Services and Programs

Pediatric Nutrition

Diabetes - Toddler Tips

Feeding a toddler can be challenging without adding the complications of diabetes. One day they want nothing to eat, the next their appetite seems endless. Following are a few tips to help you as you feed your child and try to meet not only his/her needs, but desires as well.

1. If your child want to drink more fruit juice than the 4 oz. serving allowed, dilute the juice with water or diet soda, or offer a piece of fruit instead, which takes longer to eat and is more filling.
   
2. If your child doesn't like milk, flavor the milk with sugar-free Nestle's Quick or offer other high calcium foods such as cheese, plain or sugar-free yogurt, sugar-free pudding, or a sugar-free fudgesicle.
   
3. If your child won't eat vegetables, don't make an issue out of it. Vegetables are so low in carbohydrates that they have a minimal effect on blood glucose levels. Similar nutrients are found in fruit, juice, or vitamin and mineral supplements.
   
4. If your child will not eat fruit, offer fruit juice (limited to a 4 oz. serving) or use a vitamin/mineral supplement.
   
5. If your child won't finish his/her meal or snack, don't force the issue. Instead, offer beverages (milk provides both carbohydrates and proteins), or serve child-size portions (see our guidelines for serving sizes).
   
6. If your child wants more food, offer "free" foods such as a sugar-free popsicle, 1/2 cup of dry cereal, sugar-free gelatin or kool-aid and non-starchy vegetables. If this request continues, keep a food record and review the meal plan with your child's dietician.
   
7. If your child goes on a food jag (requesting one food often), don't object. Eventual boredom with the food will lead to change.
   
8. If your child takes a long time to eat, offer child-size portions and set a time limit for the child to complete the meal. Remove unfinished food when time is up.
   
9. If your child does not like eating breakfast vary the food offered (e.g., different cereals, bagels, english muffins, frozen waffles); mix Carnation Instant Breakfast in milk for a meal in itself; or try non-traditional breakfast foods such as pizza, sandwiches, or leftovers.
   
10. If your child wants a lot of sugar-containing foods, keep tempting sweets out of the house; limit these foods to portions containing less than 1 teaspoon of sugar; or offer replacements such as fruit juice-sweetened animal crackers, animal shaped cereal, and crackers.

(Taken from the Diabetes Educator, Vol. 17, No. 4)

Back to Nutrition Home Page