Introducing New Foods to Toddlers - Am I Being Too Careful?
Question: Introducing New Foods to Toddlers - Am I Being Too Careful?
A reader asks:
"My children are 21 months and 3 years old. I'm very careful what I feed them but other moms say they let their young children eat fish sticks, tuna sandwiches, peanut butter, berries, melons, etc. I don't give my toddlers any of these foods. We do not have a family history of food allergies. Am I being overly cautious?
My oldest is very picky, too, so I'm not even sure she'll eat any new food."
Answer:
If you do not have a history of allergies anywhere in your family, chances are pretty slim that any of your children will have allergies. Now, it's not impossible, but you don't have to walk around on pins and needles with the introduction of every new food. Remember, too, that it's not just a history of food allergies that matters, but associated problems like hay fever, eczema and asthma. These indicate an inclination toward allergies even when it seems like there are no allergies involved.
If none of those are present, just introduce new foods slowly (give it a few days to see if there's any reaction) and make sure their diets contain a variety of foods. All the foods you mention can be introduced in a baby's first year except for peanut butter, which can be introduced after your child's first birthday. So, you should have no problems regarding intolerance due to age.
Fish is a safe, nutrition-packed option for todders.
It's loaded with protein and healthy omega 3s. The main issue with fish is actually not with allergies, but rather mercury. The FDA recommends shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock and catfish to avoid high mercury levels.
Melons and berries are great for your toddlers, too, and they need a cup a day of fruit. Most folks just meet this requirement with juice, but juice often contains sugars and is lacking in fiber which little potty trainers need to keep going to the bathroom regularly.
Peanut butter is an incredibly easy way to meet your a toddler's meat and beans requirement. Just two tablespoons will fulfill the needs for the entire day and it's a lot easier than cooking. Peanut butter is also an easy way to get toddlers to eat other foods. Spread it on bread or crackers and you're also meeting the grain requirement. Serve it with celery sticks or apple slices and you're meeting requirements for fruits and veggies.
You mention that your 3-year-old is a picky eater. Some of this can be caused by not being exposed often to a wide variety of foods. Mostly, though, toddlers just cling to what they know is safe and good, so don't worry about her being too picky. Just keep offering her everything that is healthy along with some of the things that you know she will eat.
Stephanie Gallagher writes about picky eaters quite a bit and I love her advice. She says that it takes multiple exposure to a food before your child will accept it. It may take 50 times of you putting a piece of cantaloupe on your toddler's plate before she will accept it and eat it regularly. Hopefully that gives you some assurance that she will (one day and with your help) be less picky. Just keep trying, even after she refuses the 40th time, frustrating as that may be.
A reader asks:
"My children are 21 months and 3 years old. I'm very careful what I feed them but other moms say they let their young children eat fish sticks, tuna sandwiches, peanut butter, berries, melons, etc. I don't give my toddlers any of these foods. We do not have a family history of food allergies. Am I being overly cautious?
My oldest is very picky, too, so I'm not even sure she'll eat any new food."
Answer:
No Allergies, No Worries
If you do not have a history of allergies anywhere in your family, chances are pretty slim that any of your children will have allergies. Now, it's not impossible, but you don't have to walk around on pins and needles with the introduction of every new food. Remember, too, that it's not just a history of food allergies that matters, but associated problems like hay fever, eczema and asthma. These indicate an inclination toward allergies even when it seems like there are no allergies involved.
If none of those are present, just introduce new foods slowly (give it a few days to see if there's any reaction) and make sure their diets contain a variety of foods. All the foods you mention can be introduced in a baby's first year except for peanut butter, which can be introduced after your child's first birthday. So, you should have no problems regarding intolerance due to age.
Your Toddler Can Benefit from These Nutrient Dense Foods
Fish is a safe, nutrition-packed option for todders.
It's loaded with protein and healthy omega 3s. The main issue with fish is actually not with allergies, but rather mercury. The FDA recommends shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock and catfish to avoid high mercury levels.
Melons and berries are great for your toddlers, too, and they need a cup a day of fruit. Most folks just meet this requirement with juice, but juice often contains sugars and is lacking in fiber which little potty trainers need to keep going to the bathroom regularly.
Peanut butter is an incredibly easy way to meet your a toddler's meat and beans requirement. Just two tablespoons will fulfill the needs for the entire day and it's a lot easier than cooking. Peanut butter is also an easy way to get toddlers to eat other foods. Spread it on bread or crackers and you're also meeting the grain requirement. Serve it with celery sticks or apple slices and you're meeting requirements for fruits and veggies.
Handling the Picky Eater
You mention that your 3-year-old is a picky eater. Some of this can be caused by not being exposed often to a wide variety of foods. Mostly, though, toddlers just cling to what they know is safe and good, so don't worry about her being too picky. Just keep offering her everything that is healthy along with some of the things that you know she will eat.
Stephanie Gallagher writes about picky eaters quite a bit and I love her advice. She says that it takes multiple exposure to a food before your child will accept it. It may take 50 times of you putting a piece of cantaloupe on your toddler's plate before she will accept it and eat it regularly. Hopefully that gives you some assurance that she will (one day and with your help) be less picky. Just keep trying, even after she refuses the 40th time, frustrating as that may be.
