Wont eat toast.

[Rainbowbrite]

My 17month old loves her cereal for breakfast (1-2 weet bix or porridge) but wont eat anything else. If i offer toast, eggs etc she will eat about a tbs then want to get out of the chair & play. Should I just give her cereal everyday, or keep offering other things?

THanks

[the pero clinic]

Dear Rainbowbrite,

It is probably worth persisting with offering different foods for breakfast. While she is eating healthy cereals, her diet limitations could extend to other meals and foods – which could become a problem.

It’s very normal for toddlers to go through stages of food fussiness, and for the foods that they ‘do’ or ‘don’t’ like to change frequently. While this can be frustrating for parents, it is best to recognize it as a phase and not let meals become a battle or a point of anxiety or worry. Young children can learn to enjoy the reactions and extra attention from frustrated and upset parents when they refuse food – and therefore learn to refuse food even more!

Having said that, it is a good idea to continue to offer children a variety of foods, and encourage them away from restricted eating habits. Just be prepared to accept that they may refuse a food 10 more times before they will eat it.

For your daughter, you may also try offering spoonfuls of cereal alternated with pieces of toast, or giving her toast and eggs at lunch, before trying them again at breakfast. Encourage and praise her for trying a different food, but just quietly and calmly take away any food that is refused.

the pero clinic