How many fruits and veggies does your 2-3 year old really eat?

I keep thinking how crappy DS eats. He is obsessed with grilled cheese, mac and cheese, chicken nuggets and french fries. He eats about 2 fruits per day and 1 veggie per day. (But he still won't eat real table veggies. He eats a pureed Gerber veggie chilled.) Plus, we give him about 2oz of v8 fusion in every cup he has. (We will fill the rest with water.) So he usually has 8oz of v8 fusion per day.

I really want to know how much your child eats per day. I really don't want to hear how much you want US to hear. I want to know what they truly eat. For instance: You can say you give an apple as a snack, but how much do they truly eat of it? I'd say DS eats about 1/5 of an apple. But if you told me to give a menu of what he eats, would I say 1/5 of an apple, or just an apple? KWIM?

Truly, what does your child eat per day? And how do I know how much a serving is for toddler? He loves bananas. Does one banana count as just one fruit for a toddler? Doesn't it count as a serving for an adult? I am so lost.

TIA! Can you tell the guilt is setting in?

Re: How many fruits and veggies does your 2-3 year old really eat?

I hear you Kelly....I wish DD ate more fruits & veggies. She hates most of both....she would TOTALLY still eat pureed veggies/fruit if I would still give it.

She eats a banana and an applesauce cup every day. Literally, that's it for fruit....every day same thing. The irony is that we get FABULOUS fresh organic fruits & veggies in a weekly farm share and she refuses to eat them. She took a few bites of a strawberry (after MUCH begging on my part) a few weeks ago and I nearly cried But that ship has sailed. At Wild by Nature I get the mixed berry applesauce and the peach applesauce....so I am getting a little more fruit variety in there, though it's not much. She will be the only kid at the whole farm tomorrow when we go strawberry picking that does not have red mashed all over her face from nibbling the crops

Veggies aren't much better. She'd eat 5 sweet potatoes a day if I let her (plain, just cook it and cut it up for her). Is that even a veggie or a starch, actually? Other than that, we have the best luck with the Dr. Praegers veggie products....NOT my ideal solution b/c they're not fresh veggies, but they work. She'll eat their spinach patties, broccoli patties, veggie pockets, veggie burgers, etc...and when I say eat, I mean eat the whole thing. Fresh veggies are still a struggle with her...I swear, she doesn't like the consistency.

Again, SUPER frustrating since we get fabulously delicious veggies EVERY WEEK from our farm share

ETA: So I make sure she's getting 2 fruits and 2 veggies a day....though they consist almost solely on what I said above.

Message edited 6/5/2010 7:15:51 AM.

Re: How many fruits and veggies does your 2-3 year old really eat?

DD will be 4 next week..but...in an average day she may eat 2 different fruits and a veggie. for example..yesterday she ate 1 fulll apple. 1 full orange. and 1 large carrot. some ideas of serving sixe for her that she eats on differrnt days are:
4 brocolli flouretts
1 ear of corn (she loves corn on the cob)
1 large carrot or 4 mini"s (only raw. doesnt like them cooked)
1/2 apple sauce cup
1/3 of a celery stalk (again likes raw veggies over cooked which is fine with me)
2/3 of a banana
HTH

Re: How many fruits and veggies does your 2-3 year old really eat?

Quite honestly, every single day varies.

Yesterday he had no fruits. This morning he already polished off an entire plate of grapes.

Yesterday he barely ate anything at all. Just 1/3 slice of Ellios pizza. Today he already had his oatmeal raisin cereal.

When I give him an apple does he eat the entire thing? No. He eats about 3/4 of it.

He will eat an entire plate of watermelon. Loves peaches. Loves pears. Does not eat all of the above on a daily basis.

His only true consistent veggie is sweet potato fries. Even that he doesn't get on a daily basis.

I think that kids could be the best eaters in the world and still have to deal with things. Kid could be horrible crappy eaters and be healthy.

There is nothing you gave him, or didn't give him that is the reason you are going through what you are now. Please know that! I completely understand that doubt but don't even do it to yourself. You have enough on your plate right now!

Re: How many fruits and veggies does your 2-3 year old really eat?

OK, you want honesty, here you go!

Lucas will not eat any fruit unless it is pureed. So I continue to buy baby food fruit for him. How much he eats per day varies. For example, 2 nights ago he ate a yogurt, applesauce and a "fruit" for dinner. He says applesauce is not fruit....whatever! He will usually have anywhere from 2-4 containers of fruit a day.

Vegetables are a whole other matter. He only eats broccoli and corn on the cob. I will make broccoli 2-3 times a week. He will eat the tops of about 1-5 pieces of broccoli. Really depends on his mood. Other than that I don't push much more veggies on him. Hmmm, that sounds bad as I think about it. But you know what, I'm doing the best I can and Lucas will eat roasted chicken and turkey tacos and other good things like that.

