Menu for a one-year-old child: recipes with photos for every day

How much should a 2 year old child eat?

We can say with 100% certainty that by the age of two, a child already has his own food preferences. It is very simple to determine this: the baby eats some things with pleasure, but refuses others. It often happens that a child completely refuses to eat, which causes anxiety for the parents. To save yourself from unnecessary stress, every parent should study in detail the questions: “ How much should a child eat at 2 years old?” " and " What should a child eat at this age? "

The baby’s nutrition should fully satisfy his needs, both energy and needs for full development. Pediatricians believe that a 2-year-old child “requires” approximately 1,500 kcal, divided into 4 meals: breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack and dinner. The maximum amount of calories should come at lunch (about 50% - 700-800 kcal).

One day menu

Children's daily diet should include fermented milk products, cereals, vegetables, fruits, soups or broths. Meat should be alternated with fish and given every other day. The approximate amount of food is distributed as follows: 25%/35%/15%/25% (breakfast/lunch/afternoon snack/dinner). Daily calorie content is 1200-1400 calories, of which about 360 should be fat.

An approximate menu for one day in 2 years looks like this:

What can a 2 year old child eat?

The child's nutrition must be balanced, i.e. it must contain the correct proportions of protein, fat and carbohydrates. A clear ratio is 1:1:4, of which proteins should be 50-60 g, fats - 10-12 g, and carbohydrates about 200 g. Pay attention to protein foods, because most (70-75%) are There should be plant proteins and only 30-25% “animal”.

When creating a menu for your child, be sure to pay attention to dairy and fermented milk products, which should be quite abundant in the diet of children of this age. You should not accustom your kids to sweet cheese desserts and mousses, but just give preference to natural cottage cheese, cheese, sour cream and yogurt, which have a lot of calcium and protein.

At the same time, try to make your baby’s food varied, because he needs a lot of nutrients for the formation and development of all body systems. It is very important that food is prepared correctly, because the digestive system of 2-year-old children is not properly formed and it is difficult to digest “heavy” foods: fried, salty, sour, pickled.

IMPORTANT: Food should preferably be steamed, boiled, baked without oil, or cooked in a slow cooker.

Nutrition of a child aged 2 years: rules

Allowed and prohibited foods for a 2-year-old child

The diet of a 2-year-old child should be balanced and varied. To bring only benefits to the body, you need to understand the list of permitted and prohibited products.

A child's diet requires:

Prohibited for children:

• heavy shrimp, crabs and mussels;
• sausages with flavorings, dyes and preservatives;
• fat meat;
• melon or grapes, as they increase the accumulation of gases;
• industrial ice cream;
• chocolate, pastries, cakes;
• drinks with carbon dioxide.

You should also refrain from dishes with a lot of herbs and spices.

Menu for children from 1 to 2 years old for every day: recipes, dishes

The health of a child from 1 to 2 years old is very closely related to what he eats. The menu for a small child should be planned correctly and in advance, using only environmentally friendly, light and permitted products.

Breakfast menu:

• Boiled porridge, cereal breakfasts: oatmeal, buckwheat, rice, millet, wheat porridge or semolina, pearl barley.
• Sandwich with butter and cheese (a piece of wheat or rye bread).
• Boiled eggs or baked omelet (with vegetables, milk or cheese).
• Cottage cheese casserole with dried fruits or raisins (with the addition of semolina).
• Milk soup (rice, buckwheat, semolina, millet).

IMPORTANT: Breakfast must include a warm drink (tea, compote of fresh or dried fruits, jelly, juice).

Lunch menu:

• Vegetable broth, vegetable soup
• Chicken broth, chicken soup
• Borscht, rassolnik, beetroot soup, green borscht, cabbage soup
• Cream soup
• Porridge (any)
• Pasta
• Boiled vegetables
• Stew
• Vegetable puree
• Steamed meatballs
• Meatballs in gravy without oil or frying
• Meatballs in broth
• Steam cutlets from turkey, chicken, beef
• Fish cutlets

Afternoon snack menu:

• Curd and rice casseroles
• Yoghurts
• Baked and fresh vegetables
• Vegetable or fruit salads
• Cookie
• Milk
• Ryazhenka
• Bakery

Dinner menu:

• Vegetable casserole
• Pasta casserole
• Baked omelette
• Boiled eggs
• Pasta
• Vegetable salad
• Cottage cheese

IMPORTANT: At the age of 2 years, children are not recommended to eat fish broths, but they can eat fish fillets. For first courses, you should finely chop the ingredients and do not fry them in oil.

