When Toddlers Like Junk Food

Question: "My toddler has become a junk-food junkie, and he doesn't want to eat the good stuff. Any advice to break him from this habit?"
Ask Heidi Murkoff

It's great that you want to break your toddler of the junk-food habit now, since those habits could result in some less-than-ideal health consequences later on in life if they continue. Sure it won't be easy, what with all that whining and those tantrums, but it can be done, especially once you remember that your toddler can't drive himself to McDonald's or buy his own groceries. That means you have total control over what foods he's served. Keep that in mind and you've got the answer to your (very common) question.

Begin your toddler's eating-habit makeover in the pantry. Clear out the junk food and replace it with healthy foods. If there are only sugar-free cereals on the shelf, whole-wheat bread instead of white, and fresh fruit and cheese sticks to snack on instead of potato chips and cookies, that's what your toddler will end up eating. Kids will eat when they're hungry, and any "I want junk food" hunger strikes won't last long.

Next, make healthy foods fun to eat. Cut those whole-wheat sandwiches into funny shapes, dip veggie sticks into yummy cheese sauce or yogurt dip, turn whole-wheat pancakes into smiley faces, complete with raisin eyes, nose, and smiles.

Finally, don't make junk food forbidden fruit (that'll only make it more tempting). Just dole it out occasionally, rather than as a steady diet. If you should find yourself driving through those golden arches — that's fine, too. Just try to order some of those healthy new options (apple slices, milk instead of soda — you know the drill).

Good luck!

Heidi Murkoff