healthy eating

Food for Thought: Nutrition for Growth

| Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

Kids need food to grow, that’s a given. But things get more complicated when they hit a growth spurt. Hunger can spike overnight, and parents are suddenly trying to figure out what’s normal, what’s excessive, and what actually supports healthy development. It’s easy to assume the answer is simply to “feed them more,” but the truth is more nuanced.

Growth spurts bring shifting appetites and evolving nutritional needs. Figuring out how to support that transition lays the groundwork for smart, responsive nutrition and eating habits.

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So, I Guess This Is Growing Up: The Growth Spurt

| Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

Time is a thief, and nothing proves it more than realizing the tiny child who once tugged at your pant leg is suddenly standing at eye level. This isn’t the usual “they grow up so fast” sentiment. They are literally growing up fast and outgrowing everything they own.

Growth spurts are short, intense bursts of height and weight gain that happen throughout childhood. Every kid goes through them, but they’re often far more dramatic than parents expect. From the sudden appetite jumps, to the extra sleep, to the highwater pants, these spikes in growth are completely normal.

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It’s Just a Phase, Right?: Understanding Kids Eating Behaviors

| Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

When it comes to kids and eating, those early years can feel brutal. You’re cooking two separate dinners, avoiding restaurants altogether, or gearing up for nightly standoffs with a child who will defend their right not to eat a vegetable with the confidence of a seasoned negotiator.

But once kids move into elementary school and beyond, the mealtime battles don’t disappear — they just change. The dramatic toddler meltdowns fade, yet new challenges pop up as attention span, sensory tolerance, independence, and social awareness evolve. Many of these behaviors are still totally typical, even if they drive parents up the wall. Others, though, can signal that a child’s eating patterns deserve a closer look. And that’s where things get confusing.

In reality, most families are wrestling with the same common handful of mealtime frustrations. The real question is which eating behaviors are developmentally normal for big kids, and which ones are true red flags?

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Food Wars Revisited: Picky Eating Strategies

| Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

We all seek autonomy, including toddlers.

Around 10 months of age, infants begin to realize that they have free will and can refuse parental requests and demands, and that includes food. Thus, we give you the rise of the picky eater.

Pick Your Eater

It’s worth noting that picky eating behavior is normal for toddlers since they are beginning to learn their likes/dislikes and how to advocate for themselves. These new eating habits can be stressful, especially if you’re worried that your child isn’t eating enough as they grow. Typically, a toddler can tolerate at least 20 different food items across the different food groups.

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