

Assessment Phillips “66” Discussion Split up class into groups of about 6. Pose the question to the groups, “what kind of problems do you have at mealtimes with your toddlers? How do you think you can deal with them specifically, after the discussion we have just had?” 9 Minutes

Closure Give handout about different ideas to help deal with picky toddlers. Ask if participants have any questions. End by saying that it is not meant to be easy, but it will be worth it if you follow the things we have talked about today.