Don't even think that you have any blame in what your little man is going through. Although I am sure I would feel the same way. Many hugs!!!!!

Re: How many fruits and veggies does your 2-3 year old really eat?

DS is terrible with veggies!!!!!!!!! the only time he eats them is if they are part of a gerber graduate dinner.

Fruit is another story.....if i let him he would eat fruit all day long. he loves melon, peaches, pears, nectarines, oranges, bananas, grapes etc and if he has his way, I think he would live on strawberries.

I give him the V8 fusion too....about 6 oz a day

Re: How many fruits and veggies does your 2-3 year old really eat?

DS is 2 and everyday it varies. Yesterday he had 1/2 a banana, a little container of mott's natural applesauce, and some sweet potato fries in the veggie/fruit department. Some days he eats far less, some days a little more. Veggies are a battle though, and I try to puree them and hide them in his mac and cheese (carrots), and in his mashed potatoes (corn). It's not ideal but right now it is the only way I can get veggies into him.
Please do not feel guilty, you did nothing wrong! for you and your little boy!

Re: How many fruits and veggies does your 2-3 year old really eat?

Benjamin loves bananas and will eat one every day, either with breakfast or for snack.

He also eats one veggie every day with lunch at school. He finishes most of it.

With dinner, if I'm making a veggie I know I have zero chance of getting him to eat (carrots), I'll give him apples or orange pieces, of which he eats most.

For snacks, he'll eat strawberries, blackberries, melon, or grapes. This is in addition to his usual Goldfish crackers, pretzels, or some other type of cracker.

This is his usual routine. There are days, however, where he won't touch a fruit or veggie.

Re: How many fruits and veggies does your 2-3 year old really eat?

Not that much honestly. I buy him the veggie/fruit juice, so he gets 8oz of that.

I give him a 3 in 1 yogurt almost every day, so that has some type of veggie in it.

I try to give him at least one fruit per day. He will usually eat the whole thing, but he will only eat apple, bananas, or fruit cups. (which I'm not sure has any nutritional value)

Again, I try to give him 1 real veggie per day...But, he won't always eat it. He will maybe have 2 carrot sticks, or 10 peas, a tsp. of spinach, or not touch it at all depending on his mood. If I can sneak a veggie in the food he does eat, I do.

He also rarely eats meat. I try for once a day, 4 days a week.

What does he eat you ask? Lol.

Mac & cheese
Hot dogs w/beans
Bacon (I try to sneak some egg in there, but he hates it.)
French fries
Chicken nuggets (maybe 1 or 2 max)
American cheese or cheese sticks
Pasta (w/added veggies)
muffins (w/ added veggies & fruit)
yogurt
cereal
Frozen cheese or pizza pretzels (Scott & Kims organic)
Nachos (w/added veggies)
Small amounts of yellow rice mixed w/ spinach.
Chicken sausage
Ians french toast sticks

That's about it.

Re: How many fruits and veggies does your 2-3 year old really eat?

Colin isn't the best eater.

FOr breakfast he normally has oatmeal with a yogurt mixed in and a handful of fruit usually. The one thing he does really like is fruit

Lunch - he will have some of the following pasta, chicken nuggets, half of bagel with cheese, grilled cheese - might be 3/4, jam sandwich again maybe 3/4 - sometimes will have fruit for dessert

Dinner - we still give him baby food so he is getting his veggies - I can't get him to eat many real things at dinner time so i figure he is better with baby food than more chicken nuggets and fries.


He will also eat

Bread
Pancakes
rice - in very small amounts

I was excited the other day when he took 2 bites of a hamburger

Message edited 6/5/2010 8:49:25 AM.

Re: How many fruits and veggies does your 2-3 year old really eat?

First I just want to say please try to stop feeling guilty. Plenty of children eat next to no fruits and veggies and have no medical issues. You could have done everything "right" and still be in the same predicament.

My DD doesn't eat well in general but she is a big fan of fresh fruits and veggies. She will actually ask me to make her vegetables but she is very impatient so most of the time I make a handful of the frozen kind. However, it is very rare when she will sit and eat a meal. I usually make her a million snacks throughout the day. A handful of veggies, a cheese stick, a half a grilled cheese sandwich cut in four strips etc. We do what we can as parents.

Re: How many fruits and veggies does your 2-3 year old really eat?

DS is only 21 months but I'll reply anyway. He actually prefers fruits and veggies to any type of protein, but will eat most kinds of bread as well, though he isn't a big fan of bagels.