Products and menu

Menu options

Cooking recipes

When parents prepare breakfast for their children, they should make the food healthy, tasty and beautiful. There are many interesting and quick recipes. Any dish can be decorated in an original way using available materials. Children especially like it when omelette or porridge looks like a funny animal or little man. To do this, just put a funny face on the plate.

Delicious and healthy breakfast

A universal, tasty and healthy breakfast, which is also easy to prepare, is oatmeal porridge seasoned with pieces of fruit and dried fruit. You can add a little honey to the porridge. The baby will be happy to eat a beautifully decorated dish. In summer, you can use fresh seasonal berries to decorate the dish: strawberries, raspberries or blueberries.

Another versatile option, loved by children of all ages, is ready-made corn flakes for quick breakfasts, doused with milk. You should choose only a high-quality product, without palm oil in the composition. Such food tastes good and gives you energy. However, you should not eat cereal every day in the morning - they are very high in calories. They can be given to the child 2 times a week.

Diet breakfast

As a dietary option, we can recommend buckwheat porridge with milk. Buckwheat, unlike rice, does not contain starch, so it can be eaten every day. It is convenient to prepare crumbly porridge in a slow cooker; the recipe is simple and quick. If your baby likes to eat a hearty meal in the morning, you can cook buckwheat without milk and give a steamed cutlet as a side dish.

Beautiful breakfast

Even someone who doesn’t know how to cook can make such a breakfast. It is enough to fry an omelette or pancakes in silicone molds in the shape of hearts (other figures) and decorate the finished dish with herbs (peas). You can also decorate traditional sandwiches beautifully, for example, put a funny “face” made from pieces of fresh vegetables on them. Children will also love mini tartines on plastic skewers or wooden toothpicks.

Children's breakfasts should look attractive. You don't have to be an artist to decorate a dish beautifully. The main thing is to show your imagination. Then even the most capricious baby will eat with pleasure.

Most doctors claim that the disposition to healthy and proper nutrition begins in early childhood, even at the stage of introducing complementary foods. Therefore, parents should carefully plan their children's diet. In the future, the habit of healthy food will help the child avoid diabetes and obesity - the most common diseases caused by unhealthy eating habits.

What to cook for a 2-year-old child for breakfast: recipes for children from 1 to 2 years old

Sandwich with butter and cheese:

• To make a sandwich, you can use any bread: white, serial, rye. You can take a piece of a bun or bran bread.
• The bread can be toasted in a toaster or dried in the oven (frying it in a frying pan with butter is not allowed).
• Spread a piece of butter (made from natural milk, high quality) on top of the warm, but not hot bread.
• Place a small slice of 30% cheese on the butter (you can find special children's cheese in the store, choose low-fat cheese).

IMPORTANT: Sandwiches and toast with fruit jam, honey, nuts, and fresh fruit are also suitable for breakfast.

Cottage cheese casserole:

• 0.5 kg of fresh natural cottage cheese (preferably not very fatty, up to 8-9%) should be crushed with a potato masher.
• Add a few tbsp. sugar and continue grinding the cottage cheese.
• Beat 1 egg and add 3 tbsp. semolina, continue kneading.
• You can make the casserole in a slow cooker or oven.
• Grease the edges of the mold with a minimum amount of oil and lay out the curd mass.
• You can also add raisins or any chopped dried fruits to the cottage cheese (rinse them with boiling water in advance to wash off dust and dirt).
• The casserole is baked for no more than 30 minutes at medium temperatures (up to 190 degrees).
• Do not rush to immediately remove the finished casserole, let it cool for 30 minutes and then cut into small pieces.

