How Can I Make Sure My Munchkin Is Eating Enough?

It can often be a challenge to get a toddler to eat. They are finicky eaters and likely to have small attention span, particularly when it comes to food. As a caregiver, you can make sure your child is getting sufficient nourishment every day by monitoring their diet. You can then alter their diet to make sure they are eating adequate.

10 tips to monitor your munchkin's diet

? Observe how frequently they eat

It's important to pay attention to how often a toddler eats in a day as for many of them it's a struggle to sit at the table to eat a meal. Toddlers are good at determining when they are hungry or need to eat. If they eat five small meals or nutritive snacks per day, they are likely eating sufficient.

? Notice on what they munch

Toddlers can be fussy eaters and may show an inclination for certain types of food. Pay attention to what your munchkin likes to eat at each meal. Look for preferences of foods, such as vegetables, fruits, cereal, starchy foods, pulses, or beans. They may end up eating one food at meals because they like the taste of it. As parents, make a note of what your toddler eats at each meal for a week. Notice if your toddler tends to go for the same foods at every meal. This can help you meal plan and modify your toddler's diet so they eat more.

? Look at portion of food they eat

Toddlers have tiny stomachs and so they may eat handful portion at a time. If your toddler merely picks a few pieces of food each meal, then they may not be eating enough. You can try to chart down how much food your toddler eats for a meal for one week. This shall get you a better sense of the quantity of food they are consuming. Note down how much your toddler eats at each meal for one week to determine if they are getting enough food.

? Ensure your toddler's height and weight

As long as your toddler is growing well and has plenty of energy, they are probably eating fine. Factors like general development, age, genetics and ethnicity are important when determining a healthy height and weight. Consult with your pediatrician about your toddler's general growth and weight to make sure they are healthy. If your toddler is underweight, this may be an sign that they are not eating sufficient nourishing meals.

? Build a healthy plate

Make sure your munchkin eats a variety of foods from all vital food groups throughout the day as this will make sure they are eating all the nutrients they need to grow and stay healthy. It is important for your toddler to eat a balanced meal consisting of grains, protein, vegetables, fruits, dairy and fats at meals throughout the day. You can add little amount of sweets occasionally. This will give your child plenty of options to choose from.

? Give your munchkin smaller portions

Most toddlers need food in small quantity to feel full at each meal. Provide your toddler with smaller servings of each food group for each meal. Offer toddler little less quantity of food than you think they will eat and give them more if they are still keen.

? Provide your munchkin healthy snacks

Toddlers often eat little during a meal, so this makes them feel hungry fast. Keep healthy snacks handy to provide your toddler between meals. Provide a variety of healthy snacks like cheese slice / cube, paneer cubes, nuts (almonds, walnuts, cashew nuts, hazelnuts, macadamia, etc) and seeds (chia seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, etc), dried berries & fruits (cranberries, blueberries, prunes, apricots, figs etc), fruit slices, yogurt, a spoonful of peanut butter, boiled corn, steamed baby carrots, whole-grain crackers, etc. Avoid giving snacks close to their next meal, as in an hour prior. Pace meal and snack timings well this way, your munchkin shall be hungry enough for their next meal and not munched too much on snacks.

? Be a good role model for your toddler

Modeling good eating behavior for your munchkin can assist in developing good eating habits. Have meals sitting at the table regularly refrain from distractions like television or cell phone. Make meals a family event where all the members of the family sit down, eat, and converse together. Demonstrate to your toddler the importance of chewing food slowly, finishing all food on their plate, respecting food and enjoying meal time as a family.

? Avoid forcing your munchkin to eat

It is frustrating for a caregiver to see their toddler lacking interest in their food. But as a caregiver, resist the temptation to force your toddler to finish all the food on their plate especially when they say they are full. It is important that you allow them to halt if they are not hungry any longer as pressuring them to consume food will not only make them upset but also can cause food related concerns. Avoid bribing your toddler to complete what's on their plate especially by offering a sweet or dessert. This can encourage your toddler to use mealtime to get attention from you which can land up causing more food related concerns for your toddler. Also refrain from threatening your toddler for not finishing their food as this can cause apprehension and stress around food.

? Consult your pediatrician

If you are anxious about your toddler not having interest in food, talk to your pediatrician. They can perform a physical examination on your toddler to find out if your toddler is underweight or malnourished due to poor diet. Your pediatrician may offer you a few tips on diet or recommend nutritional supplements.