Whether you have a baby or toddler, you might get stuck in the conundrum of making something for them to eat and they refuse to eat at all. If your child has hit toddlerhood, they might even ask/demand something else. So what (if anything) should you do? First, consider why your child isn't eating. For babies, it could be that they are tired, teething, cranky, uncomfortable, need a diaper change, have to poop, would rather have a breast/bottle, etc. So basically, it is totally normal to have a few meals (or a few days) where your baby doesn't want to eat any table food. Their main source of nu ..read more

Did you know there are 32 steps to eating? Starting with being in the same room with food all the way to actually chewing and swallowing it. New foods can feel scary for new eaters and especially for kids who are pickier or apprehensive about foods. This is why I discourage getting children to take "just one bite" they might just not be ready yet! That doesn't mean you can't start exposing your child to new foods. One way to do this without a lot of pressure is with *food play*. Children learn by playing and they learn to feel comfortable with new foods by touching, exploring, and playing wit ..read more

The past few days have been sunny and hot ☀️ and it's got me thinking all about summer meals and summer snacks. I had to re-work my entire meal plan last week to not involve the oven because it was just too warm. Since every day with my kiddos is spent on the go, usually park-hopping, I need some quick and easy snacks that I can grab on our way out the door. I try to avoid buying packaged snacks (they don't last long in my house, are so much more expensive, and create unnecessary plastic waste) so all of these ideas are package-free. I thought you might find these ideas helpful too! If you're ..read more

Did you know 63% of the food Canadians throw away could have been eaten? Are you trying to reduce the amount of food you throw out? If you have young kids it might seem like an impossible feat, the amount of food that doesn't get eaten in your household seems to go up astronomically once your child starts joining you at the table (even worse when they enter toddlerhood!). It is never a good idea to blame or punish your child for the amount of food that goes to waste, and doing so can actually make picky eating worse. Instead, adopting small habits to reduce food waste can make a huge differenc ..read more

I know what it's like to get into a rut of buying and preparing the same foods all the time. I know how hard it can be to get motivated to introduce your kiddo to some new foods. I know that sometimes it can feel overwhelming when you want to introduce your child to new foods but don't know how to go about it. By the end of winter, I am really missing the days of fresh summer produce and I find myself always shopping for, preparing, and cooking the same foods. Day after day. I love introducing new foods to my kids but sometimes it's hard to find the motivation, especially if they aren't willi ..read more

The Division of Responsibility in Feeding is a feeding approach developed by Ellyn Satter. Using this approach to feeding your toddler helps make meals less stressful for everyone. It promotes intuitive eating and a trusting feeding relationship. How do mealtimes feel in your household? Are they a peaceful gathering, where good food is shared and eaten together while you discuss your day and chat with your little one(s)? Or is it a constant battle, filled with chaos? Where your toddler won't touch their food and you are either trying to get them to eat something or making a totally separate me ..read more

Sugar is a hot topic, anywhere you look. Nowadays sugar has quickly replaced fat as being the most demonized nutrient. It's no wonder you might be feeling confused about sugar for your child. Many parents are also faced with their own held beliefs about sugars and sweet foods from their upbringing and how these foods were approached by caregivers growing up. So, let's talk about sugar for young children. To make this simpler. I'm going to break this down into 2 parts:"added sugars" and "sweets" Read part 1 here. Part 2: Now, let's talk about sweets "Sweets" is the word I have chosen to describ ..read more

Sugar is a hot topic, anywhere you look. Nowadays sugar has quickly replaced fat as being the most demonized nutrient. It's no wonder you might be feeling confused about sugar for your child. Many parents are also faced with their own held beliefs about sugars and sweet foods from their upbringing and how these foods were approached by caregivers growing up. To make this simpler. I'm going to break this down into 2 parts: "added sugars" and "sweets" Read Part 2 here. Part 1: Added Sugars Added Sugars Many ,health authorities recommend limiting added sugar, especially for young children and avo ..read more

From my collective research, and personal and professional experience with children, including my own toddler. There is a root to many parental frustrations that can be summed up in one phrase: If you want a toddler to do something, they are probably not going to do it, and there is no way you can make them to do it. If they even have a tiny suspicion that you want them to do it, then they are definitely not going to do it. So what does this have to do with eating vegetables? Often, parents are very focused on getting their children to eat vegetables. They're so healthy, right? Or you persona ..read more

What can you do about the food throwing!? The answer depends on the root cause - a one-size-fits-all approach wont work here! Has your baby or toddler developed a "fun" new habit of throwing their food on the floor? Is your family dog eating more than your child at mealtimes? Are you constantly on your hands and knees cleaning the floor after mealtimes? For babies and young toddlers (less than 18 months) the best approach is to simply ignore the behaviour. Maybe calmly pick up the food off the floor and put it back on the table but in general, try not to make a scene. As your toddler grows an ..read more