My 18 month old toddler won’t eat vegetables or any food that I want him to eat so I’ve been giving him milk instead. Is this ok?

After the age of 12 – 18 months, there is a definite change in children’s eating patterns as their growth slows down and they require less food. Here are a few tips that might help:

• Aim to make mealtimes enjoyable for the whole family – not a battleground.
• Remember, children will only eat when they are hungry. If they fill up on milk, they will not try to eat foods, especially vegetables. Offer tap water to quench thirst.
• Be realistic about what you expect the child to eat. Take a no-fuss approach to mealtimes and food.
• Reduce distractions during mealtime – turn off the television.
• Children develop strong likes and dislikes for food. They frequently change their minds about what they like and don’t like!
• Praise your child for eating a range of foods rather than the quantity of food they eat.
• Keep food simple – e.g. offer finger foods such as pieces of fruit or vegetables.
• Children like to handle and explore their food.
• They frequently mimic the eating behaviours of their parents. Model a healthy approach to food by avoiding foods low in nutrition such as chips, biscuits or lollies.
• Try offering small meals and nutritious snacks at regular intervals.
• Children are often too tired to eat dinner at night. They need an earlier meal time or perhaps offer their main meal at lunchtime.