Picky toddler and vegetarian diet

[cndnveggie]

Both DH and I are vegetarian, and we've raised our almost 3-year old as a vegetarian as well. For the most part, I don't really think about it - I know our diet is balanced and varied, and I know that it's not hard to get all the nutrients in with a bit of planning. But DS has become increasingly picky with respect to which foods he'll eat (lately almost everything is "yucky", including foods he used to love, like avocado, sweet potato, veggie chicken nuggets, etc...), and I'm starting to get a bit worried that he's not getting enough of some vitamins and minerals, especially iron.

Thankfully, he does still nurse a few times a day. He also drinks chocolate milk at dinner (sometimes that's all he has for dinner : ), and usually has a decent breakfast of cereal and soy milk or regular milk. Other than that, though, it's completely up in the air - maybe some crackers, maybe an apple, maybe a few bites of a sandwich or waffle...

He doesn't look unhealthy - he's lean, and maybe a tad small for his age, but he doesn't look malnourished. He also meets the standard milestones for the most part, and seems healthy and energetic.

So I'm not sure if I should be concerned at all, or maybe get him supplements just for peace of mind. He does have a chewy vitamin every other day or so, but it doesn't have iron in it.

And of course, we get the meat question a lot - honestly, I have no idea if he'd even eat meat. And if he loved it, I would be torn - I'd be happy that he was eating something, but I don't eat meat for ethical reasons, and I would prefer my child doesn't either. But then again, that's a decision I'm making for him, and he may change his mind later on when he's older. I know DH would be open to seeing if he'll eat meat or not, but I'm not sure I'm ready to do that.

Anyone else go through something like this, or have any thoughts/opinions to share?

TIA!

[melissarana]

We’re experiencing this same exact thing. Foods that my toddlers loved (sometimes even treats and sweets) are becoming surprisingly, “yucky.” For us, it even changes from meal to meal. For example, at lunch falafel could be completely “yucky” but at dinner that same day it’s so “yummy.” At this point, we’re figuring it’s their emerging sense of independence and the beginning of their autonomy.

I did talk to my pediatrician about it once, and he said with toddlers it’s most important to think about what they’re eating over a full week not just one day. So, if the diet’s varied over the course of a full week, your little one should be fine.

It can be incredibly frustrating; hang in there!

[caiesmommy]

Seriously, I wouldn't be that worried. ALL toddlers go through this stage. My cousin went through the hot dogs and cheetos stage, it was disgusting!

My ds went through/is still going through this and I find if he has some choice it helps. He gets to pick the meal at least one day a week...rules are there has to be a veg, protein, grain...usually he picks pasta w tomato sauce and hemp seeds w cuke on the side. Little does he know the tomato sauce has extra veg pureed into it,along with beans. He also helps me cook, so I chop the veg and he puts it into the salad bowl. He mixes the pasta sauce. Whatever will get him more involved seems to help. Last ngiht we had chili and guacamole w ww chips, knowing that he'd eat the ships he had to take one bite of chili, per small chip which had to be dipped into something either the guac or the chili, sure theres a little disagreeing, but he realizes its worth it to get the chips

[maciascl]

I think this is a normal thing that most toddlers go through. 1 thing that I did when my kids were really giving me problems with this was to make a snack tray. I would take a divided tray of some sort (muffin tin, ice cube tray, divided plate, etc...) and fill each space with different things that they usually like. That way I could better see what variety of foods they were eating over the course of a day & they could pick what they wanted when they wanted. However, I would not give them anything else until they finished the snack tray since mine would leave the least favorites (usually veggies) & ask for more of the favorites.

Another suggetion that was helpful to calm me during these times was to look at your childs diet over a week rather than day by day. In the course of a week they probably fill the nutritional needs for that overall week. The good days make up for not so good days.