How to Feed a 3-Year-Old
By the time a child reaches the age of three, he or she will have already become used to most foods. They also seem to be quite stubborn at times, and may refuse to eat altogether. The parent will need to have patience when attempting to serve new foods in a way that the child will like and eat. It is often challenging to get a toddler to eat a wide variety of foods when they are used to simple meals of macaroni and cheese and hot dogs. Your child may turn up his nose to brown rice or tofu, but served with familiar foods and an interesting presentation, the three-year-old child will soon learn to eat healthy foods.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Stock your kitchen and pantry with nutritious food. Children get in the habit of eating unhealthy food because it is quick and available. Substitute whole wheat bread for white bread, and mix brown rice with vegetables for a change from plain white rice. Serve carrots and clery sticks with dip instead of chips, and give them water in place of soda or sugary drinks. Vegetables can be served a variety of different ways; be creative and try out new recipes.
-
2
Introduce new foods slowly, one at a time to see what your three-year-old will like. Children at this age tend to be picky eaters and resist change. Kids do not often like squash or eggplant the first time they try it, so be patient and try the foods again at a later time. Another reason to add new foods slowly is to determine if your child has any food allergies. Milk, nuts and shellfish are foods that can cause allergic reactions in kids and adults.
-
-
3
Determine that your child is eating enough. Your busy three-year-old should be eating three meals a day plus snacks and drinks. If you have a picky eater who refuses food on occasion, a nutritious health shake made with egg white protein powder, fruit and yogurt mixed with low fat milk serves as a small meal. If you have concerns about weight gain, consult your pediatrition. Children go through "growth spurts" periodically, and will eat a lot one time and then next to nothing.
-
4
Create tasty, appealing meals for your child. Three-year-olds like shapes and colors. Try cutting sandwiches with a round or triangle biscuit cutter. According to the The U.S. Department of Agriculture, a three-year-old should consume 1,000 to 1,400 calories per day. Serving sizes of fruits and vegetables for a three-year-old is 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup. The daily requirement for a three-year-old child is five servings of bread, 2 1/2 cups of cereals and grains, three servings of fruits and vegetables, five servings of milk and dairy and two servings of protein. Peanut butter, eggs and cheese can be substituted for meat or beans as a serving of protein.
-
5
Offer your child something from the five food groups at each meal. Pancakes, fruit and milk make a tasty breakfast as well as scrambled eggs with turkey sausage. Make a funny face on the pancake with raisins for a special treat. Peanut butter sandwiches with banana, slices of ham and cheese with crackers, yogurt or cottage cheese with fruit, or homemade chicken soup make a healthy, nutritious lunch.
-
1
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
