4 eating tips for toddlers (& a healthy banana muffin recipe!) (2024)

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4 eating tips for toddlers (& a healthy banana muffin recipe!) (1)
Thanks to Enfa*grow for sponsoring this post.4 eating tips for toddlers (& a healthy banana muffin recipe!) (2)

I can remember when each of our kids started to become picky eaters, so to hopefully help you, I am going to share tips below that are practical and easy to begin.

At one year old they were enjoying all of those delicious vegetables and fruits. By 18 months, they were throwing their apple on the floor and reaching for a cracker. I don’t know what it is or how they seem to learn it, but it has happened with all four of our kids.

Did you know that, on average, toddlers are only getting about 25% of the brain-nourishing DHA many experts recommend? DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid and it is important for their brain growth (85% of brain growth happens within the first three years of a child’s life).

Today I want to give you four tips to keep your toddler eating healthy foods.

Make a smoothie popsicle. Our kids loved these at a young age! I filled them with all of those healthy fruits and veggies that they didn’t want anymore. They gobbled them right up!

Try supplementing their diet with Enfa*growIt just helps ensure that your child is getting the nutrients he/she may need. They really need that DHA – an importantnutrient that’s particularly hard to get from the foods toddlers typically eat. DHA can be found in foods like fatty fishes and I can tell you that we really don’t eat that around here.

I hear this over and over again. Our doctor has told us this and even our chiropractor told us to start using them. They both said that if we can find foods thathaveprebiotics, to try that. The suggestion that I gave for #2 is helpful because Enfa*grow makes toddler drinks that haveDHA and probiotics (among other things like calcium, vitamin D & Iron). I just get the drinks that they make for kids ages one to three. It is a powder (they make ready-to-drink boxes, too). You can see more here. https://bit.ly/V8JSy3.

I bought the cookbook from Jessica Seinfeld about sneaking veggies into your kid’s food and I have been using it for years. Our favorite recipe from there is definitely the coconut chicken. It is fantastic!

You can find some great recipes on the Enfa*grow website, like this one:
Banana Muffins

Makes about 18 muffins

Ingredients

4 scoops Enfa*grow® Toddler Next Step™ Vanilla or Natural Milk powder
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup brown sugar
5 tsp baking powder
1tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 cups oats
2 eggs, slightly beaten
6 tbsp vegetable oil
3/4 cup water
1 cup mashed bananas

Directions

Preheat oven to 400° F.
Mix all dry ingredients (Enfa*grow powder,flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, baking soda and oats) in a large bowl.
Make a well in the center and pour in the eggs, oil, waterand bananas.
Stir with a fork until the dry ingredients are moistened.
Fill well-greased muffin tins 2/3 full.
Bake at 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the muffin comes out clean.

BONUS #5.Let it be available
Read this post on how I help our kids to eat more fruits & vegetables:
4 eating tips for toddlers (& a healthy banana muffin recipe!) (8)

Do you want to try Enfa*grow for your kids?
You can have a chance to win the Enfa*grow gift package (ARV $38) that will include the following:

One Toddler Transitions Can (21oz.)

One Toddler Next Step Natural Milk Flavor Can (24oz.)

To enter, simply leave a blog post comment below about why you want your toddler to try it!

*NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE 50 UNITED STATES AND D.C. 18 YEARS AND OLDER ARE WHO ALREADY HAVE INTERNET ACCESS AND VALID E-MAIL ADDRESSES ARE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Promotion begins 9/8/2014 at 12:00 AM PST and ends at 11:59 PM PST on 9/24/2014. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. Official Rules, eligibility, prize descriptions and odds disclosure are available at <https://www.thesitsgirls.com/sweepstakes-official-rules/> . Sponsor: Mead Johnson & Company, LLC, 2400 West Lloyd Expressway, Evansville, IN 47721.

I received compensation and free Enfa*grow for this post. Enfa*grow would be happy to help you with your question. Please contact them at 1-800-BABY-123.

4 eating tips for toddlers (& a healthy banana muffin recipe!) (9)

Categorized as: Kid Friendly Recipes, Kids, Staying Healthy!, YourModernFamily

4 eating tips for toddlers (& a healthy banana muffin recipe!) (10)

Hi there!

I’m Becky, a former elementary school teacher turned certified child development therapist and blogger. I work at home with my husband and together we are raising (and partially homeschooling) our four children in the Carolinas. I love diet co*ke, ice cream, and spending time with my family.

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4 eating tips for toddlers (& a healthy banana muffin recipe!) (2024)

FAQs

Are bananas good for toddlers? ›

Bananas count as one of our 5-a-day which we need as part of a balanced diet. They are baby and toddler-friendly as they contain no salt or saturated fat. Like all fruit and veg, they are also packed with fibre, helping to keep little guts happy, healthy and regular.

