15 month not eating much … am I complicating it too much?

[AlienLady]

My DD is 15 months old and used to love sitting in her high chair and trying new foods.

But lately she hardly eats anything! We all eat together but she just throws the food. She eats well at nursery. She wants a snack about 4ish but I think this makes her less hungry for breakfast. She used to enjoy using utensils too but not interested in that anymore either.

I follow an Instagram account whos 17 months old eats really well but I noticed she gives Greek yoghurt and berries for every meal - maybe because she knows her child likes it and will most likely eat the other food? Am I complicating things by putting different varieties of veg in every meal etc?

No. Yoghurt and berries isn’t a balanced diet. Give small amounts. Not throwable amounts. Reduce the size of the snack. It cut it out. My DDs didn’t have one at 4. They waited until proper dinner a bit later. Eating at 4, then not eating breakfast is a long gap. What did she like for breakfast when she did eat it?

I'd get rid of the snack at 4 and offer dinner as usual. Keep offering the veg and everything else, being exposed to them is important at that age. The phase will pass :)

Sorry I meant eating dinner

You could give her dinner at 4 and a snack when you eat.

I have three DC, they are all good eaters and they ALL went through a fussy stage at around 15 months. So I think this is a normal developmental stage. The main thing IMO is to stay really calm around food and not turn mealtimes into a battle. Act as if you don't care if she eats something or not!

I found 2 things helped.

I got plates that had 4 compartments so every meal kids get a variety so pasta pesto, melon, berries, ham slices or smokedsalmon, cheese cubes, mini quiche, cucumber slices, ... stuff like that.

I left plates or bowls of things on kids stools (so knee height) and let them play and graze.

Mixing avocado into pesto is a good calorie add. I also add peanut butter to everything vaguely nonsavory.

It's a really normal age for a bit of a regression with food. My just turned 16 month old went through it a few weeks ago but is getting back to normal now. I'd try not to over think it. Keep offering variety. Yoghurt and berries is a really good thing to offer to fill a tummy though so if she only will eat that for a while it's not the worst thing!

How did they survive? I’m worried about protein intake!

Keep offering different food, don’t make meal times a thing and avoid her filling up on milk.

Don't worry, they do survive!! You say she eats well at nursery so at least she's getting some food there. IMO it's more important to set up good eating habits for the future (by not getting into begging / bribing / cajoling etc) than worrying about her protein intake for a few weeks.

@AlienLady I was told they won’t starve. My youngest had a good go at 6 months when I tried to stop breast feeding - followed instructions from HV. Total disaster.

On my second now and I've realised this is just how they eat in toddlerhood. My son is now 4 and he still goes through hungry spells and not so hungry. Hes a great eater and eats good variety but never has eaten huge portions like some children. But hes growing well and is a healthy weight. My daughter is 13 months and some days eats hardly anything and other days demolishes everything I give her!
I think they go through spells of eating. Teething can play a big factor and they get very distracted at this age. None of mine eat well out and about with lots going on around them.
continue to offer the food and let her eat what she wants. I personally don't do tonnes of snacks because I've always found it affects appetite at meal times.