One of the most frequent concerns parents raise with me is how to get their keiki to eat. Often when I ask questions I find that parents are trying to get their keiki too eat too much or are unsure how to get their keiki to eat healthy food.

Keep in mind that I am neither a nutritionist nor a medical professional but the following are some things that may help feeding your keiki less stressful.

The first thing to keep in mind is that a keiki's stomach is very small and they don't need very much food to fill them up. The next thing to keep in mind is that they are very active and need to eat every few hours. Then realize that the first time or even second or third time you offer your child a new food they may not eat it because it is unfamiliar to them and children do not like things that are unfamiliar. If you only offer them healthy food choices they will eat them but if they refuse and you give in and give them a high fat, high sugar food they will quickly develop a taste only for high fat, high sugar food.

Only let your child drink from his sippy cup while sitting down. I see many keiki who have just substituted their sippy cup for their bottle and walk around filling themselves up with milk or juice. If your keiki is old enough to drink from a cup s/he is old enough to sit down to drink.

Give your keiki small portions. A good rule of thumb is one Tablespoon of food for each year of age. That doesn't seem like much to an adult but is often enough for a keiki. If your keiki wants more give him a second small helping. Once she says she's full don't force more food. Forcing keiki to eat more than they want can lead to obesity and other eating disorders.

Snacks should be healthy. Consider whole grain crackers, cheese, cut up fruits and vegetables. Avoid high sugar and simple carbohydrates, (white rice, white bread, most breakfast cereals are examples). When keiki eat simple carbohydrates they get a large rush of energy but quickly burn it off, leading to high energy behavior with a following crash.

Be prepared to give your keiki a small snack or small meal every 3 to 4 hours.

If your keiki doesn't like vegetables give them something to dip them into. Dips could be low fat yogurt, low fat salad dressings, applesauce, poi, low fat re fried bean dip, or ketchup among others.

Keep in mind that just like you sometimes have days when you are not as hungry as others, so does your keiki. Some days he will eat a lot and some days he will eat a little. When left to their own devices the majority of keiki get to right amount to eat.

If you are concerned about your keiki's weight or eating habits check with your health care provider.