Can we get real about toddler feeding?

Feeding our toddlers should be easy, right? You just have to give them nutritious food and make it fun. Well, no, it's not that simple. What happens if my little one eats very few things or if she doesn't accept certain foods?

Nowadays there are many feeding guides for toddlers and, although many offer solutions and help a lot, the practice is often more difficult than the theory.

In my case, I have often witnessed how other children eat very well and without a struggle while my little girl does not accept things that she is supposed to like such as pizza or macaroni and cheese.

My child only eats a limited variety of foods and, many dishes that other children her age like to eat, don't work with her. Okay, we should not compare ourselves or worry so much about the variety of the foods our children eat, but about the quantity and quality. Sometimes a range of 20 or 30 foods, or even less, is more than enough to nutritiously feed our little ones, as long as these foods are mostly healthy. A quick list of the things my little one eats include: egg, milk, fruits (banana, papaya, mango, pear, apple, grapes), avocado, bread or flour tortillas, organic chicken nuggets and ground beef accompanied with ketchup, low-sodium turkey ham, oats, boxed cereals, peanut butter and hazelnut spread, cookies, desserts and candy, chips... let's not forget that they are children, they need to enjoy some junk food or a sweet from time to time.

A good meal can consist of small portions of healthy foods and even some dessert or chips

In the case of vegetables my little one does not accept them except for avocado, there are those who recommend delicious recipes with "hidden" vegetables (such as pasta with creamy vegetable sauce or chocolate muffins with grated zucchini) but they have not worked for me. Instead, I have put all my effort into getting my child to accept broccoli (high in fiber) and I have managed to get her to eat at least a small portion almost every day, without pressure, if there are days when she doesn’t eat it it’s o.k. It is worth mentioning that my little girl is almost 4 years old.

You have to be realistic, there are children who eat everything and without struggling, who accept vegetables without problems, but it is not the common rule, children, in general, are discovering the world of flavors and it is normal that there are things that they do not like. For me, not eating a lot of vegetables is a battle that I have had to surrender, but I do make sure that she eats at least some fruit (fiber and vitamins) and proteins in every meal.

Another issue in which we have to have our feet on the ground is the portions. They are small children, their stomach is not the size of an adult’s, let's not expect them to eat big portions. After all, if they stay hungry you have to teach them to ask for more or serve them more easy filling options giving them room to say "I’m full, I don’t want to eat this or that." For me, for example, a good breakfast looks like this: one scrambled egg, half a banana, half a slice of bread with a tablespoon of hazelnut and chocolate spread, a small glass of milk (If your little ones accept cheese and corn tortillas, quesadillas with beans and some fruit are an incredible supper or breakfast).

I like to serve in fun plates with divisions or in small dishes of different shapes with cute cutlery to make her food more appealing.

I can't complain, my child eats her "safe" foods very well and in according portions, it's all a matter of perspective.

Having homemade frozen meals such as oatmeal and banana hotcakes or ground beef patties on hand makes meal time easier

In the end, we can't control the foods that our little ones accept or the quantities they eat, but we can relax and have some tools on hand. I leave you some tips:

• Focus on quality and variety, not quantity

• Use plates and cutlery for children

• Let them participate in the preparation of the food (let them beat the egg or spread the hazelnut cream)

• Have ready-made homemade frozen foods at hand, such as mini hotcakes, small meat patties or oatmeal muffins

• Relax and remember that if they don't want to eat at some meal they won't die of hunger, in the next meal you can offer them several easy options or have a snack on hand.

The right way to feed your little ones will be the one that causes you the least stress. Remember that they are children, they don't need elaborate and complicated recipes, some simple things are enough. Find what works for your family and don't feel guilty about getting out of the norm, what works for some doesn't work for others and vice versa. After all, "fed is best", no matter what or how much, what matters is the nutritional quality.