Can Food Change A Toddlers Behavior?

Ever wondered can food change a toddlers behavior? If the snacks your toddler eats affects the way they act and play? Or how diet affects child development? I know I have and it has kept me up for many nights!

As a parent I often think “am I doing what is best for my child by giving them what they want (sweets, cereals, deep-fried food), or am I doing what is most convenient for me?”. The dilemma is real here, so join me for a few minutes to unpack this question….

Can Food Change A Toddlers Behavior?

Healthy Toddlers

One of the most important parts of raising a child is making sure that they get the nutrition they need for them to grow healthy in mind and body. Children who grow up eating healthy generally have a higher chance of being more successful in school and sports. The early years of life spell a big difference when you think of the long term factors such as healthy eating habits in a child’s development. Ideally, a growing toddler has to be able to take in food that is adequate in terms of portions and the quality and variety that ensures that all major macro and micronutrients are represented in the diet to ensure optimal growth and development. Providing healthy food is important to a toddlers’ growth, mentally and physically. Children who eat right are stronger and healthier in both body and mind. It is thus important that a child’s growing years should be supported by providing them with the best nutrition they need. A healthy eating habit will be important in making this happen.

What food is healthy for my toddler?

It is becoming increasingly difficult to source nutritious food nowadays, considering the advent of processed and readily available food everywhere. This is coupled with the high market price of so-called “organic” food that most often than not discourages people from buying them because of the high cost. This generally leads to people buying the most convenient and most affordable food (processed foods/junk foods) for their groceries. In this case, off the shelf processed food such as high in sodium chips, preservative-laden instant noodles and canned everything becomes the go-to option for many parents – me included 🙁

The reliance on these readily available, processed and preservative-laden unhealthy foods will ultimately reflect on the food preferences and eating behaviours of both children and parents at home. Most often than not, what dictates a parent’s ability to feed their children is budget and availability of healthy and nutritious options. Often as well, a parent’s eating behaviour passes down to the child making it difficult for parents later on to change the child’s eating behaviour. 

Effects of food on toddler’s behavior

Off the shelf processed food definitely can affect the behaviour of toddlers, children, teens and even adults. Common effects of everyday processed food can include:

  • Hyperactivity from sugar-packed food 
  • Dairy can make some children irritable and aggressive, while some are lactose intolerant and may also cause a drop in their immune system 
  • Artificial colouring in food means there are chemicals in the ingredients used which have been linked to ADHD, anxiety, hyperactivity and mood swings
  • Preservatives can cause headaches and hyperactivity
Can food change a toddlers behavior

Understandably, most groceries and supermarkets carry unhealthy options. However, we parents need to make sure that their children’s nutrition is not sacrificed. We have the ability to purchase nutritious food, so it is the parent’s responsibility to make sure that whole, healthy food is available for our children. I know it can be a challenge for us to provide adequate nutrition for our kids, especially for toddlers with mood swings and tantrums, but encouraging young kids and toddlers to develop a healthy eating habits is a must at their young age so that they develop a taste for healthy alternative food choices. 

It is one thing to have available food and one thing to get them to eat it. You know what, it wasn’t easy changing both my own and my kids’ eating habits, but what I found after a week or so was definitely worth it! Healthy eating for kids develops a stronger immune system (less sick days and fewer days off work caring for sick kids), maximizes their development, they have more ‘happy’ energy (fewer tantrums – amen!) and mental clarity.

My kids still at times refuse to eat the good stuff and like most children they cringe at certain food because of how they look, smell or taste. Some even cry at the sight of food (the evil broccoli floret lol) and some totally ignore eating their food instead of playing. 

Deloping a healthy eating habit for your toddler  

According to a study, eating habits are influenced mainly by the parents, how the family eats, and healthy food at home.  

Can food affect a toddlers behavior

The solution is simple, make mealtime a family bonding time, so that children will have a sense of social interaction in which they can see how their parents eat and what kind of food they eat. The idea is to involve the kids in the process of accessing and making food so they can appreciate the smell, look and taste of what good, healthy and nutritious food is. 

According to the Mayo Clinic regarding food guidelines, children need as many nutrients as adults except that children need the specific nutrients at different ages. The article advised making sure that kids have enough protein sources such as lean meat, poultry, seafood and eggs, whole fruits rather than just juices from the fibre, as many vegetables in as many varieties as possible, grains and dairy. It was also advised to limit sodium, sugar and saturated/trans fats mostly found in junk food and fast food. 

Using these guidelines, how do we make sure that our toddlers eat the right amount and right kind of food?

Here are a few ideas:

  1. Focus on making kids eat whole and minimally processed foods. These are foods that are usually not packaged and processed. Yeh, it will require a bit of work, but here are some super quick and easy recipes you can knock out quick smartFamily Friendly Dinners
  2. Parents should eat healthy as well. Kids imitate their parents. So as much as possible, parents need to show their toddlers how tasty and flavourful healthy options are like whole fruits and home-cooked meals rather than junk or fast food. I still sneak a doughnut or 6 here and there, but 80% of the time it is healthy food being dished up
  3. Practice the art of disguise. You can make meatballs packed with vegetables, or blended vegetables mixed in with sauces and soups. There are many ways you can package the food to make it more appealing, smell fantastic and taste delicious. Here are my favourite ideas that my kids devour each week – Fresh Out Of The Kitchen
  4. Practice cooking and making homemade meals. Studies show that family meals influence kids’ eating behaviours and food choices the most. You can also make cooking a part of daily activities with kids so they can appreciate how good food is cooked. It is a pain in the ass to clean up sometimes, but most of the time the benefits far outweigh the 2 minutes of extra clean up
  5. Always stock healthy alternatives like whole fruits, grains and bread in the house. Limit chips or sugary treats so that the kids don’t look for them when they are hungry. Make sure that the contents of your fridge reflect a healthy eating habit by stocking whole and unprocessed food.

Try these ideas at home to create a family culture of good eating. We as parents need to take an active role in their children’s growth. Always remember to make children understand the importance of eating healthy and to teach them that what they put in their bodies affects their physical and mental performance.