If you have a toddler, you know mealtimes can be both hilariously fun & emotionally draining.

Encouraging toddlers to try new foods is exciting, but some days are more successful than others!

We always introduce vegetables first to make sure those harder-to-like foods are tasted early, but once they find their sweet or savory favorites it can be hard to hold them back!

Sometimes it seems more food ends up on their faces or the floor than they actually eat!

With my first daughter, it was a breeze – I was methodical & had the time & energy to devote to coming up with great foods for her to try.

But once toddler number 2 came along, it got trickier!

Now I have “big kid” foods lurking around – foods I would NEVER have allowed my first born to eat at such a young age.

But, toddler #2 refuses to be left out & I’m often too tired to fight about it. #ChooseYourBattles

I’ve loosened up – in a good way! #FormulaForHappiness

AND I’ve realized there are LOTS of ways to sneak in those important healthy nutrients…. It just takes a little creativity!

So, here’s some fantastic REAL-mom-inspired creativity to get your toddler eating healthy & loving it.

Add A Toddler Drink

An amazing way to ensure toddlers are getting all the nutrition they need and deserve is by giving them Stage 3 Gerber® Good Start® Grow Toddler Drink.

This toddler drink from Gerber has probiotics, DHA, and iron… music to my ears!

Get Sneaky

When I was a kid, my grandmother got around that problem by cooking our veggies right into the food.  My all time favorite dinner at grandma’s house was always zucchini pancakes.  Don’t get me wrong, I’d pitch a fit if anyone tried to get me to eat zucchini plain!  However, for some reason, when they were in a pancake covered with syrup, they suddenly tasted like the most amazing dish in the universe! – Lisa, Fun Money Mom

Give Variety

I would say start early on giving them a variety of foods. With my toddler we tried every baby food flavor from sweet potatoes to beets. She loves food now and I still try to give her new fruits and veggies so she is used to different flavors as she grows. – Samantha, Sammy Approves

Allow Them To Choose

My four year old loves to dip her veggies in ranch dressing! I give her a choice between several different vegetables at mealtime, and if she says no to all of them, that’s fine. I’ll ask again at the next meal, and the next. Eventually, she will say yes! My two year old is very picky, so for her I’ve simply resorted to hiding purees in muffins, which she loves. I have to believe someday I will wear her down, and she will eat something besides peanut butter & jelly. – Rachel, Don’t Call Me Supermom

Make It Fun

I have used silicone muffin cups to separate foods. My toddler particularly liked picking foods to match the color of the cups (blueberries for blue, cheddar cheese cubes for orange, steamed broccoli for green and pickled beets for pink). I also make smoothies for myself every day, but reserve the last bit and pour it into a popsicle mold for him to have as “dessert”. I have been known to blend up any number of greens and fruits in smoothies, to be eaten eagerly and without complaint. – Hannah, Happy Vikings

Set A Good Example

I made the mistake of letting my aversion to a lot of foods effect what I was feeding my toddler. I had to reprogram myself to show her so many foods were actually good to eat and widen her range of foods what she was eating. We have a lot of influence over what are kids eat and our bad habits can carry over. – Taylor, A Hot Mess Mama

Welcome To Toddlerhood Giveaway

Gerber has generously offered a FREE “Welcome To Toddlerhood” Kit to one lucky winner!

To enter:

1. Visit the Stage 3 Gerber® Good Start® Grow Toddler Drink website.
2. Come back to this post & leave a comment below with your favorite tips or stories of mealtime with kids!
3. I will choose the winner in the next 2-3 weeks, so be sure you leave contact info with your comment below.