Semolina:

• Take 1 glass of milk
• You can dissolve a couple of teaspoons in slightly warmed milk. sugar, salt on the tip of a knife according to your preference and a pinch of vanillin.
• Pour 2-4 tsp into warm milk (about 30 degrees). dry semolina (the amount of cereal depends on the preferred thickness of the finished porridge), stirring constantly, bring to a boil.
• Cover the saucepan with a lid and let the semolina steam under the lid for 5-10 minutes.
• Serve with a pat of butter

Millet porridge with pumpkin:

• Rinse 0.5 tbsp millet and soak it for 10 minutes
• Boil 1 cup water or milk
• Add millet to boiling water (milk)
• Add sugar (you can add a pinch of vanilla and salt)
• Grate 50 g pumpkin on a fine grater
• Add pumpkin to boiling porridge
• Cook over low heat for 5-7 minutes
• Let the porridge sit under the lid after cooking for up to 10 minutes.
• Serve with a pat of butter

Oatmeal with milk:

• Boil 1 tbsp milk, add sugar and vanilla.
• Pour 0.5-2/3 cup of Hercules oat flakes into boiling milk.
• Cook over low heat for 2-3 minutes
• Steam covered without heat for 5 minutes
• Serve with a pat of butter

Baked omelette:

• Separate the whites of 2 eggs from the yolks
• Add a pinch of salt to the whites and beat them into a fluffy foam.
• Gradually beat in the yolks one at a time, without ceasing to beat the eggs (it is advisable to do this with a mixer).
• Pour 2 tbsp into the mixture. milk and add 1 tbsp. flour
• You can bake the omelette in the oven or slow cooker (grease the bowl and pan a little).
• Baking time is about 10-15 minutes (a tight crust should appear).
• Cut into cubes and serve

Rice porridge with apple “Charlotte”:

• Boil 1 tbsp. milk or water
• Add sugar and vanilla to taste
• Add 0.5 tbsp. round rice, cook over low heat with the lid closed for 7-10 minutes (add additional liquid if necessary).
• Cut half an apple into small cubes
• Pour the apple into the porridge, turn off the heat
• Steam the porridge under the lid (up to 10 minutes)
• Serve with a pat of butter and cinnamon (optional)

What to feed a 2 year old child for breakfast?

Basic principles of natural nutrition

Not all parents know what to cook for their child's breakfast. It is necessary to include as many natural products as possible in your child’s diet from an early age. Any preservatives, including industrially produced ready-made baby food, can cause allergies, so feeding your baby such food every day is not the best option.

Sand in the stool of a child under one year old - reasons for the appearance of dots and lumps

When planning a children's diet, keep the following in mind:

• The longer the heat treatment of products (cooking, frying), the less vitamins and nutrients remain in them;
• If the baby does not want to have lunch or breakfast, you should not force him. It is better to put the food in the refrigerator and feed the baby after a while, when he is hungry;
• As a snack between main meals, you can use dried fruits, pieces of fresh apples or pears. Sweets are not suitable for this purpose because they can sharply reduce your appetite;
• In no case should you give a baby under one year old industrially produced sweets, because they contain palm oil, artificial colors and flavors.

Attention! It is strictly forbidden to give small children any fast food, including cereal porridge. They contain a lot of sugar, and a long shelf life is achieved by adding preservatives.

What to cook for a 2-year-old child for lunch: recipes for first courses for children from 1 to 2 years old

First courses occupy a significant place in children's diets, as they improve intestinal function and normalize stool.

Meatball soup:

• Boil water in a saucepan
• Finely chop half a small onion and add to boiling water.
• Send finely grated carrots (half) there.
• Cut the potatoes into small cubes (2 medium-sized pieces) and let them cook.
• From minced chicken (150-200 g). Form balls with your hands and throw them into boiling water.
• Boil the soup until the potatoes are ready
• Salt it a little. Add chopped herbs and let sit for 10-15 minutes.

