My Toddler's Basic Food Groups

James is a pretty good eater.

He will generally try anything on my plate, and if he likes it he will ask for more.

He hates juice for some reason.  I love that he drinks water all day long, and the occasional glass of milk.  The milk is usually chocolate or strawberry, and once flavored he will drink an 8 ounce glass in one quick sitting.

Last month he was Patient Zero, contracting some type of stomach bug that knocked both of us, his great grandparents, 1 aunt, and now his grandfather out.  I think it's hit everyone in the family it could, so here's hoping that that is it.

As a result of this illness, James has become a little more finicky about his dining.  He was reverted back from self feeding of anything that isn't dry.  That is to say that unless it's cereal, a grilled cheese sandwich, or M&Ms the boy will not pick it up and put it in his mouth.

He also has decided that chicken is not to his liking in any form.  He will eat a beef hot dog, and if presented with almost any form of fried shredded potato he doesn't stop eating.  Well, not just shredded.  He will down an order of fries, tater tots, or hash rounds so fast it's a little scary.

We had these high hopes of raising a real foodie, and we had that for a brief period.  But now it's more about what HE wants as opposed to what we are offering.

So we are down to oatmeal in the morning (he seriously eats 2 pouches in 1 sitting), then cereal snacking until his first official snack.  For that he gets a Greek yogurt.  We figured as long as he liked yogurt that we should be finding the one with the most nutritional benefits, so Greek yogurt with fruit it is!  Thank you, Oikos!

After that, his cereal snacking continues, right up until what I guess would be considered lunch.  From lunch it's nap time, then dinner, and more snacking.

He eats all day, but only will eat the following for lunch and dinner:

Ramen Soup
Pancakes
Macaroni and Cheese
Beef Hot Dog
Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Yeah, he has a limited appetite most days.

I've read this is a phase, that he is exerting his will and testing his boundaries.  At first we fought and there tears at feedings.

But I don't want to fight him.

So he eats what he wants.  We buy the healthiest options we can.

And when he pounds on the refrigerator door after dinner until we open, then looks around and points at his yogurts, we smile.