As children develop and begin to feed themselves, parents are encouraged to release some of their previous control over the child's eating. They should avoid analyzing their kid's eating habits and insisting on clean plates. Parents also should never use food as a tool to reward or punish behavior. Dr. Gilger concedes that children, if left to themselves, will not innately seek out a well-balanced diet. Dr. Gilger notes that toddlers react negatively to new foods but are usually accepting with time.
Parents can help by being flexible and making minor modifications in food preparation.
Generally, children ages 2 to 4 need about 1,000 to 1,300 calories daily. Parents who are concerned about their child's caloric intake should contact their child's doctor.