Ms. Mary Silva
Specializing in feeding and nutrition.
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 Ask Mary Silva
Two-Year-Old Twins with Terrible Eating Habits | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Ms. Silva,
I am a nanny of two-year-old twin boys and their eating habits are horrendous. They would drink juice and milk all day and eat Goldfish crackers if I would let them, but meals are quite a challenge. I limit the intake of juice and milk and snacks when I am with them, but how much is too much and what type of milk should they be drinking at their age?
— Lindav | | | ANSWER |
November 27, 2000 | | | Dear Lindav,
Your concern is very common among parents and caretakers of toddlers. A reasonable way to address the problem is to give the children foods at snack time that you normally would give at meals. For instance, instead of giving a vegetable at dinner, give it in the afternoon. After all, snacks really are just an extention of our meals. You might also try withholding snacks 30-60 minutes before a meal.
It sounds as if you're on the right track by trying to limit their fluid intake. Children who eat little at meals often benefit from having a limited amount of juice and milk. A reasonable limit for juice is 8 ounces a day, and 16-24 ounces a day for milk. At two years of age, most children can drink low -fat milk; however, those with slow growth can drink whole milk.
Your charges are lucky to have such a conscientious nanny!
— by Mary Silva, M.S., R.D. |
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