Parents across the UK are being urged to stop preparing alternative meals when their toddlers refuse to eat, following expert advice that sheds light on this common and frustrating phase.
The Real Reason Behind Toddler Food Refusal
According to Lucy, a children's dietitian who shares guidance on TikTok, a toddler's sudden rejection of previously loved foods is a normal part of development and is not the parent's fault. She explains that after a child's first birthday, their energy needs per kilogram of body weight actually decrease, which can naturally lead to eating less.
"Toddlers' eating behaviours change so much," Lucy stated. "It's absolutely nothing to do with you and everything to do generally with what's going on with their growth and development." She describes periods where children seem to "live on photosynthesis" followed by times they eat voraciously, advising parents to "grab a surfboard" and trust their child's innate ability to regulate appetite.
Developmental Drives and 'Food Neophobia'
Lucy highlights two key factors influencing mealtime behaviour. First is a toddler's increasing desire for independence and autonomy, with the dinner table becoming a prime arena to assert control. The second is a deep-seated instinct known as food neophobia, or a fear of new foods, a trait believed to originate from the caveman era as a safety mechanism against poisonous or rotten items.
"Actually lots of toddlers don't just go off new foods, they go off foods they used to accept before," Lucy said. "This will feel illogical to you but is very logical to them." This instinct explains the common toddler preference for predictable, often beige foods like toast, chicken nuggets, and pasta, which look and feel the same every time.
The Recommended Method for Parents
The dietitian's central advice is for parents to avoid taking food refusal personally and to resist the urge to cook a separate meal. Instead, she recommends continuing to serve balanced family meals without offering alternatives if the child rejects it, while maintaining routine snacks and desserts like fruit and yoghurt.
In the comments on her video, many parents expressed relief. One mother shared, "My son used to eat EVERYTHING and literally overnight... he switched to only eating beige foods & 3 different vegetables." Another asked for confirmation on her approach, to which Lucy replied, "Sounds spot on."
Lucy's final message is one of reassurance: "Remember biology [and] development are largely what's in the driving seat here." She affirms that while parents can support their children, these fussy eating phases are a standard, instinctual part of toddlerhood.
