What does your 18 month old eat?

[SleepingStandingUp]

I'm worries my twins don't eat enough. It all seems to end up on the floor, they're not fans of spoon feeding and whilst their weight is fine I'm worried now they're active it'll drop

For breakfast they'll have a Weetabix with whole milk, snack used to be a banana but they've gone off them so is more likely to be a toddler snack bar or my breakfast toast.
79z milk for nap at 11.30, wake up at 2ish. A wrap with peanut butter or cheese etc in the buggy for school run. Fruit or raisins or toddler snack at home. Dinner something like peas and sweetcorn with waffle and cheese and fish fingers, most of which ends on the floor. Or meatballs in homemade sauce with pasta, ends up in same place. Then they'll have two mini fromage frais and sometimes a bit of apple and 7oz milk for bed.

It isn't enough food compared to other kids who seem to eat tons all day so I'm not sure if I need to increase how much o give them, but then they throw their dinner on the floor so maybe it's too much??

And I tell them not to, stop their hands, tell them in your mouth but they're just not obedient yet.

They eat more than my 2 year old!

You can't make them eat. All you can do is provide the food. If you're really worried, you could reduce their milk intake by cutting out the pre nap drink and see if that makes a difference.

I think it’s fine for them to follow their appetite. If they are gaining weight they’re getting enough, even if it doesn’t feel like it!

The only thing I would drop is the raisins. My pal is a dentist and she’s ferocious about children not having raisins because the seeds get trapped and are really bad for teeth.

They eat loads! If they are nearly always having the same thing for breakfast, lunch and snack I would try to add some more variety.

Sounds ok.
If you want a comparison, today my 13 month old ate:
Breakfast: porridge then a banana
Snack: some grapes and rice cake
Lunch: crossiant , cheese And strawberries (picnic out)
Snack: little bit of milk in cup, bread stick
Dinner: mash, chicken and leek in mustard sauce, carrots. Nectarine. Greek yogurt with fruit purée

He eats a lot I think compared to guidelines. Also has milk feed first and last thing.

That sounds AMAZING @Caspianberg. I'm v jealous.

I think it's just that so little seems to go in Vs on the floor. I seem to sweep up a whole meal

@SleepingStandingUp - he has been walking since 9months so I think just burns it off as never sits still.
Also he still lobs a pile on the floor as well. Breakfast is fairly tidy as we spoon feed most the porridge and he generally eats the banana. Lunch and diner, what he eats and what’s on the floor depend on his preferences and hunger. He doesn’t always have snacks, sometimes just three meals. He’s also not a fan of being spoon fed and is only just learning to use spoon/ fork for some bits so it’s often hands and mess. The cat loves sitting under highchair and hoovering up stuff like a dog!

All you can do is offer three meals and snacks if you think needed, and they can choose to eat ( or feed the cat)

I do think we need a pet goat 😂

Oh gosh I feel like I’m in the same boat. My 18mo is quite a fussy eater and sometimes I don’t even know what to give her because she won’t eat anything! She does like noodles and pasta but I can’t keep giving her the same food all the time because she’ll get bored of it eventually. I keep trying to come up with different things to cook and give her but I’m clueless. I need ideas too 😭

@SleepingStandingUp, I wouldn't worry, if they were going hungry they'd let you know I think?! I have an 18mo too and I was worried a bit ago he was eating less than he did when he was younger. But when I think about it, he eats much more of 'our' food now and I think maybe it just fills him up more? So instead of having a pouch of Ella's bolognase he just has ours. I've nothing against the pouches, he had loads at first, but I think our meals are just richer (for want of a better word!)

He does chuck alot on the floor but he enjoys being at the table and some does clearly go in. He tends to dig straight in and then starts messing about once he's had enough.

With spitting out, again he does this alot especially with bread. So with a cheese spread sandwich he'll suck all the butter and spread off and discard the half chewed bread 🤦‍♀️ Buuuut if he has the odd bit of cake at his nans or wherever, magically none of that gets spat out 😂

More recently we've discovered he loves beans, chopped tomatoes and dippy eggs. Softer stuff in sauces like bolognase, chilly, risotto, fish pie or things like mash potatoes etc get thrown about much less than foods like fish fingers, roast dinner etc but I'm assuming he'll just get there with that stuff as he gets older?

He rejected the high chair completely about a month ago and now sits in a booster seat at the table with his own little plate, using forks and spoons himself. It's messy but he lovss it.

We also need a pet goat!!

Thanks. Older DS has food issues so it's a bit of a trigger for me really which i try hard to not project. If all else fails, Weetabix and yoghurt will keep them going 🙄