🙅♀️🍅 Picky Eating or Selective Feeding in Toddlers

Understanding Toddler Food Rejection with Support from Dr. Annie

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Between 12 to 36 months, many toddlers suddenly go from curious eaters to firm little food critics. One day they love rice and kontomire, the next day it’s a meltdown at the sight of it. This is called picky eating or selective feeding — and while frustrating, it is a normal part of toddler development.

At Dr. Annie Baby Nutrition, we guide parents through this phase with science-backed strategies, compassion, and Ghanaian food solutions. According to Dr. Annie, toddler food refusal is rarely about “being stubborn” — it’s about asserting independence, sensory exploration, and routine.

Let’s explore what causes picky eating, and what real, workable solutions you can start using today.

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👶 What is Picky Eating?

A picky or selective eater:

• Refuses certain textures, flavors, or food groups (e.g., vegetables)

• Eats only a limited variety of foods

• Has strong food preferences and food fears

• Often throws food, pushes the spoon away, or cries at mealtime

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📉 Common Causes of Picky Eating (As Explained by Dr. Annie)

1. 🧠 Developmental Phase (Autonomy)

Toddlers are wired to assert independence — and food is one of the first things they can control. Saying “no” is their way of exploring boundaries.

2. 🍳 Food Neophobia (Fear of New Foods)

Many toddlers are naturally cautious about unfamiliar tastes or textures. This peaks around 18–24 months.

3. 🍼 Milk or Snack Overconsumption

Frequent breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, or snacking reduces hunger at meal times.

4. 🔄 Lack of Routine

Erratic mealtimes confuse hunger cues. Toddlers need predictable feeding rhythms to develop trust in food.

5. 😣 Previous Negative Experiences

Choking, vomiting, or being forced to eat a disliked food can cause long-term food resistance.

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🧑🏽⚕️ Dr. Annie’s Principles for Managing Picky Eating

“Picky eaters need structure, patience, and loving exposure — not punishment or pressure,” Dr. Annie emphasizes.

Here’s her framework for progress:

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✅ 1. Establish a Consistent Feeding Routine

• 3 main meals and 2 snacks per day, same time daily

• Serve meals every 3–4 hours with no milk or snacks in between

• Offer only water between meals to promote true hunger

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✅ 2. Offer a “Safe Food” at Every Meal

Include one food your child usually accepts (e.g., plain rice, bread, or banana) alongside new or rejected options.

💬 Dr. Annie says: “Don’t force variety. Offer it, model it, and allow curiosity to grow.”

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✅ 3. Respect Appetites, But Stay Firm

• Don’t force-feed or scold

• If a meal is refused, calmly remove it after 30 minutes — no replacements until next meal

• Stay neutral: no bribes or begging

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✅ 4. Keep Introducing New Foods (Without Pressure)

It can take 10–15 exposures for a child to accept a new food.

Tip: Pair new foods with familiar ones. Example:
Rice + kontomire + Dr. Annie Chicken Powder for flavor + sliced boiled egg

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✅ 5. Model the Behavior You Want

Eat the same food at the table. Toddlers learn through imitation.

Dr. Annie recommends:
"Sit with your child. Eat with your child. Let them watch you enjoy kontomire, beans, or yam — and let them try at their own pace."

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✅ 6. Use “Nutrient Fortification” for Tiny Portions

Even picky eaters can gain from just a few spoons if the meal is packed with nutrients.

Use:

• Dr. Annie Fish, Chicken, or Beef Powder – easy to mix into soups or stews

• Dr. Annie Dates Powder – to sweeten porridges or mashed yam

• Dr. Annie Fortified Cereal – for a nutrient-rich, smooth-texture fallback

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🍽️ Sample Toddler-Friendly Menu with Variety

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🚫 What NOT to Do (Dr. Annie’s Red List)

• ❌ Bribe with dessert (“Eat kontomire and you’ll get a biscuit”)

• ❌ Replace real meals with snacks or milk

• ❌ Let child roam or play while eating

• ❌ Label your child as “a bad eater” — they hear and believe it

• ❌ Give up on a food after one refusal

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📈 When to Seek Help

If your toddler:

• Eats fewer than 10 total foods

• Refuses entire food groups (e.g., no fruits or protein)

• Shows weight loss or growth concerns

• Has ongoing gagging or choking

• Has feeding that causes stress, tears, or power struggles daily

Consult a pediatrician or schedule a Dr. Annie feeding assessment.

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🧡 Final Words from Dr. Annie

“Picky eating is a phase, not a label. With gentle routines, nutrient-rich foods, and your calm presence, your child will learn to love food again.”