What is the nutritional value of a banana muffin? ›

Muffins, banana (1 medium - approx 2 3/4" to 3" diameter) contains 53.5g total carbs, 51.4g net carbs, 12.4g fat, 6.6g protein, and 348 calories.

How to give green vegetables to toddlers? ›

6 Clever Ways to Get Your Toddler to Eat Vegetables
  1. Keep exposing them to vegetables. ...
  2. Get them involved with shopping and preparation. ...
  3. Use foods they like as vehicles for vegetables. ...
  4. Use fun shapes and brightly colored serving dishes. ...
  5. Add veggies to sauces, oatmeal, smoothies, muffins, meatballs, and more.
Jul 19, 2021

Can sick toddler eat banana? ›

If your child has an upset stomach or gastrointestinal bug, start with very bland fruits like banana and applesauce first to see if they can tolerate them, then move on to other fruits and vegetables as they are able to keep them down.

Is 2 bananas a day too much? ›

How many bananas a day should you eat? While there's no strict rule, it's best not to eat more than one or two bananas a day. Eating more could lead to weight gain, as they contain both carbohydrates and sugar. Ensure you're eating a balanced diet by including a range of fresh fruits and vegetables.

What makes a muffin healthy or unhealthy? ›

What Makes a Healthy Muffin? Signs of a healthy muffin recipe are whole-food ingredients like fruit, veggies, nuts, seeds, eggs, and low-fat milk and yogurt (or a dairy-free alternative).

What are the benefits of eating banana muffins? ›

Healthy Banana Muffins
  • Helps to lower blood pressure – Bananas are known for their potassium content. ...
  • Soothing to the digestive tract – The fiber in bananas called pectin can help to normalize bowel function.

Are muffins healthier than bread? ›

Is an English muffin better for you than bread? A. English muffins are slightly healthier than bread because they include fewer calories, carbohydrates, fats, and sugar than bread. However, both have a high carbohydrate content, which can offer energy throughout the day, and many nutrients.

What age is a toddler? ›

Experts commonly use the word toddler when babies turn 1 year of age. The toddler age range usually runs from 1 year to 3 years of age, and before you know it, your little one will be a preschooler! Each of these stages brings its own exciting developmental milestones and learning curves for your child.

Do 1 year olds need milk? ›

Milk. One-year-olds no longer need formula, and can now switch to whole milk. Some toddlers never drink milk; if that's the case with your child, please don't force it. Toddlers need the nutrients in milk — calcium and protein — but these nutrients are also available from other sources.

Can a 1 year old eat pizza? ›

12 months old +:

You can also continue to serve small, bite-sized pieces of the pizza slice with challenging-to-chew toppings removed. If a child is routinely over-stuffing their mouth, offer fewer bite-size pieces at a time.

How to make a toddler eat? ›

Make mealtimes a positive experience
  1. Let your child explore food by touching and expect some mess.
  2. Let children feed themselves and give help if needed.
  3. Enjoy family meals together at a table, so toddlers can watch and copy others, try the family foods and enjoy company while eating.
  4. Keep mealtimes relaxed.

Which fruit is best for toddlers? ›

Fruits
  • apples.
  • apricots.
  • bananas.
  • pears.
  • grapes.
  • kiwis.
  • mangoes.
  • oranges.

How to get a 10 year old to eat vegetables? ›

On this page:
  1. Set a good example with vegetables.
  2. Keep trying with vegetables.
  3. Use praise when your child tries vegetables.
  4. Get your child involved in growing, preparing and cooking vegetables.
  5. Offer vegetables as snacks.
  6. Go for vegetable variety, taste and fun.
  7. Get vegetables into meals in other ways.
Feb 20, 2024

What fruit is best for toddlers? ›

Fruits
  • Apples, peaches, plums, pears (all thinly sliced)
  • Grapes, grape tomatoes, berries (all smashed or cut lengthwise)
  • Oranges, grapefruit sections (cut into pieces)
  • Bananas (sliced lengthwise)
  • Frozen fruit (defrosted and cut into pieces)
  • Avocado (sliced)
Feb 22, 2023

Can you give a 2 year old a whole banana? ›

12 months old +:

Offer bite-sized pieces—or if you feel comfortable, serve spears or even a whole banana.

Do bananas help a toddler sleep? ›

Bananas. Another article on Moms.com includes some mom-approved foods that make toddlers sleepy, such as bananas. Bananas also contain tryptophan, as well vitamin B6, magnesium, potassium, and complex carbohydrates. Potassium is a natural muscle relaxer and carbs produce serotonin, which makes you feel calm and drowsy.

What does banana do to the body? ›

Bananas provide vitamins and minerals, including: Vitamin B6: A medium banana gives you about a quarter of the vitamin B6 you should get each day. It helps with metabolism. And it plays an important role in brain development during pregnancy and infancy, as well as immune system health.

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