Dealing with eating challenges such as picky eaters and food “strikes” is a common challenge in child care. Remember that children grow at different rates, and their appetites, food preferences and eating habits change as they get older.
When you’re caring for a group of children, how do you know what eating behaviors are typical? Here are some of the most common milestones.
Ages 1-2
- Has less appetite as growth slows
- Is weaned from breast or bottle, especially during the day
- Learns to drink from a cup
- Cuts back to about 2 cups of milk daily
- Learns to bring food to mouth with a spoon
- Likes to feed self but will likely need some help
- Copies what other children and adults are eating at meals and snacks
- Has difficulty chewing when cutting new teeth
- Has acute taste buds that can detect slight differences in foods
- Develops specific food likes and dislikes
- Begins liking and showing an interest in sweet foods
- Touches and plays with food
- Responds to differences in food texture
- Says “no” to specific foods
Ages 2-3
- Can use a spoon and fork easily
- Requests desserts and sweets
- Is able to wait a short time for requests to be filled
- Is willing to eat raw vegetables but may refuse salads
- Accepts green vegetables more readily
- Responds to simple either/or food choices, such as, “Would you like a peach or pear?”
Ages 4-5
- Has food jags, insisting on eating only specific foods
- Goes on food strikes, refusing to eat certain foods
- Is easily influenced to try new foods when other children and adults try them
- Requests foods seen in television ads
- Prefers plain cooking,dislikes many mixed food dishes and gravies
- Insists that foods be separated on the plate, gets upset if foods touch
- Has a gradual increase in appetite
Ages 6-8
- Shows more interest in trying new foods
- Continues to be influenced by other children, parents, providers, teachers and television ads
- Enjoys preparing simple foods and snacks
- Enjoys reading and following recipes in cooking activities
- Prefers using real kitchen tools and utensils rather than child-sized plastic ones
- Has an increased appetite
For More Information
To learn more about healthy eating, check out the following eXtension Alliance for Better Child Care articles:
- Helping Children in Child Care Learn Healthy Eating Habits
- Helping Children in Child Care Be Physically Active
- Why Is Childhood Obesity an Issue for Child Care?
- Nutrition and Physical Activity in Child Care
Photo by carbonnyc / CC BY http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/