Help! What do your two-year olds EAT????????

JENNIFER - posted on 01/17/2010

i have been lucky with my 2 yearr old here are some ideas... shepards pie, cheese and potatoe pie.. you can add anything to it my daughter chooses what goes in examples are tomatoes, peppers, onions,spag bol, cawl, sausage mash and beans/veg, lasagnea sunday dinner, jacket potato with cheese/beans, pitta bread with cheese or ham again you can add peppers etc, scrambled eggs . breakfast fruit with yogurt, toast with banana, ready brek with jam, hope this gives you some ideas

Katherine - posted on 01/17/2010

Hi i don't make special meals for my toddler, he is 27 months and some days he won't eat, and i let him make that choice, but i have never made a special meal to get him to eat he getsa the same as the rest of the family. and has the choice to eat it or let it sit. he isn't gonna starve himself.

Rebecca - posted on 01/05/2010

hey, im quite lucky cosmy 2 year old eats anything i put down for him but my mum said i was a nightmare wen i was younger i lived off of shop bought shepperds pie and the heath visiter and doctor both said as long as shes eating something i wouldnt worry about it she wil soon want different foods even if thats not till shes 6 or 7

Nicola - posted on 01/04/2010

Hi my daughter is also 2 & is definately expressing her likes & dislikes & as a childminder I would say its fairly normal, just as we have food we like or don't (unless like my husband you are dustbin!) and they are only doing the same. Justine I wouldn't worry too much as it sounds like your children are doing better than it seems, when you give them pasta for tea try adding pureed veg to the sauce, I bet they wouldn't even notice, you can pretty much puree anything you want & hide it in something they do like. Also occaisionally add something else to their plate so thay are still able to get the taste of new foods & perhaps the encouragement of having a sticker if they eat one spoonful of something they wouldn't usually touch, esp if mummy & daddy get stickers for eating their food, it may make them want to give it a try!

Mable - posted on 01/03/2010

Hi what my two year old eats is rice and gravy and red beans and rice and they also eat brocolli and cheese and green beans and corn and he also eats alot of fruits like grapes and apples and oranges and watermelon and just try by seeking vegetables are something that do not like in to their foods like pasta just add vegetables but cut them small so they can not see them and i bet u they would eat it just do not let them see u putting that in their food

Mable - posted on 01/03/2010

Quoting Justine:

Help! What do your two-year olds EAT????????

Hi, I have 25 month old twins and they have just recently started being really fussy eaters - even from the baby mush days they ate pretty much what we did - lots of casseroles and curries, that sort of thing, but now they just won't eat anything other than sandwiches at lunch time and pasta or scrambled eggs for diiner - it's driving me mad! It doesn't help havign two of them either, because even if one of them is eating nicely they stop once the other one starts making a fuss!! I've tried all sorts of different dishes to tempt them, but just no luck! My hubby says it's normal and we should just let them have pasta, eggs and sanwiches if that's what they want, but I feel as though other two year olds eat more than that??? Would love to just get an idea of what other kids are eating, and any recipe ideas that other two year olds love???

Ashley - posted on 01/03/2010

I guess I'm just lucky! I have a 4 yr old and a 2 yr old and they both love healthy food, their favorites are brocolli, corn on the cob and green beans. My son has thrown down dorito's to eat cucumber slices. I hope things get easier soon! It's probably just a phase :)

Courtney - posted on 01/03/2010

My 2 year old is picky as well. Check out www.wholesometoddlerfood.com they have tons of suggestions and recipes for good things to eat. I also just picked up the Deceptively Delicious cookbook by Jessica Seinfeld at Half Price Books. It has a ton of recipes for meals, snacks, bread, desserts where you "hide" the veggies in them. Hope this helps! I try to give my daughter 1 thing a day that she may or may not eat, but I keep offering it hoping that she will decide she likes it. haha

Christel - posted on 01/02/2010

Try Jessica Sienfelds book "Deceptively Delicious" She hides veggies in EVERYTHING! My daughter had decided that she likes jarred baby veggies, we figure as long as she's getting the nutrients!

