Yahoo Lifestyle Number of Obese Toddlers Shrinking
Some good news in Australia’s battle of the bulge: a study of Victorian kids has found a small yet steady decline in the state’s number of overweight preschoolers.
Between 1999 and 2007, there was a 3.1 per cent decline in overweight and obese three-and-a-half-year-olds and a smaller fall of 1.1 per cent for two-year-olds.
“Early childhood is a critical stage for embedding healthy habits,” notes study leader Professor Boyd Swinburn from Deakin University, who warns that though these results are promising, parents should not become complacent, as the war against obesity continues.
So what's best to feed your fussy toddler?
If your child only likes vegetables raw, don’t cook ’em! Occasionally offer them cooked, in case he’s changed his mind.
Frozen peas and corn are often a huge hit with littlies and make a good snack.
Bake vegetables in the oven with a light spray of oil – the baking brings out the sweetness and crunch. Cubed and baked pumpkin, sweet potato and carrot make great finger food.
Add grated zucchini, grated carrot and creamed corn to frittata, Bolognese sauce, lasagne, meatballs or chicken rissoles.
Puree vegetables with canned tomatoes and strain to make a smooth tomato sauce for pasta, pizza bases or pasta bakes for kids who don’t like sauce with “bits in it”.
Bake pumpkin into scones or zucchini into bread.
Best substitutes
Fruit is a great substitute for vegetables or salad, however if your little one avoids all three you may need a fibre supplement such as Benefibre, which mixes into any liquid such as milk, yoghurt or water.
What to aim for:
Vegies are one of the most difficult food groups to get into fussy eaters – and 5 serves a day can be a big ask. If you are starting out, a serve can consist of 1 to 2 cherry tomatoes, a broccoli floret or a quarter of a zucchini.
Golden Rules for better mealtimes
Bring dinner forward – children can get ratty and lose their appetite so waiting till 6-6.30pm may be too long.
Remove all distractions, such as TV, DVDs and toys.
Only put a few items on a fussy eater’s plate – overfilled plates can be daunting for little people.
Let your toddler choose a recipe or meal they can help prepare.
Bite-sized food (such as meatballs or risotto balls) can be easier for little hands and mouths.
Don’t have drinks of milk or water with meals as kids can fill up very quickly on liquids
Set rules and boundaries for meals and stick to them
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