Time for another Munchkin Meals! I knew eventually that we’d hit a speed bump with Hailey’s eating habits because it just was going to smoothly. Well, at 16 months, we finally hit it.
I started to label her current eating habits as picky, but it’s not really true. There aren’t any foods she won’t eat anymore, but it is hit or miss on whether or not she will eat them on a certain day. One day she devours tomatoes and the next day she’ll fling them off her tray with disgust.
Additionally, she is hit or miss about whether she wants to eat at all. Some meals she’ll only eat 3-4 bites before being “all done.” I don’t really worry about it because she still is sleeping fine and growing. I think it all evens itself out and she’ll eat when she is hungry.
Breakfast is usually the most reliable meal of the day. She always starts with a banana. In fact, her first word to me every morning in the crib is “nah-na-na?” After her banana she chows down on salsa eggs or oatmeal with chia seeds. Milk on the side.
Around 11:30, I’ll attempt lunch.
I try to make sure there is a fruit or veggie, protein and fat. On this particular day, she devoured the pineapple, ate half of the turkey and maybe 3-4 pieces of toast and guacamole.
After nap, she always wants a snack. She’ll usually go for apple slices, cheese sticks, graham crackers or yogurt. This new Chobani bite fig with orange zest is a fast favorite!
By dinner, it’s anyone guess as to how much she’ll eat.
Grape tomatoes with olive oil, steamed broccoli with lemon, salmon bites and cheese
FYI- I don’t always “plate” her meals like this- I just thought it looked pretty for a picture 
On this particular night she ate half the tomatoes, 2 bites of broccoli, all the salmon bites (in ketchup) and half the cheese.
She doesn’t seem to be eating much based on what she used to consume, but I attribute that to her being a busy toddler who would rather be on the go and is developing preferences. I plan on continuing to offer healthy options and letting her choose what and how much to eat. We’ll see how it goes!
While we are talking food, here are a few of my quick grabs recently.
Applegate Farms Honey and Maple turkey, Wild Caught salmon bites and 100 calorie packs from Wholly Guacamole
And lastly, she’s become quite the milk guzzler, for a girl who first hated milk, and drinks about 14 ounces a day.
Ok, enough from us- what are your kiddos eating? Any ideas for finicky eaters?
And don’t forget to tell us your child’s age!
thehealthyapron says
My girl is 6 months old and lately she’s been super uninterested in eating. She gets distracted SO easily! During the day she’s super finicky but at night she wakes at least twice to nurse.
I’ve introduced bananas, peas, sweet potatoes, apples, and cauliflower so far. I started around 24 weeks (she’ s 28 this week). She loves everything, apples are her favorite!
I’m sure your lil one will pick her eating back up eventually! It’s a kid thing I think! Saw it ALL the time at my last job (worked with kids 5 and under).
Kelly @ Runmarun says
Thanks for hosting, Brittany! At L’s 15 month check-up, her doc told us that if she gets a good meal every other day, that should be fine since growth slows so much after the first year. The very next day, she was finicky for the first time ever! 🙂 Every stage is an adventure!
Brittany says
Oh that is interesting to hear! I knew growth slowed, but hearing that a good meal every other day makes me feel like she’s still eating plenty. Thank you Kelly!
Laura @ Mommy Run Fast says
That sounds like about the same time L developed a stronger opinion about food, too. Dinner has remained the same… sometimes she has a good appetite, most days she just picks at it. I’m trying to incorporate more of a mini-dinner for the afternoon snack when I can, since it is often the last substantial thing she’ll eat!
Amber @Mommy's Me Time says
Thanks for the great ideas! At 16 months, my little guy Baylen is te same way! Some meals he’ll gobble down an entire Greek yogurt, a bowl of oatmeal, and some fruit, and the next he’ll barely eat two bites of his lasagna. The only thing that’s a sure bet no matter when I give it to him is his beloved Mac n cheese. 🙂
Brittany says
Haha, I always have Annie’s mac and cheese on hand! I can usually throw in some peas, too. The green makes me feel like it’s healthy 😉
Laury says
I’ve been so lucky with Ella and her food. I have accepted that they don’t grow as much so she may not eat a ton one meal over the other. She loves to snack still though. Sometimes she will devour her meals and want more, others it’s a few bites. I don’t usually worry either way. She always makes up for it though with the next meal, or the next day! Still pretty adventurous too!
