Is your toddler an accidental vegetarian?

Toddlers are known to be picky eaters. Sometimes they won't eat anything nutritious. The American Academy of Pediatrics gives facts about health for children. They suggest toddlers eat the following every day (Committee on Nutrition 2016): 

This suggestion can seem impossible when feeding a toddler. One day, my toddler became a vegetarian on accident. He refused to eat any kind of meat. So, he wasn't getting the right amount of protein each day. A nutrition expert shared ideas for meals that have protein without meat (Demory-Luce):

1-3 year olds need 13g of protein daily. This can be found in any of the following options:

• 2 cups of milk (whole milk if under 2),
• Bean and cheese quesadilla made with 1/4 cup pinto beans, 1 oz cheese, and 1 small tortilla and a smoothie made with 1/2 cup plain green yogurt and frozen peaches,
• 2 tbsp creamy peanut butter with 2 slices of bread and 1/2 cup peas and carrots,
• 1 egg and 1 slice of cheese pizza, or
• 1/2 cup cottage cheese with fruit.

I've also changed the way I give my toddler his food. I let him to choose between two (healthy) food options. This way, he feels like what he eats is up to him!

References:

1. Committee on Nutrition. (2016, March 7). Serving sizes for toddlers. HealthyChildren.org. Retrieved March 19, 2022, from https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/toddler/nutrition/Pages/Serving-Sizes-for-Toddlers.aspx

2. Demory-Luce, D. (n.d.). My child refuses to eat meat. how can I make sure he gets enough protein? BabyCenter. Retrieved March 19, 2022, from https://www.babycenter.com/family/house-and-home/my-child-refuses-to-eat-meat-how-can-i-make-sure-he-gets-eno_69565