Average toddlers of between 1 and 3 years of age require an average of 1,000 to 1,400 calories per day, depending on the age, height and the level of activity. Instead of counting calories, aim at eating a wide array of foods rich in nutrients in all the five food groups. (Source: Nemours KidsHealth / AAP)
Yes. The growth rate of a child after one year of age is slower, and this reduces the appetite of a child to a natural level. It is highly normal that the day after a toddler may gulp an enormous lunch and the next day, he or she may take practically nothing. Consider what they consume in a week, and not just one day. (Source: American Academy of Pediatrics)
The best ones are water and powder milk upto two years. Cow milk is not safe for toddlers under two years of age. Once you are past the age of two, you can switch to cow milk.
The amount of milk that toddlers are supposed to take daily is approximately 16 or 24 ounces (2 or 3 cups). When a child drinks above this, it causes a condition known as milk anemia whereby the child consumes a lot of milk and fails to consume sufficient foods that are rich in iron. (Source: Mayo Clinic / AAP)
According to the AAP, 100% fruit juice should be controlled to 4 ounces per day in children of age 1-3. Nevertheless, whole fruit will always be chosen instead of juice, as it has some fiber and less concentrated sugar. However if the child is reluctant to take fruit then juicing the fruit is a good option such as orange, apple, pomegranate or mango juice compared to artificial tetra pack juices (Source: American Academy of Pediatrics)
As toddlers are vulnerable to iron deficiency, provide foods such as lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, tofu, black chickpeas and iron-enriched cereals. Also, consuming iron with Vitamin C containing products (such as tomatoes, lemons, oranges, guavas) assists the body in absorbing iron. (Source: CDC)
Selective eating is an expected development. Avoid power struggles. With a food that they trust, introduce a new food. A toddler needs between 8 and 15 exposures to a new food before he/she will even taste it. (Source: Nemours KidsHealth / AAP)
Experts discourage the use of food to reward. It might teach children to treasure treats as opposed to nutritious meals and disrupt the process of children listening to their hunger and fullness. (Source: Stanford Medicine Children’s Health)
The routine has 2-3 healthy snacks and three meals daily, separated by an interval of 2-3 hours. This supplies them with continuous energy to their small stomachs. (Source: HealthLink BC)
Yes. Fats are essential in brain development that are healthy. Children should not be put on a limited-fat diet until the age of 2. Add avocado, olive oil, nut butters (spread in a thin layer), and fatty fish.(Source: NHS UK)
Never neglect to check on mealtimes and see that they do not sit up. High-risk foods such as whole grapes, popcorn, and large pieces of meat and hard candies should be avoided. It is necessary to cut grapes and cherry tomatoes in length (to quarters). (Source: CDC)
The majority of healthy toddlers with a balanced diet do not require a multivitamin. Nevertheless, supplements of Vitamin D are usually advised in case they are not getting enough of it in the sunlight or fortified foods. Consult (pediatrician) first. (Source: AAP)
At the age of one, a majority of the toddlers can consume the same healthy foods as the other members of the family, but the foods must be chopped into small and manageable portions and most importantly they should be low in added salt, and sugar. (Source: UNICEF)
The Dietary Guidelines of Americans recommend that those children who are below 2 years should be provided with zero added sugar. In children between the age of 2 years and above, added sugar intake must not exceed 10 percent of their daily calories. (Source: Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025)
Excess salt might be too much on the developing kidneys of the toddlers and might also leave them with a lifetime taste of salty foods. Consumption of processed snacks should be avoided and salt should not be added into their portions during cooking. (Source: Action on Salt / NHS)
When a child wants to eat the same food everyday, it is called a food jag. This is a common phase. Keep providing the requested food with other healthy food items in order to promote variety but not developing a battle. (Source: Zero to Three)
Children at this stage (toddlers) are good at self-regulation. When they turn their head away, shove the plate away or begin to play with their food rather than eat, then this is a sign that they are full. Respect these cues. (Source: AAP – Responsive Feeding)
Of course, honey is safe in children aged beyond 12 months of age. (It is not recommended below the age of one because of the possibility of infant botulism). (Source: Mayo Clinic)
Think “mini-meals.” Such alternatives as sliced bananas, cheese cubes, whole-grain crackers, steamed broccoli florets, or plain yogurt are good choices. (Source: American Academy of Pediatrics)
Nuts in their entirety are a significant choking risk and not to be eaten before the age of 4 or 5. Nonetheless, thinly sliced nut butters or ground nuts that are added to oatmeal are both protein and healthy fat sources. (Source: EatRight – Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics)
In case you have not yet introduced common allergens (such as peanuts, eggs, or fish), do it one at a time and monitor reactions (such as hives, vomiting, difficulty breathing, etc.). In case of any family history of allergies, consult a doctor. (Source: NIAID)
Don’t give up! Experiment with other ways of preparation: roasted, steamed or cut into sauces. It depends on modeling, when they observe you enjoying vegetables, they would have an opportunity to taste them in the future. Presentation of vegetables is very crucial. Presenting them in different shapes or making cars, animal faces and such things out of them appeal kids to try them. (Source: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health)
The only alternative milk product that is currently suggested as a nutritional alternative to cow milk that toddlers should use is fortified soy milk that contains both calcium and Vitamin D. Other milks (almond, oat) tend to be not high enough in protein and calories. (Source: AAP / Healthy Eating Research)
Make fun and use age appropriate cups and act as a role model. Do not use sweet drinks as an alternative to water because this will only stimulate the liking of sugar. Get them a beaker or bottle of their favourite character to encourage them to drink water on their own (Source: CDC)
Responsive feeding refers to the ability to be attentive to the hunger and fullness signals of your child and react positively. You become the determiner of what, when, and where food is eaten, the child becomes the determiner of whether and how much to eat. (Source: Ellyn Satter Institute)