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 on healthy eating, check out the eXtension Alliance for Better Child Care article on Helping Children in Child Care Learn Healthy Eating Habits. To learn more about issues related to childhood obesity, take a look at the sections on Nutrition and Physical Activity and Children and Weight.
