17
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division of
RESPONSIBILITY Practicing the Division of Responsibility (DOR) can help cut down on the stress of meal time, but also allows your child to take the lead and follow her natural ability to eat and grow in a way that’s right for her. For toddlers, parents are responsible for what, when and where the child eats, while the child is responsible for how much and whether they eat. This means you choose the food, provide regular meals and snacks, and model healthy eating habits. Your little one decides how much of each food they will eat, and if they’re going to eat the food at all.
This tip is from our Happy Mama Mentor Angela, RD, CBS and mom to Parker, Hadley & Emma Also available to chat at: happyfamilyorganics/chat
GET STARTED Establish a snack and meal pattern that stays relatively consistent so that your toddler knows what to expect. Use the DOR principles at all eating occasions. Make smart choices for your child. Offer wholesome foods at meal and snack times. Don’t cater to likes or dislikes. Offer a variety of foods knowing that sometimes a favorite will be on the menu and other times not. Include something familiar. Having one food you know your child will eat can sometimes give them more confidence to try a new food.
Avoid offering alternatives for the main dish being served. Trust your child’s intuition (unless there is a known feeding issue). Allow her to have as much or as little of the foods you offer. Don’t worry about your child occasionally skipping a meal or snack altogether. Encourage your child to try new foods, but don’t pressure her. Let your child choose what she wants from the foods you put on the table. It’s perfectly fine (and normal) if your child only eats one or two of the foods you offer – or even none at all.