Michael,
In general, I agree with your suggestions re: getting young children to
eat better though I would add water to your list of acceptable drinks for
the cup, especially given how hot this summer has been. From a housekeeping
standpoint, water in a cup doesn't attract bees or other bugs and is cooling
if it spills.
>> Leave the child alone and don't force anything! When the child is hungry
- he/she will eat. When they are not, they won't. Look at food intake over
days and weeks, not meal-by-meal. <<
Having just spent a week with my 2 1/2 yo granddaughter, I'd second the
idea of a food intake log. Sometimes she ate unbelievable quantities and
sometimes she'd eat next to nothing. She's still nursing so the only liquids
she got other than human milk were a cup of juice in the morning and water
adlib in her non-spillable cup. Calcium came from the yogurt and cheese she
ate as she grazed through out the day.
Portion control and grazing are other ideas to mention. Expecting a
little one to eat adult-sized portions is just not realistic. I like the
tummy/fist analogy as a visual way parents can estimate total meal size and
understand why little ones need lots of small meals rather than three big
ones.
-Harriet
Harriet F. Smiley, IBCLC