Tonya - posted on 01/02/2010

Yep, my two year old is now fussy with foods too. She was a good eater, and now it seems like her appetite is WAY down. a couple of bites and she's good,like she ate a full meal...? She is hardly eating anything these days, and is getting pickier. I get frustrated when I make her yet again another healthy meal and she doesnt eat any of it! ...This might be a stage for all two year olds, they are expressing their own wants now. They have found their expression and experimenting what they can control. What you do in this stage will later shape the eater he/she will become. I am continuing to provide the wide variety of meals as if she were eating. I am not adjusting or only giving her her favourite things only. She will be accustomed to that and won't eat other things. I am telling myself it's a phase and when they are hungry, they will eat! In between she drinks her milk and water well, so this is good!

Melissa - posted on 12/24/2009

im one of the lucky ones, my son will eat anything. BUT he is a major meat eater and not too keen on the veggies. you can sneak veg in by blending it up and adding to the pasta sauce if thats all ur lil ones will eat. i think as long as they are eating something than theyre ok. im gonna agree with ur hubby on this one! lol. there are also vitamens out there that are specifically for 'children that dont eat meat' 'children that dont eat veg' etc. most toddler vitamens are ok to start at age 2. so if ur really worried about it go that route. take a look at the nutrition guidlines for toddlers and compare...do u think the are gettin adequate amts?

Toni - posted on 12/21/2009

My 2 year old is super picky too. I'd say she eats a few good meals a week and small snacks the rest of the time. But she is growing fast and at a healthy weight. Everyday is different. Somedays she lives off goldfish crachers, and the next day she won't touch them because all she wants is fruit or soup. Her older sister was the same way and still is a little bit. She eats breakfast and lunch great but not dinner so much. I don't worry anymore though. I think if they are hungry enough they would eat anything you gave them but they try to assert their independence through their food choices.

Linda - posted on 12/18/2009

This sounds like my 2 year old! It's so very frustrating and nerve wrecking. A lot of the time, I let him pick out what he wants (and of course this is usually a 20 min. decision with the fridge wide open, all the cupboards and the contents meticulously inspected/talked about) and sometimes after all this I will set him down at the table with his meal only to find him completely lacking any interest in eating. *pulling hair out* I feel for you, I do. We just want them to get the proper nutrition, why does it have to be so difficult?
From talking to other moms and reading these comments, we can only hope 'it's just a phase.' I do something sneaky though. I half soy milk in a with a cup of reg. milk because it's packed full of good stuff. This puts me at ease a little.

Geneviève - posted on 12/17/2009

My son went through a really long phase where he was super picky. His diet mainly consisted of: salmon, tomatoes, cucumbers, cheese, bread and crackers. It was so hard!!! I guess he didn't need to eat all that much because for the pas month or so, he's been eating like a champ! He likes shephard's pie, spaghetti, veal parmigiana, soup, sandwiches...

Shannon - posted on 12/17/2009

MIchael is a strange eater. He is 26 months old and use to eat anything and loved vegatables and fruit. Now I am lucky to get him to eat. He does eat much better for other though. He likes chicken, grilled cheese, PB&J, macaroni and cheese, and of course hotdogs. He does love mandrian oranges so we always have them. Since he will not touch vegatables I keep V8 Fusion and fix him a small glass with dinner. I miss my guy that would eat.

Kerrie - posted on 12/16/2009

I got Jessica Seinfleds book Deceptively Delicious for a present. There are some really good ideas for "hiding" veggies. Its got a really good french toast that uses pumkin puree mixed in the batter. And several variations of mac n cheese using butternut squash and califlower. Pretty good stuff. A personal favorite at our house is a "Shake" I use a drinkable yogurt, equal parts milk and half a pack of Carnation instant breakfast vanilla flavor, shake it all up, my girl will not go near Pedasure. I sing a song while I make it to the tune of KC and the sunshine band Shake your booty, I say "shake shake shake shake shake shake - shake for Cora - shake for Cora" and we dance a little she laughs and the whole thing is fun for her.

Justine - posted on 12/16/2009

Thanks Julia - the main point is that as you say the episodes of fasting don't seem to do them any harm ... although they have always been on the small side (though not uncommon in twins in itself) so that does tend to make me worry a bit I suppose. But certainly all sounds like VERY normal behaviour for two year olds, and you know what - since I started stressing less about it, they seem to be eating more ....!!!!

