Appetite, which is associated with growth and energy levels, regulates the amounts people want to eat. Because children grow at a slower rate from the age of two on, their appetites shrink a bit.

One reason parents become frustrated with their child's eating habits is because they often serve their two-year-old servings similar to what they give the rest of the family. They often forget that even though their two-year-old is eating grown-up foods rather than baby food, he is still not much bigger than he was a year before.

Most packaged foods are sold in sizes that are far larger than what children (and, for that matter, adults) should eat. So don't be surprised if your two-year-old eats only a few bites of whatever you give him. He isn't necessarily being stubborn, he may just be listening to his body.

A toddler's stomach is the size of his two fists put together, so when he's left alone himself to eat until he's full, he will most likely eat only a cup of food (at most) at any one time. As a parent it's important you keep your child's stomach size in mind, because encouraging your two-year-old to eat past his point of fullness is not good for his body. Nor does it help him to develop good eating habits.

There are a number of foods that your child shouldn't eat at two, or that at least need to be served in a specific way until he's a little older:

• Nuts. Nuts are a choking hazard because they are small and don't dissolve or break easily. Keep nuts away from your child until he is at least four.

• Whole grapes. Grapes are a terrific snack but another food that can easily choke your child. If you do feed them to your two-year-old, cut them in half.

• Meat. Children often find beef and chicken hard to chew and swallow. Cut these foods into very small pieces or serve them in the form of cold cuts (e.g., sliced turkey and chicken), which are easier for your two-year-old to handle. Do stay away from highly processed lunch meats.

• Popcorn. Popcorn is dangerous for your two-year-old because pieces can get lodged in his throat.

You should also be careful serving any snack food your child may be tempted to take too much of, such as chips or pretzels. Your two-year-old might put too many of these in his mouth and then be unable to chew them. Teach your child to take small bites and to eat slowly.