A typical day for him is this:

breakfast: 1 to 1.5 pancakes + sippy of milk

lunch: if I make him chicken fries, he eats 3-5. He loves cold cuts, and will eat 2-3 slices of turkey and american cheese. if I give him a veggie like broccoli or edamame, I would estimate he eats about 2 oz. He sometimes get a veggie burger, and eats 1/4 to 1/2 of it.

dinner: total crapshoot. Some nights he'll eat 2 oz. of fish and a bunch of veggies, like a full adult portion, other nights he eats two bites of steak and three crackers and he's done.

He eats very small portions but really is never hungry, and snacks on raisins and goldfish 1-2 times a day, so we have stopped fighting him on food issues. I am just happy if he drinks all his milk.

If I give him a banana and he eats 1/2, that's what I say - but IMO that's more than a full serving since he's a lot smaller than me!

ETA: We still keep a stock of baby food in the pantry for days where he won't eat a thing, and we have to bribe him to eat it, but I guess it's better than nothing!

Message edited 6/5/2010 8:53:42 AM.

Re: How many fruits and veggies does your 2-3 year old really eat?

DD will not eat ANY veggies. NONE!

Fruit....some days she'll eat a ton and some days none at all. It all depends on her mood.

Re: How many fruits and veggies does your 2-3 year old really eat?

Both my girls are awesome eaters(9 and 2) They both will pretty much eat whatever you put in front of them.
Usually Peyton(2) will eat
Breakfast-Some type of Melon, banana or Berries and a piece of WW toast w/ cream cheese or a waffle.

Lunch- Cheese and yogurt or PBJ and either cucumbers and grape tomatos or fruit(melon, peaches, apple.

Dinner-Whatever I cook she eats which will always include a veggie(broccoli, carrots, asparagus, green beans etc)

Re: How many fruits and veggies does your 2-3 year old really eat?

Kelly you are well aware of how difficult the past year has been to feed Abby. I learned through doctors and nutritionists that the serving sizes and frequency of feeding our chldren has proven that as a whole, our nation is seriously OVER feeding our children starting from the time they are infants through adulthood. Allow me to share this with you:

Toddler Food

Pay close attention to the serving sizes. I used to freak out that Abby wasn't getting enough because she was not one of those kids in the 95th percentile. Fact is, she gets exactly what she needs. So when i asked a nutritionist if most kids are eating too much, she nodded her head immediately and went off on obesity in children.

I grew up as an obese child and adult and did not want that fate for Abby. It turns out that Abby gets a lot of veggies in day care. She is a behavioral eater who tests her parents but eats whatever her friends in her class eat. I ask day care what their serving sizes are and I am satisfied that she at least gets the MINIMUM daily allowance.

She has at least a whole banana each day. In addition, she has maybe half a cup of applesauce and other types of fruits.

I also give her V-Fusion or fruitables. I've chopped broccoli in her macs n cheese. I cover what she doesn't like in things she DOES like.

I REFUSE to force feed my child green beans because she is "supposed" to have it. It ends up making us BOTH miserable and she eats nothing. I am going to email you something - keep an eye out for it.

Message edited 6/5/2010 9:26:28 AM.

Re: How many fruits and veggies does your 2-3 year old really eat?

SHe will always eat fruit with breakfast and lunch.... strawberrys, grapes, orange, apple slices

As for vegetables.... she will pick at my salad and eat some sliced peppers or cutcumbers.... but that is totally it!

Re: How many fruits and veggies does your 2-3 year old really eat?

Message edited 6/5/2010 9:54:53 AM.

Re: How many fruits and veggies does your 2-3 year old really eat?

Logan is a freak and loves fruits and veggies.

I would say he has at least 2-3 servings a day.

And he eats all the other kids veggies from daycare when they refuse.

This is not at all my doing.

Re: How many fruits and veggies does your 2-3 year old really eat?

Bryan is HORRIBLE with Veggies! I give a Fruitables at school everday (veggie/fruit)...not the healthiest, but, he likes it.

Fruits:
Mandarin Oranges
Bananas

Thats it! I've been trying for over 2 years now to get him to eat other stuff! He will NOT have it.

DD on the other hand...anything that goes in her mouth, she LOVES! Thank Gosh!

Re: How many fruits and veggies does your 2-3 year old really eat?

DS (2) will eat himself sick on grapes. I have to hid them in different parts of the fridge so he doesn't over do it.
He will eat some blueberries - sometimes the skin throws him
He eats fruit cups - especially mandarian oranges. He also eats "tropical fruit salad".

As far as veges - corn, frozen peas, cooked peas, sometimes green beans.

Last summer he ate watermellon - haven't had it this year.

ETA: He also loves dipping things.

------------------------------------------------
As a side note: Last year DS wouldn't eat meat. We were at my sisters and toasted something - not sure what. DS thought that was funny. So, we started doing "meat cheers" and he started eating his meat.
The whole open the mouth here comes the train doesn't work at my house.

