Toddler not eating meals

[justanothermanicmonday1]

My almost two year old has been super fussy lately, not wanting any lunch or dinner. Only really eating snacks and that's about it!

Is this phase that's common? Shes drinking plenty of water and cows milk. She has more teeth coming in and has had a cold lately. This hasn't happened before and just looking for some reassurance really.

Thank you.

Sounds very normal to me! For all of those reasons you have listed and also just because toddlers are mad and do what they want

You could see if you can make some of their snacks nutrient dense or balanced etc i.e. would they snack on peanut butter on Apple / chicken / god knows something healthy that isn't a puff

Depends on your own stance about this sort of thing, if you want to have your child sit down for mealtimes you will have to make a plan and enforce and stick with it etc. or if your not too fussed and as long as they eat something then just let it all happen it will be fine

Like pp said - fussy stage is normal for a number of reasons.

Be careful how much milk she is having - milk is regarded as a food not a drink, too much and she won’t be hungry for mealtimes. Snacks should be nutritious, but limit them or she won’t be hungry for mealtimes.

I found the book Getting The Little Blighters To Eat useful (from Amazon).

Keep offering food they are likely to eat. Don't put too much effort into the food so you don't feed dejected when it isn't eaten

With the snacks try to have those at the same place and situation as the meals so there isn't an extra benefit saying of having snacks whilst playing but meals mean not playing and sitting at the table.

My daughter goes through phases of having 1 lunch or dinner a weekend it's so stressful but you can't force them to eat. She didn't snack either but still some how managed to gain weight as expected

Define "plenty of cows milk" kids fill up on milk, so whilst it's good they're drinking the milk, make sure it's not too much that theyre not eating as they're full.

Cut right back on the milk and snacks. My son has/ has ARFID (look it up, often develops at around that time), it’s important for her to keep on eating a range of food. Make sure the snacks are healthy and varied (mostly fruit or veg). Don’t offer breadsticks or crackers or similar other snacks if the day before she rejected lunch and dinner.

Health visitor told me by 18 months one small cup of milk with breakfast or over cereal is enough.

Are her back molars coming through? They are damn painful!!!

Well, snacks are highly palatable, so it is not surprising a toddler would prefer eating snacky food instead of meals if this is what you are giving.
Make the snacks real food, so a piece of fruit, a yoghurt, a carrot, .....

Toddlers are mad....so true!

Totally normal. Just keep things as varied as you can. Meals are long (from the point of view of an active toddler!) And often involve food that requires more chewing or using cutlery. If they're a bit under the weather,of course snacks are more appealing! Just keep them as varied as you can and try and make sure that you've got carbs/protein/fat/fibre covered across the day e.g. acube of cheese with some grapes, or a wholeweat cracker with cream cheese/peanut butter and some slices of Apple. Dried fruit is always popular with toddlers and there are tonnes of different varieties you can try but you shouldn't overdo it - save it for snacks when you are out and about.