Lenten red borscht:

• Boil water in a saucepan
• Finely chop half a small onion and add to boiling water.
• Add finely grated carrots (half) there.
• Grate half the beets on a fine grater and place in the pan.
• Stir in 0.5 tbsp. tomato paste (or 1 finely chopped tomato).
• Cut the potatoes into small cubes (2 medium-sized pieces) and let them cook.
• Finely chop cabbage (50-80 g) and add to the pan.
• Add a small bay to the borscht and a little salt, cook until the potatoes are ready.

Vegetable soup:

• Boil water in a saucepan
• Finely chop half a small onion, some carrots and add to boiling water.
• Cut the potatoes into small cubes (2 medium-sized pieces) and let them cook.
• Do the same with zucchini (approximately 100 g, can be replaced with zucchini).
• Add 1 tbsp. any rice, salt (small amount). Boil the soup until the potatoes and rice are ready. Serve with greens.

Beetroot:

• Add half a finely chopped onion and a piece of grated carrot to boiling water (or chicken or beef broth).
• Peel small beets, finely grate, add the entire amount to boiling water.
• Cut the potatoes into small cubes (2 medium-sized pieces) and let them cook.
• Cook until the potatoes are ready, squeeze out a little garlic (or chop 0.5 cloves), add dill.

Buckwheat soup:

• Add some finely grated carrots and chopped onion to boiling water or broth.
• Add bay leaf and 2 tbsp. washed buckwheat.
• Peel the potatoes, cut into small cubes, add to the soup.
• Finely chop the parsley and dill and add to the saucepan. Cook until the potatoes are done.

Pasta soup:

• Boil water or chicken broth
• Add grated carrots to boiling liquid
• Add finely chopped onion half
• Cut the potatoes into small cubes (2 medium-sized pieces) and let them cook.
• Choose small pasta (stars, letters, flowers, rings), 1-2 tbsp. will be quite enough.
• Add a little salt and herbs, cook until the potatoes are ready.

What to feed a 2 year old child for lunch?

Smoothie with banana and oatmeal

What you will need:

• Banana - 1 piece;
• Regular or oat milk - 1 glass;
• Oatmeal - 1 tablespoon;
• Honey - 1 teaspoon.

17655148 - berries milkshake

Preparation:

1. You can take a banana either fresh or frozen and chop it coarsely.
2. In a blender, mix chopped banana, milk and add honey and oatmeal.
3. Mix until smooth.
4. Bon appetit!

What to cook for a 2-year-old child for lunch: recipes for main courses for children from 1 to 2 years old

Meatballs in tomato sauce:

• Pour 1 tbsp into a multicooker bowl or saucepan. tomato juice and 1 tbsp. water.
• Grate the carrots and chop the onion, add the vegetables to the tomato mixture, and place on the stove. Squeeze a clove of garlic there and put a bay leaf.
• In a bowl, mix 300-400 g of minced beef without fat (pork lard) with 100 g of cooked round rice (not washed).
• Add a little salt and form into balls.
• Each meatball should be carefully lowered into the boiling sauce; the heat can be reduced only when all the meatballs are laid out on the bottom.
• Cook the meatballs for about 40 minutes, during which time half of the liquid should boil away.

Steamed meatballs:

• Pour water into the bowl of a multicooker or steamer and wait until it boils.
• Form small balls from minced chicken (slightly salted in advance).
• Place the meatballs on a grid and close the oven lid.
• Steam the meatballs for 20-25 minutes.

Chicken cutlets:

• Salt 0.5 kg minced chicken fillet
• Add 1 egg to the minced meat, mix everything thoroughly
• Soak 2 slices of white loaf in boiling water in advance, add the crumb to the minced meat, mix with 1 tbsp. flour.
• Place the minced meat in the refrigerator for several hours
• After a few hours, heat the Teflon frying pan
• Lubricate it with a brush (just a little oil)
• Form cutlets from the cooled and thickened minced meat and place on the bottom of the frying pan (the heat should be low).
• They should be fried under a closed lid, sometimes adding water so that they do not burn.

