Food Messages From The Toddler

How I approach food...

• I may refuse new foods but can learn to like them with time and freedom to explore.
• I may like a food one day and hate it the next.
• I may eat a lot one day and very little the next.
• I may eat only one or two of the many foods you offer me at a meal.

I'm learning about my world and myself...

• I need you to set limits so that I'm not confused by too many choices.
• I may be upset when I don't get my way, but it helps me to understand my world better when you stick to your limits.  
• I want to be my own person, but I also want you to be there for me. 
• I don't know all the right words to tell you how I'm feeling.  You can watch my body and face to learn more about how we can best work together.
• Eating gives me lots of chances to explore the world and test limits.

What this means when you're feeding me...

• You need to decide what foods to serve, where I eat and when I eat.
• I will decide what I will eat (of the variety of healthy foods offered) and how much.
• I love exploring and am a very messy eater.  Please don't try to keep me neat and tidy.  Playing with my food is part of learning about eating.
• If I refuse to eat what you offer, please don't make a new meal.  If you do, I'll be confused about limits and will have to keep testing you to figure things out!
• Please don't force me to eat!  I will lose my ability to make good choices on my own!
• Do stay close by when I'm eating, but don't interfere.  I think you're pretty fantastic and feel more able to learn about food and eating when you're there.
• I may hit or push food away when I'm finished.  I'm not being bad.  I'm just trying to tell you I've had enough.
• Remember, I'm learning about food and eating by watching you.  Please show me how much you enjoy a variety of healthy foods.

Produced by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, May 2002.  May be reproduced without permission provided source is acknowledged.