To not give my toddler snacks?

I don’t think you need to worry! 2 is peak picky eating age.

Keep offering - I really believe that. DD is only just starting to eat certain things now at nearly 5 that she’d either always refused or gone off for the years between 2 and now. We just kept serving them as normal and suddenly she eats tomatoes!

I really do think it’s fine for a child who doesn’t seem bothered and seems to be getting everything she needs from meals to skip the snacks, I just take issue with the replies that these threads always get that are ‘nobody needs snacks ever’. There’s a tendency to apply adult nutritional advice (or nonsense picked up from diet culture or outright orthorexia) to children and it’s not really based in fact. But if your DD wants cheese and breadsticks sometimes that’s great - protein, calcium, good source of fat and some vitamins. Offer it with a bit of apple or some cucumber sticks or sliced grapes or whatever and if she doesn’t eat them she doesn’t eat them - maybe her brother will polish them off 😁At least she’s being exposed to them.

I'd offer her a healthy snack twice a day, ideally a bit of fruit/veg and some protein (apple and cheese, carrot sticks and houmous/peanut butter), but if she doesn't eat it then I wouldn't worry or offer anything else.

I think if she's eating 3 good meals a day, she's probably fine. I'd keep offering fruit even if she doesn't seem interested at the moment - maybe offer a little bit before her meals when she's good and hungry?

Well my 3 year old is a grazer. It’s not what I’d choose, it’s not what I intended, it’s not what I strived for, I would LOVE it if he just got hungry enough at a mealtime to devour everything on his plate but he won’t. He’ll eat like a bird, so I’d rather give him healthy snacks/very small meals at various times throughout the day so I know he’s getting goodness and energy.

They’re all different, it shouldn’t be a one size fits all. If he’s hungry and it’s making him miserable he gets something to eat rather than be made to last until a proper sit down meal.

I took the same approach with naps- if he was tired, and grumpy and emotional as a result, he could have one.

I don’t think it’s always a good thing to be so rigid while they’re still small. (He is still taught table manners though, it’s a non negotiable for me whether he wants to eat more than two spirals of pasta or not)

There is a book called bringing up bebe about raising a child in france, and they go into the french eating routine for children and how it tends to be very regimented for all children. Honestly it's fascinating. From a mum whose children snack excessively and therefore do not eat meals properly and needs to correct it.Regardless, I don't view fruit badly, though one of mine would live on blackberries alone if allowed to.

Mumsnet hates snacks and these threads always attract people who pride themselves of having never eaten (or fed their kids) a single crumb outside of meal times.

In the real world, the NHS and other organisations concerned with infant feeding do recommend offering snacks to children between 1 and 5 years old, generally saying 3 healthy meals and 1 or 2 snacks.

Young children need masses of calories - and a higher proportion of those from carbohydrates than adults do, to fuel their rapid growth and development. I think the recommendation for 2 year olds is 1,000 to 1,400.

If you think she’s getting that much from her meals and getting the full range of nutrients she needs (pay attention to things like iron - the nutrient young children are most commonly deficient in) then I wouldn’t worry - but if she’s getting hungry, cranky or emotional in between meals or if you think there’s something missing which you could offer outside set meals time then maybe try adding at least one in.

Fruit is also great - I have no time for the ‘but sugar’ hand wringing - any reputable source would recommend kids eat fruit. Offer it alongside meals/ with another food eg oatcake and nut butter as a more balance snack if it makes you feel better and be hot on the tooth brushing.

Children (and adults) should be hungry at meal times. There should be anticipation of 'its eating time soon'

Im not sure where the idea has come from (not on this thread, Im talking generally) that we mustnt let ourselves/children get hungry, stave it off all the time

Its not healthy.

Yes, but I wouldn't offer unless energy obviously flagging or child says they are hungry. Glass of milk etc is less fuss for me than breadsticks and houmous or whatever. In my view a chopped up apple or other piece of fruit is fine.

Snacks are causing a big problem with eating patterns in my view. And we are creating that very early in children

Also too much fruit

Is an apple, a glass of milk and a biscuit not a snack?

OP i would continue to offer visible vegetables as well as the hidden ones - presumably everyone else is eating visible veg?

And if you're going to offer snacks I wouldn't just offer fruit

Just don't offer. I grew up in a snack free household-we ate at mealtimes, not in between and DD likewise. An apple, glass of milk and a biscuit, job done.

Is she asking for snacks OP, or is she quite happy with just her meals?

If she’s not hungry between meals, not asking for snacks & you think is getting “enough” from her meals then I wouldn’t worry too much about offering snacks.

Snacks are not compulsory.
If any child has enough for breakfast and goes through to lunch without asking for anything, that is your standard.
They should never be offered.