Can you believe how big our girls are getting!???
Brittany says
They are turning into little people right before our eyes! It’s so much fun to watch 🙂 I love that you are relaxed about the eating and then not eating, too. Makes me feel like I’m not the only one!
Tina @ Best Body Fitness says
All such great meals. I had the same experience with both kiddos, too, where they went through a period of eating less as they discovered food and wanted to constantly be on the move.
Where do you find the Salmon Bites?
Brittany says
I found the salmon bites at Healthy Home Market- our local health store. I’m sure Whole Foods would have something similar in the freezer section. 🙂
Tiff @ Love, Sweat, & Beers says
Don’t you just love those guac packs? I have some in my fridge now. 🙂
Brittany says
I’m obsessed with them. Seriously, I always have them in my fridge.
Madeline @ Food Fitness and Family says
I need to pick up some of the salmon bites when I am down at Fresh Market!
Karen says
I love reading what other toddlers are eating. I sometimes have a picky eater on my hands as well. Breakfast is for sure her favorite meal of the day so I load her up then because I know lunch and dinner are so-so. But she usually has two snacks throughout the day but about 16-20 oz of whole milk, girl can’t get enough of milk which is a good thing. I tried giving her some sugar-free fruit juice but throw the cup on the floor so I am going to try making my own juice with fruits & veggies this weekend as she loves my green monster smoothies. Have a great day!!
Brittany says
ohhh fun! Do you have a juicer? I’ll bet she will love it! I know I would 🙂 YUM
Jenn {MommyB Knows Best} says
Great meal ideas for little ones! So funny how at this age they’re more interested in running around and learning than to eat, but it sounds like she’s right on target.
Rachel Starr says
Someone once told me to always look at the bigger food picture. Don’t focus on how little she ate today, but look at the whole week instead. Chances are, it balances out. 🙂 And like you said, she’s still growing, sleeping, and playing as usual. I say you’re doing it right!
Casey says
Thanks again for hosting Brittany! I look forward to it every month! I’m glad to see so many comments from parents who are going through some of the same picky eater issues 🙂 it’s like a monthly support group!
Sarah @ The Smart Kitchen says
Even though I am far from having kids, I am fascinated by what people feed theirs. Is that weird? Two books I have loved reading over the past year or so have been Hungry Monkey and French Kids Eat Everything. You should check them out. 🙂
I’m glad you don’t always plate her meals like that. I was literally thinking, “Wow. I need to step up my plating skills for my OWN meals…” However, I do love that she always is able to pick up and ‘dunk’ things! I still want to be able to do that…
And everything I have read–again, no expert–points to the fact that kids really do have better internal monitors of when and how much too eat than we do as adults. They are less jaded by false hunger and wanting something just to be eating, or out of boredom. I think we could learn a lot from how kids eat actually.
Carissa says
Love this. I just started Baby-led Weaning with my 6 month old baby girl and it’s already so much fun watching her taste new foods! I made her some muffins with oatmeal and bananas this week and she thought they were pretty cool. 🙂
Heather @ What Does She Do All Day? says
Breakfast is the most reliable meal around here, too. The salmon bites remind me that I used to buy Dr. Praeger’s Spinach Littles and Cupcake loved them. They stopped carrying them at the grocery I go to and I haven’t looked for them elsewhere. I wonder if she’d still eat them.
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Mimi says
Thanks for the good tips. I think I’m pretty much on track with the rest of you considering I’m watching my grandson and can’t remember what I fed my own kids. Lol. I try not to give Too much processed food if I can help it. I am going to look for the salmon bites, excellent idea! Thanks so much