Hake in tomato:

• The fish carcass should be washed and cut into small pieces.
• Pour 1 tbsp into a saucepan or multicooker bowl. tomato juice.
• Add finely grated small carrots and half an onion there.
• Wait for the juice to boil and place the fish slices into the boiling mixture.
• Extinguishing time – 40 minutes

Navy-style pasta:

• Boil a piece of beef (pulp) - 200-300 gr.
• Boil the pasta, rinse a little
• Pass the boiled meat through a meat grinder and add to the boiled pasta.
• If desired, you can fry half an onion in a little oil and water and add to the pasta.

Vegetable stew:

• Place diced potatoes (1-2 pcs) into the multicooker.
• Cut the zucchini in the same way as the potatoes (1 small fruit).
• 1 carrot should also be cut into cubes
• Finely chop the onion and tomato
• Cabbage (150-200 g) cut into cubes by hand
• Fill everything with 0.5 tbsp. water, put 1 bay leaf and a pinch of salt in a bowl.
• Simmer the stew for 30-40 minutes

What to feed a two year old for lunch?

Oatmeal with berries

Everyone's favorite recipe for oatmeal in a jar, decorated with nuts and berries, is suitable as a breakfast option for both children and adults. And its main advantage is that it can be prepared in the evening, which will leave your morning completely free. Additives can be varied according to your taste and the taste of your child, everyone will find the ideal composition for themselves - oatmeal is supplemented with berries, fruits, nuts, honey, and some recipes include various vegetables and even herbs!

What you will need:

• Oatmeal - 1/2 cup;
• Milk or fermented baked milk - 200 ml;
• Nuts - 60 g;
• Frozen raspberries or blackberries;
• Honey.

Oatmeal porridge bowl with blueberries, cranberries and almonds and cup of green tea. Concept of healthy lifestyle, healthy eating, fitness menu and dieting

Cooking step by step:

1. Pour milk over the oatmeal, add 1 tablespoon of honey and stir. If the child wishes, you can replace the milk with low-fat yogurt without additives.
2. Decorate the top with berries and nuts and place in the refrigerator overnight so that the oatmeal is well soaked.

Bon appetit!

What to cook for a 2-year-old child for an afternoon snack: recipes for children from 1 to 2 years old

Curd cheesecakes:

• Pour 300-400 g of cottage cheese into a bowl
• Add 1 egg and a pinch of vanillin there.
• Add some sugar and flour
• Knead the dough, make sure it is homogeneous
• Using a brush, grease the pan with oil (a little).
• Place balls of curd dough on a hot frying pan.
• Fry them under a closed lid over low heat until golden brown on each side.

Pancakes:

• 1 tbsp. add kefir or sour milk to a bowl
• Pour in a few tbsp. vegetable oil
• Beat 1 egg, add a pinch of salt and vanilla
• Add a few tbsp. sugar and add flour until the dough resembles sour cream.
• The pan should be well heated and lightly greased with oil using a brush.
• Spoon the dough
• Fry without oil (not counting the first time)
• Fry on both sides for 0.5 minutes

Banana fritters:

• Puree one banana in a blender
• Add sugar and egg to banana mixture
• You can mix in a little baking powder and vanilla.
• Gradually add flour until a batter forms.
• Spoon the dough onto the frying pan and fry the pancakes on both sides for 0.5 minutes.

Options for delicious afternoon snacks for children 2 years old

Roll with egg

This breakfast roll recipe is incredibly easy to prepare, freezes well, and doesn’t require much time. The filling options can be very varied, so don’t be afraid to replace missing products; instead of sausages, you can use boiled chicken fillet or ham.

Ingredients for making rolls:

• Eggs - 5 pieces;
• Lavash - 2 pieces;
• Sausages - 2 pieces;
• Cheese - 100 grams;
• Tomato - 1 piece;
• Onion - 1 piece.

Roll with egg

How to cook:

1. Cut the sausages into cubes and fry in a frying pan for 1-2 minutes on each side. If necessary and as a healthier alternative, they can be boiled.
2. Beat the eggs, add salt and pepper and fry until done.
3. Chop the onions and tomatoes, grate the cheese.
4. Place the filling on the pita bread: onion, tomato, sausage, eggs and cheese.
5. If desired, you can grease the pita bread with low-fat sour cream.
6. At this point, we either put the rolls in the freezer, or fry them in a frying pan until a light crust forms and serve for breakfast.
7. Bon appetit!

