If you are a parent of a toddler 1 to 3 years of age, the Palo Alto Medical Foundation's (PAMF) Nutrition Services Department offers individual counseling and classes at both the Palo Alto Center and Fremont Center to help parents improve the nutritional habits of their children.

• Individual Counseling
• Classes

Individual Counseling

PAMF's Nutrition Services Department offers individual counseling for both parents and children. For example, dietitians can work with parents of infants to help them with feeding issues such as the transition to solid foods. They also work directly with children on issues such as being overweight or underweight, and picky eating.

Appointments for individual counseling can be made by calling PAMF's Education Division at:

Palo Alto Center -- 650-853-2960
Fremont Center -- 510-498-2184
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Classes

Good Nutrition and Feeding Practices of Toddlers is for parents of children 1 to 3 years of age. The format is both lecture and question and answer so that your personal concerns can be addressed.

Check our education calendar for a list of dates.

Issues typically discussed include:

• Poor weight gain and how to get your child to eat more
  
• Rapid weight gain and how to prevent this
  
• What is "normal growth"
  
• Contents of a healthy meal
  
• How much food and fluids your child should have
  
• Picky eaters
  
• Children who fuss at mealtime

If any of the following is true, this class may help you:

• I feel my child is not growing well.
  
• I feel bad about my child's eating habits.
  
• My child fusses at mealtime.
  
• I feed my child to get him or her to eat more. If I let my child feed himself or herself, he or she won't eat enough food and will get messy.
  
• I make my child eat a certain amount of food.
  
• I have to push the nipple or spoon into my child's mouth to get him or her to eat.
  
• I have to trick, distract or entertain my child to get him or her to eat.
  
• I force my child to try new foods.
  
• I chase my child around the house to get more food into him or her.
  
• I only give foods I know my child will eat.
  
• If my child won't eat, I give him or her something different to eat.
  
• I am concerned my child will become overweight if I let him or her eat as much as he or she wants.
  
• I will only give my child a dessert if all the vegetables are eaten, or if he or she finishes everything on the plate.

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