Julia - posted on 12/15/2009

Jacob doesn't eat anything! At 24 months and one day (haha) he decided that dinner time was not for him. He wouldn't eat anything. I didn't give in though I did however give him other choices such as applesauce or yogurt. I read somewhere to think of a toddlers eating habits in bites. A toddler only takes so many bites in a day and if you are filling them with appropriate calories i.e. fruits,veggies,etc. then they will be ok. He still is picky on what he eats but he is 26months old now and he is back to eating almost normally. Oh yea during his voluntary fasting time he didn't lose any weight or show signs of any illness.

Justine - posted on 12/15/2009

Thanks everyone for your replies!! I have to say I do feel a lot more relaxed about it now that I know that other people have the same problem and it's mroe or less normal!! And when I think about it they probably DO eat enough overall - they have always been a bit small, so I suppose that's why I worry, but they are definitely growing, and very active - and pooing! - that was a good point to remember!! Also in the last couple of days I've tried to be more relaxed about meal time, let them get out and play for a bit and the come back for a bite here and there when they want it, and also a bit of old fashioned bribery, promising 'treats' if they eat some more (the treats are always fruit, but at this age anything is a treat!) ... so we are getting there! Thanks again for all of your helpful replies and advice - you mums rock!

Tamara - posted on 12/15/2009

Hi my name is Tamara and i have a 9yr. old boy and a 2 yr. old girl, have you tried cut up hot dogs,french fries,macaroni and cheese,baked potatoes,or pizza those are my lil girls favorites "FINGER FOODS" they're great b/c toddlers can feed themsleves! Apple slices are a big hit and she really enjoys sausages too!

Sheila - posted on 12/15/2009

Also does your little one look healthy?? Zoe's full of energy, gains weight and goes to the toilet regularly. I try not to owrry if she decides not to eat meat one day, she will usually eat loads in the next day or so but you do naturally worry don't you??? I think our bodies naturally crave what we need. You could always supplement with vitamins to put your mind at rest too. Must give Zoe some, she loves her lemon flavoured liquid off her spoon. Sx

Amber - posted on 12/14/2009

All normal!! My 26 month old hardly eats anything, even if it is items she likes and she still is at a normal weight. Cooked chicken usually goes over well and she likes raw broccoli but not cooked. I just can't be too concerned about all the food groups, she just doesn't eat enough at this stage. And I think pretty much all through time, 2 year olds have been picky so I wouldn't worry at all about it.

Sandy - posted on 12/14/2009

My 26 month old is totally different everyday... one day she'll eat sausages and the next she wont like sausages... I try getting her to help me choose what she wants to eat and let her help make it if its not too hard... days when she wants pasta I add mixd vegies and ham into it that way she still has vegies, u could do the same with scrambled eggs... sometimes she'll just eat honey n peanut butter sandwiches... I also try creating different flavours with different sauces and spices n she'll give it a try...

Jessica - posted on 12/14/2009

yeah... same age as my boy... he mostly lives off of egg burritos (i fry an egg and wrap it in a whole wheat tortilla), vanilla yogurt, oatmeal (rolled oats, water, milk, dash of salt), and annie's bunnies (organic crackers).

sometimes i can get him to eat some apple, pear, or carrots, but not so often. in the summer he loved peaches.

I also give him Juice Plus chewables (which is basically fruit snacks made of powdered fruits and veggies) and that helps me deal with the fact that i cant get him to eat fruits and veggies very often...

Justine - posted on 12/14/2009

Thanks Sheila! Good to hear that it IS normal for 2-year olds to be this fussy!!! I just need to work on finding some other acceptable meals other than pasta, sanwiches and eggs - oh and for veggies they cucumber and occasionally carrots and Lucy will eat green beans ... and they both love fruit ... so I guess somehow they ARE getting all of the food groups!!!

Sheila - posted on 12/14/2009

What Zoe likes one day doesn't mean she'll like it the next. Had a curry phase now won't touch it. Minted lamb steaks are good and hash browns, thankfully LOVES peas, carrots, sweetcorn, broccoli. Only eats cooked cheese yet doesn't like pizza. I ate pizza all the time when I wa pregnant. Used to hate fish but now loves fish fingers. Spaghetti hoops in small doses but hets baked beans. Hope this helps. Oooo, LOVES stir fry!!! Sx