During a routine assessment of a developmentally normal 18-month-old, the parent expresses concern about the small amount of food the child consumes. What is the nurse's priority intervention?

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Physiologic anorexia occurs when the very high metabolic demands of infancy slow down to keep pace with the moderate growth of toddlerhood. During this phase, toddlers are increasingly picky about their food choices and schedules. Although to the parents it may appear that the child is not consuming enough calories, intake over several days actually meets nutritional and energy needs. Parents should be educated concerning what constitutes a healthy diet for toddlers and which foods they are more likely to consume. Some strategies for dealing with a toddler during a stage of physiologic anorexia and pickiness include: Set and enforce a schedule for all meals and snacks Offer the child 2 or 3 choices of food items Do not force the child to eat Keep food portions small Expose the child repeatedly to new foods on several separate occasions Avoid TV and games during meals or snacks (Options A and B) Parasitic infection can cause malnutrition (eg, failure to thrive). There is no indication that the child is suffering from any malnutrition. Therefore, an evaluation for parasites or referral to a nutritionist is not necessary. (Option D) Evaluation of a toddler's nutritional status is a routine assessment and within the nurse's scope of practice. Educational objective: Physiologic anorexia is a normal period of decreased appetite that occurs in toddlers around age 18 months as a result of decreased metabolic needs. Parents should be taught to provide multiple food options, set a schedule for meals/snacks, and avoid watching TV or playing games during meal time; toddlers should not be forced to eat.

During a Routine Assessment of a Developmentally Normal 18-Month-Old, the Parent