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From the time he was 12 months old, Lachlan been going through food strikes on and off that have left his parents worried and a little exasperated. ?Some days I don?t know how he has the energy to do everything he does,? says his dad, Chris Bodnar. ?It?s a struggle because you want your kid to eat all that healthy, amazing food you?re buying and preparing, and it?s frustrating when he won?t.?
Toddlers are notoriously temperamental dinner companions. Anything from an illness to a change in routine, like starting daycare, can lead to a loss of appetite. Plus, declaring preferences about what and how much they eat is a natural part of asserting their independence at this stage. ?Whatever the reason for a toddler?s disinterest in food, it usually only lasts a few days or weeks, and rarely results in any health problems,? says Nishta Saxena, a registered dietitian in Toronto. Ultimately, young kids don?t need as much food as parents often think, and making a big deal out of a mini hunger strike can contribute to bigger problems down the road, including picky eating and a pattern of food-related power struggles that can be difficult to break. But is a parent really supposed to sit back and watch their kid subsist on virtually nothing" In short, yes. The Dietitians of Canada and the Canadian Paediatric Society both encourage parents to trust their kid?s appetite, even when it wanes. According to the guidelines from both organizations, it?s up to kids to determin...