Make your toddler go wild over food

Speak to the mother of a toddler and you can be sure she's going to complain that her child is a poor eater. Nothing unusual about that. Kids between one and three years are poor eaters because at this stage their weight gain is very slow. They are always on the move and to pin them down in one place is almost impossible. They think eating is a sheer waste of time when they could be doing much more important things like playing or trying to catch a butterfly!

When a toddler refuses to eat he is basically trying to test who's in control. Avoid making meal times a power struggle and offer him choices. Fussing over his appetite will only make him more stubborn. Give him room to negotiate. If you've put a cup full of beans in front of him and he agrees to eat only half of it, let him do so.

There really is no need to panic if kids become choosy or go on food binges because they are sure to get fed up. But if a child refuses to eat at all or begins to lose weight, then medical attention needs to be sought.

No blackmailing
Never ever plead with your child or use emotional blackmail, because in the long run it just doesn't work. Also remember he has his own likes and dislikes. Just because you happen to like a particular food it does not mean that he's going to like it too.

The best way to introduce new foods is in small quantities. Another good idea is to get him to help you in the kitchen while you're making something. Give him a bit of dough and let him roll out a chapati. Praise him and don't try to improve on it. Just cook and serve it to him exactly the way he rolled it out. It works wonders.

Be reasonable
Toddlers are erratic eaters and to expect them to have a well-balanced meal in one go is too much. They are bound to keep snacking which is perfectly okay as long as the snacks are nutritious. Putting huge amounts in front of your kid can prove to be quite daunting for him.

Food binges among toddlers is common and if the binges include things like cheese and vegetables, there really is nothing to fear. Juices are not good substitutes for fruits and vegetables because they don't provide the much-needed fibre. For dessert give the child fruits or puddings which are better than toffees and chocolates. These could be given occasionally.

Kids will do exactly what you do. So if you drink water before a meal, that's what your child is also going to do and he's bound to lose his appetite. Try to make meals a pleasurable activity instead of using it as coercion, punishment or reward. Being relaxed is of utmost importance because the tummy secretes more gastric juices when the body is tense. This prevents the food from being properly digested.

Trick or treat
Here are some tricks to make your toddler eat:

• Make the food colourful. Put an assortment of vegetables or fruits in
  a bowl with different colours for your child to snack on.
• Dips are instant hits with little ones. Try chutney, white sauce, cream, cheese or yoghurt dips. Besides being tasty they're wonderfully messy.
• Use some of your child's toys to serve the snacks in.
• Arrange colourful vegetables to form funny shapes and faces.
• If your child prefers a liquid diet, use milk as a base to try out different recipes.
• Don't pile up your child's plate. Give him small quantities which are high on nutrition.
• Try counting with your child each spoon of food that goes into his mouth. That way he'll learn to count as well.
• Rope in your neighbour's toddlers to have meals with your child.
  The kids will enjoy their food and you will find yourself in a friendly neighbourhood.