What to cook for a 2-year-old child for dinner: recipes for children from 1 to 2 years old

Milk soup with buckwheat:

• Boil a glass of milk
• You can add a little sugar to taste and a pinch of vanilla.
• Add 3-5 tbsp. washed buckwheat
• Cook after boiling for 10 minutes over low heat
• Steam for 5 minutes before serving

Semolina pudding:

• Pudding is prepared in advance
• Boil 1 tbsp. milk with sugar and vanilla
• Add 0.5 tbsp. semolina and cook for 3-4 minutes
• Then cover with a lid and keep until cool.
• Cut the cooled pudding into cubes
• Serve with jam or preserves

Vegetable casserole:

• Peel and wash the vegetable, cut the potatoes, carrots, zucchini, onions and broccoli into cubes (you can also add pumpkin, cauliflower, eggplant).
• Prepare the filling sauce: beat 2 eggs with salt and a few tablespoons. flour.
• Pour the sauce over the vegetables and place in the oven.
• Keep at medium temperatures (150-160 degrees) for about 30-40 minutes (the sauce should harden).

Pasta casserole:

• Pour the boiled pasta into the mold
• Prepare the filling sauce: beat 2 eggs with salt and a few tablespoons. flour.
• You can add a little grated cheese to the sauce
• Pour the sauce over the casserole and place in the oven for 30 minutes (160-170 degrees).

What to feed a 2 year old child for dinner?

Porridge

Every second child grimaces as soon as he hears this word. But mom has the power to turn such a breakfast into a real culinary masterpiece - so that not only the baby, but even dad would work hard with a spoon.

What are the benefits of porridge?

• Oatmeal. A universal dietary breakfast, rich in vitamins, healthy acids, microelements, and vegetable proteins. Oats are an ideal antioxidant, an assistant in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, and a source of biotin (a vitamin, the deficiency of which leads to weakness, drowsiness, decreased appetite, etc.).
• Buckwheat. A real storehouse of vitamins. Yadritsa is a natural and tasty mini-pharmacy that rids the body of bad cholesterol, has a positive effect on heart function, and has an antitoxic effect. The list of benefits of buckwheat is huge.
• Pearl barley. At first glance, it is not the most appetizing, but extremely healthy porridge. Pearl barley porridge contains a lot of vitamins, protein and starch, microelements, lysine (an antiviral amino acid).
• Rice. This porridge is good for intelligence, rich in fiber, vitamin B and protein.
• Millet. Porridge for the heart. This breakfast is rich in minerals, vitamin PP, amino acids, and microelements.
• Corn. Breakfast for the gastrointestinal tract. Contains vitamins (PP, C, B), carotene, lysine and tryptophan, fiber, silicon. Porridge reduces fermentation in the intestines, removes toxins, and is low in calories.

It is still too early for a child aged 1-3 years to eat pearl barley (it is difficult to digest), semolina is also not recommended, but other cereals will be very useful.

How to make porridge tasty for a child?

• Add a piece of butter (butter) during the cooking process.
• Pour a little milk into the porridge (when ready) and bring to a boil.
• Add fruits (dried fruits), nuts, jam or preserves, vegetables.
• Add baked apple or grated cheese.
• Add fruit puree, chopped or whole berries.
• Add fruit juice for color.
• Add the whipped mixture of boiled vegetables (pumpkin, carrots, cauliflower).

Use your imagination. Porridge for breakfast can become a “canvas” in a plate - with the help of fruits, candied fruits or jam, “draw” culinary landscapes, unknown animals or fantastic characters for your child. Not a single child will refuse such porridge.

What to cook for a 2-year-old child if he doesn’t eat well?

