babysitting a toddler - toy/game ideas

I could really use a little help from some of the mamas to younger kiddos. My "baby" is 8 1/2, and I'm afraid I've forgotten quite a bit of the toddler things we did.

I am babysitting a 15 month old every Monday for 9 hours. He will eat any type of carb imagineable, and any fruits that aren't green or red. The only veggie he'll touch is carrots though and I've tried every one I can think of by now. I've been feeding him pasta dishes & mountains of finger foods, (he still doesn't use a spoon) but his mama feeds him LITERALLY everything - donuts, hot dogs... can anyone think of any foods YOUR toddler would/did eat?

Also, I'm thinking that it's time we picked up a few more toys for him. We bought a small basket full of toys when he was 9 months old & a few more right around his 1st birthday... but I'm wondering what would be a good idea. I have a play kitchen full of wooden & fabric foods/dishes, and a basket full of playsilks & hand puppets. He has a wicked arm & likes to throw toys though, (DD has been hit several times) so I'm rather against the idea of blocks at this time.

One other question. HOW do you go about disciplining a kiddo that's not yours, doesn't respond to vocal cues at all, (not even "Where is your cup?" or "Sit down" - though he is not hearing impaired at all) and throws an all-out screaming tantrum every time you tell him no? I'm afraid my kids were never quite this strong-willed, and I'm finding myself quite relieved by the time his mama comes to pick him up most evenings.

I'm sorry for all the questions, but apparently I've forgotten more than I knew - and this little guy is not quite as easygoing as my kiddoes were.
love,
mom

 

I got some ideas! Moire went through a carb-only phase. We cured it by feeding her mashed potatoes that had tiny-minced sauteed veggies (usually zuchini and brocoli) and garlic, then mashed with lots of cheese and milk so they kept a fairly good consistency...Then, over the course of a few months, the veggies got chunkier, the potatoes were replaced with cauliflower, then the cheese amount was lowered.

as far as toys, pots, pans, crayons and big pads of paper, big containers of water and little cups, lots of sing-song games.

Moire was also fairly spirited. She didn't listen to verbal cues, but didn't have all out tantrums yet. What worked, was picking her up, looking her in the face, telling her "I said ______________", and redirecting her to another room or activity. Don't give the opportunity for a tantrum, and just keep going if one ensues. Pretty soon, he'll get that you don't care that he wants to continue whatever. You mean business.