Message edited 6/5/2010 11:24:39 AM.

Re: How many fruits and veggies does your 2-3 year old really eat?

Here is the average intake for DD (as you know she eats organic) :

Breakfast at home:
3/4 of poptart, OR 1 granola bar, OR 1 full bowl of instant oatmeal, OR 2 Earth's Best waffles.

AM snack at daycare:
6 oz yogurt

Lunch at daycare:
1 burrito, OR 1 PB& J sandwich, OR 1 pizza pocket, OR 4 chix nuggets w/ corn, OR mac & cheese, OR leftovers from dinner

PM Snack at daycare:
Fresh Fruit of some kind depending on what is in season. If I don't have fruit she gets applesauce. She will eat 4 oz blueberries (I try to limit to 2 oz), she will eat as many strawberries as I give her (depending on the size of the berry she gets 6-8 at a time for a snack at school, at home I cut her off when we get to an even dozen), a whole banana, 2 small boxes of raisins, if she is in the mood to eat a peach she will eat 95-100% of it, if she's not in the mood she will eat 1/5, 2 kiwis, 1 large slice of melon (cantaloupe, watermelon, honeydew), @ 2 dozen grapes.

Dinner:
The biggest struggle. She only eats dinner if she "feels" like it. So, sometimes she will eat an entire chicken cutlet with rice and veggie, and sometimes she only eats the rice or the veggie and won't touch the chicken. 95% of the time she will eat an entire slice of meatloaf but she won't eat the mashed potatoes ever b/c she doesn't like them (which I'm perfectly happy with), she always eats pizza. Last night she took one bite of her pork, ate all her rice had one spoonful of applesauce and declared she was done. She LOVES applesauce, but didn't want to eat it. She asked for yogurt so I gave her @ 5 oz. She was content so I didn't press the issue.

Weekends are the bigger issue. We NEVER eat that well, or on that kind of schedule. So today for example, she had a bowl of cereal and for lunch she's going to have pepperoni on a wrap b/c that's the organic stuff I have in the house to pack for our picnic, and I have NO CLUE what I'm making for dinner. Because we'll be out for the day I'm not taking yogurt, so she'll have cookies, or goldfish or some other kind of cracker as a snack today, and lots of water but no milk.

HTH!!!

Kelly - I just want to update you on what DD actually ate today. As you know we went to a picnic. She ate some strawberries at the picnic, and even though she said she wanted a hotdog, she took a very small bite out of the roll and that was it - she ate nothing else. Before we left she had some dry cereal (organic fruit loops w/out milk), and two Earth's Best waffles for breakfast. After we got home she had 1 small box of raisins, a yogurt smoothie (@ 7 oz), and mac & cheese.

Message edited 6/5/2010 10:20:28 PM.

Re: How many fruits and veggies does your 2-3 year old really eat?

Landon loves fruit and will eat a ton! Vegetables are another story
Not sure what is considered a serving size, but he eats a whole banana every morning. Then either with lunch or an after lunch snack, he will eat a fruit cup, cup of applesauce, orange or clementines or cut up fresh fruit. If we have fresh fruit like melon in the house he will usually have it again after dinner.
We try to make him eat a vegetable at every dinner. He will usually eat the dr. pragers spinach, brocolli, or sweet potato pancakes. When we give him the vegetables we are eating, sometimes he will eat them all (like green beans) or sometimes have one bite and spit it out (carrots).

Re: How many fruits and veggies does your 2-3 year old really eat?

Kaydyn doesn't really like veggies. It's a struggle to get her to eat anything that is a vegetable.

However she does love fruits and pretty much eats a serving with each meal, as well as having fruit sometimes in between meals as snacks.

Re: How many fruits and veggies does your 2-3 year old really eat?

Re: How many fruits and veggies does your 2-3 year old really eat?

DS is only 17 months but this is something that I struggle with as well. He is a small boy and fell off the growth chart at one point, so I constantly worry about him getting enough.

He is good with veggies, although quantity wise I'm not sure if he eats as much as other toddlers on the boards.

For veggies in a typical day he'll eat 2 or 3 fresh green beans, about 4-5 slices of cucumber, and about 1/8-1/4 cup of frozen peas(cooked). When we have salad with dinner he'll eat a few baby spinach leaves.

For fruits he'll eat between 1/2 and a whole apple throughout the day. Apples are the only fruit he'll eat raw, everything else has to be pureed. I had stopped giving him the purees because I thought he was too old, but recently decided to add them back in because it is still fruit. Today he has had two jars of fruit (but he only ate 1/8 of his apple).

I have a lot of trouble getting him to eat meat, he likes chicken and ground beef seasoned with taco meat, chicken with gravy, ham and chicken nuggets (I'm seeing a salt theme!). Like his Mom he'll eat bread in any form