There are only a few ways to interest your child in food:

• In a playful way (when you try to make him imagine that a spoon with food is an airplane, a train, or a car that wants to get into the garage - his mouth).
• Offer an incentive (we mean that you will encourage the child to eat well with something interesting for him: a walk in the park, joint entertainment, toys).
• Set an example (children often strive to be like their parents, so you should show how happy you are to eat this particular food and how tasty the food is).
• Praise your child for every spoonful he eats (this will encourage your child to “be good” to you and eat everything).
• Tell other family members about the child’s “successes” (for example, tell this to the baby’s dad and he will be proud of himself).
• Offer to cook food together (the baby will definitely want to try his own food, it’s not difficult, for example: throwing vegetables into a salad bowl or stirring porridge).

What not to do:

• Promise sweets (they set up the child to eat “not tasty” food before “tasty”).
• Threaten with punishment (this will cause the child to have negative associations with eating).
• Forcibly insert a spoon into the mouth, open the mouth against the will (this will compare the child’s eating with torture; allow the baby to “pick” the food on his own, because this will interest him).

IMPORTANT: If the child is not attracted to the food, make it beautiful. Every child will appreciate porridge, a sandwich or hot food in the shape of a bunny, cat or bear. He will definitely want to try his nose, tail, ear, and so on.

“Beautiful” dishes for children, serving options:

Fruits laid out with pictures

Mashed Potato Machine

Turtle from buckwheat porridge

Sandwiches “faces”

Bear made from mashed potatoes and cutlets

Possible problems

At the age of two, the child strives for independence. At this time, many children begin to experience a developmental crisis, which also affects the area of ​​nutrition.

What to do if a child does not eat the foods he needs?

Many parents worry that their child is not eating enough, in their opinion, varied. At the age of two, babies can eat the same dish for several days, and this is the norm. There is no need to worry if your child eats at least one product from these groups: dairy products, meat, vegetables, grains and fruits. For example, if your baby’s menu includes bananas, potatoes, chicken, bread and kefir, his diet can be called varied.

If the child completely refuses food, there is no need to insist or force it. Offer your baby food at specific times (based on a routine), avoid snacking, and ensure that food is the right temperature and texture. The best strategy is to provide a constant supply of food, but not to provide easy-to-digest sweets or other foods that the child can eat between meals. When the child is hungry, he will eat what you give him.

How do you understand that lack of appetite is a symptom of illness?

In most cases, poor appetite is not associated with illness, but with frequent snacking and a lack of eating routine. Another difficulty can be caused by an excessively large portion. Seeing a large amount of food, a discouraged child will rush to refuse food altogether. It is best to give your child food in small quantities, and when he has eaten everything, offer more.

However, loss of appetite is indeed a sign of illness, for example, diseases of the digestive tract or any acute infections. Parents may be led to believe that poor appetite is associated with illness by the presence of other symptoms - fever, nausea, weight loss, changes in stool, and others.

Binge eating

It is important to teach your child the basics of proper nutrition from early childhood, because obesity is a very common problem in adults. Parents should teach their baby to eat healthy foods. There is no need to be mistaken and rejoice if a two-year-old eats large portions and has long since switched to the common table. This can undermine children's health and cause problems in the future.

Try to instill healthy eating habits in your child. It is best if the child eats at the table with other family members.

Never use food as a reward or promise your child something for an empty plate.

How to increase the appetite of a two-year-old child?

Adviсe:

• Eliminate “accidental” snacks in the form of candy, cookies or cake. Give your child sweets 15-20 minutes after a hearty meal.
• Do not feed your child in a bad mood or after a tantrum, try to interest him or cheer him up and only then start eating.
• Make sure that the child has his own personal utensils and dishes, preferably bright ones and with colorful pictures. He can have special toys at the table that will also eat.
• Give your child berries and apples 30-40 minutes before meals, this will stimulate gastric juice and increase appetite.
• Maintain a drinking regime; the child should not feel thirsty; drinking enough throughout the day will improve metabolism and appetite.
• Regularly spend time in the fresh air before eating; active walks always improve your appetite and lift your mood.
• In “severe cases”, consult your doctor. He may prescribe you special medications and teas to improve your appetite.