Snacking
Tiniest BFF: Dia Dia dia dia dia.....DDDDDIIIIIIIIIIIAAAAAAA ( what she calls me because she can't say Jessie)
Me: Yes ?
Tiniest BFF: Snack
Repeat 270 times a day
Does this sound familiar to you? Based on the number of times I get the questions "Does X snack too much? How do I curb the snacking?" or the complaint " SOOOO much Snacking...." Do you feel like you are constantly preparing snacks, cleaning up after a meal that was barely touched? Rest assured this is toddlerhood. It may be frustrating but it is completely normal.
Toddlers need different things at different times. Which makes finding the cause of all the snacking nearly impossible to find. But there are usually 3 causes. The first is obvious, hunger, next is boredom and autonomy. No matter what they say, it is rarely because they don't like something.
Lets start with hunger.
Hunger, due to skipping meals is usually do to the other two causes so I will skip this for now.
Hunger, due to HUNGER.
On average, a toddler will gain 5 pounds and 5 inches between 12 and 24 months and about 4 pounds and 3 inches between 24 and 36m. All of this growth equates to hunger. Active toddlers, the ones that never let you drink your coffee while it is still hot, require even more calories.
Tips
1) Make sure you are offering plenty of fluids. Toddlers often confuse thirst and hunger cues.
2) Like all meals snacks should be eaten at a table or high chair where the child is position up right and feet flat on the floor or foot rest. At the table there should be no toys, electronic devices or television. This is for a few reasons, first making a child take a break from the activity they are working on will prompt them to think whether or not they are truly hungry. The second reason is that following the same routine, when possible, helps mentally ready the child for eating.
3) Offer healthy snacks 80 percent of the time. This means fruit, cheese, veggies, yogurt, nuts (once old enough) Think real food nothing processed or individually wrapped. Have one time a day where the child can pick a snack of their choice, a cookie, some pretzels etc. not necessarily a dessert but a snack that is a little more fun. Knowing that they only get this special snack 1x a day will keep them from begging for junk food all day long. It also will bring them back to the question am I really hungry?
Boredom
Bored at the table
This one is a little bit tougher because as you learned in my previous tips meal time should be distraction free. This is why I recommend sitting with the child. Not just during family dinners but every time. Talk to them about their day, what awaits them after they finish eating, or what they want to do this weekend. Sitting with the child while they eat helps them practice table manners, meal time conversations and other table etiquette.
Bored with the activity
Even as an adult I sometimes do this. I have nothing to do, or am watching mind numbing television and I end up eating with out much thought. I pass the snack drawer on my way to the couch and grab a little something. I have a few minutes to kill before pick up and grab a pastry with my coffee. This is an unhealthy habit and is often hard to break. 
Tips:
1)If your toddler seem chronically bored make sure their toys are age appropriate. Often children developmentally have out grown a toy but the parents or caregivers justify keeping it because it was a gift from someone special, it was expensive or they are living with the memory of the child loving the item when it was new and developmentally appropriate.
2) If the toys are developmentally appropriate but the child still seems bored, there is usually 2 causes. There are too many toys and or the play space is cluttered or messy. Children should have 4-10 toys available to them at any given time, more than this will be overwhelming. Having too many toys also causes unnecessary clutter and messes which also over whelms toddlers. For more tips on toys look for the upcoming Toy blog.
Autonomy
We have all experienced the toddler who dug in their heels simply because they need to feel like they are in control of their own life. Now, I get it you can't let a toddler run the house and no you cant have chocolate for dinner. When possible letting the child have some say can go along way.
Tips
1) Offer two choices. Do you want berries or a banana?
2) if possible make a dedicated drawer or low cabinet for children's dishware. at meals and snacks let the child grab the items they will need. This lessons the risk of choosing the wrong color plate or the cup featuring the wrong cartoons character.
3) Do not force, coerce or trick a child in to one more bite. A toddler is aware of hunger cues, and when they have indeed had enough. If you force a child to join the clean your plate club you are training them to over ride their bodies natural cues which can lead to eating disorders later in life.
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