De-Stressing Toddler Meal Time + Enfagrow Giveaway!

I made green beans with supper tonight.  From the screaming, crying, and gagging my three year old did, you would think that I was trying to force-feed him bugs. I didn’t even suggest that he try them; I merely put a few on his plate next to his grilled cheese.  You see, I am the mother of an extremely picky eater.  That’s why I jumped at the opportunity to work with Enfagrow for this sponsored post.

For my son, his pickiness stems from a texture issue.  Food may not be wet, sticky, saucy, or meaty, else a third world war might break out.  We’re talking about a bread and chicken eater, who shuns anything new or remotely flavorful.  It’s a constant battle in the dining room, and as a mom I’m always worrying about whether or not he’s getting the nutrients he needs.  I’ve tried the sneaky tactic of hiding veggies in his noodles, tried making foods fun with shapes… everything short of strapping him down and funneling the food into his mouth. 

To help keep mealtime from being as stressful on him, and on me, I want to share some of my best tips. 


•    Lower Your Expectations
Your toddler isn’t going to sit perfectly still and exude the type of manners you would expect in a four-star restaurant.  Understand that it is hard for a two or three year old to sit for a long time.  Don’t get on to them every time they wiggle, giggle, or make an inappropriate noise; instead, try to model for them how you would like them to act, and give them a little leeway in the dining room.

•    Don’t Push Foods They Don’t Like
Offering a variety of foods is a great way to teach your child to try new things, but if they don’t like something, don’t force them to eat it.  It may take several times of trying something before they will like the taste but you’ll probably receive more resistance than anything if you try to push them into eating it.

•    Less is More
Start with smaller amounts on their plate, and let them ask for more if they want it.  The guideline is generally one tablespoon for every year of their age.  By having smaller amounts of each food on their plate, they’re more likely to try it without feeling overwhelmed.

•    Keep the Atmosphere Light
I don’t know about you, but if I’m stressed out I really don’t feel like eating.  I’m sure it works the same for little ones, and the higher the amount of activity going on, the less likely they are to eat.  Try having some time to calm down before rounding everyone up for dinner, and keep conversation light.

•    Fill in the Blanks
Instead of pressuring your little one to eat everything they need to cover all nutritional bases, try speaking with your doctor about a toddler formula or vitamin supplement to help fill in areas where they might not be hitting their daily recommended amount.  This is especially helpful if your toddler tends to throw their food on the ground or is picky like my little man.

The maker of Enfamil understands the plague of the picky eaters and the worry about nutritional gaps.  That’s why they created their toddler formula, Enfagrow – a supplemental drink to help make sure your child gets good nutrition.  Not only does Enfagrow have Calcium, vitamin D and 19 total nutrients for growth, its “Natural Defense Dual Prebiotics Blend” is designed to support digestive health.



The best part is that this formula has DHA and iron to help support your toddler's brain development.  Did you know that 85% of brain growth occurs in the first three years of life?  DHA

is an omega-3 fatty acid and a key building block for the brain.  On average, toddlers are only getting about 25% of the expert recommended amount of DHA, since most DHA is found in foods like fatty fishes – something most toddlers won’t touch.


Enfagrow is an easy way to fill in those nutritional gaps caused by picky eating.  I know I don’t have to worry nearly as much when I can give my little guy two servings a day.  There are two types, Toddler Transitions and Next Step, which is available in both powdered form and ready-to-drink cartons.


For more information about how your toddler may benefit from DHA in their diet, and to see if Enfagrow is right for your toddler, check out their site.

Disclosure:  I received compensation and free Enfagrow products for this post.

How do you keep meal time stress-free?  Share your best tips in the comments below!

Enfagrow has graciously offered to sponsor a giveaway package of one Toddler Transitions Can (21oz.) and one Toddler Next Step Natural Milk Flavor Can (24oz.).*  To enter, comment below and let me know why Enfagrow would be great for your toddler.  The giveaway will be open from September 1 to September 10, and a winner will be selected randomly and emailed within 24 hours after the close of the giveaway. Good Luck! 

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE 50 UNITED STATES AND D.C. 18 YEARS AND OLDER ARE WHO ALREADY HAVE INTERNET ACCESS AND VALID E-MAIL ADDRESSES ARE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Promotion begins 9/30/2014 at 12:00 AM PST and ends at 11:59 PM PST on 10/11/2014. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. Official Rules, eligibility, prize descriptions and odds disclosure are available at http://www.thesitsgirls.com/sweepstakes-official-rules/ . Sponsor: Mead Johnson & Company, LLC, 2400 West Lloyd Expressway, Evansville, IN 47721.

I received compensation and free Enfagrow for this post. Enfagrow would be happy to help you with your question. Please contact them at 1-800-BABY-123