What food should I give to my toddler?
For your toddler to be strong and healthy he must have a diet with sufficient amounts of protein, carbohydrate, fats, vitamins and minerals. He will get this if you provide a wide variety of foods from which to choose.
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The amount your child eats will largely be determined by how active he is and whether the body is going through a growth spurt. For example, the body slows down around the first birthday, but speeds up again when the child learns to walk. Thus, by the time he's 18 months old he'll need about three times the number of calories per day for his body weight that an adult does because of the speed of growth. To provide enough energy for this your child should have roughly 45 calories for 500g (1lb) weight. He'll also need 25g (1oz) protein a day, which although less than for infants, is still twice that of adults.
What foods to give your toddler
By the second year your child will be able to eat more or less the same diet as you. There is no one essential food that your child has to eat in order to be healthy - he just has to have plenty of sensibly cooked, fresh foods from which to build up a balanced diet. Milk will remain an important part of the diet as it is a useful source of protein, but drinks of water should also be given when he's thirsty.
Give your child at least one nutritious protein dish at each meal, and at least five servings of fruit and vegetables a day. He'll be able to eat an increasingly large amount of food at each meal; exactly how much will depend on his appetite, but he'll probably be able to take a third to half a standard adult portion each time.
Help your child to develop good eating habits by not sugaring or salting the food and by not giving “empty” calories in the form of cakes, biscuits and sweets. Don't give your child sweet puddings - fruits, yogurts or fruit purées are much better.
Food groups
| Food group | Food | Content |
|---|---|---|
| High protein | Chicken, fish, lamb, beef, pork, offal, eggs, cheese, legumes | Protein, fat, iron, vitamins A, D, B |
| Milk and dairy products | Milk, cream, yogurt, ice cream, cheese | Protein, fat, calcium, vitamins A, D, B2 |
| Green and yellow vegetables | Cabbage, sprouts, spinach, kale, green beans, squash, lettuce, celery, courgettes | Minerals, including calcium, chlorine, chromium, cobalt, copper, manganese, potassium and sodium |
| Citrus fruits | Oranges, grapefruit, lemons | Vitamin C |
| Other vegetables and fruits | Potatoes, beetroot, corn, carrots, cauliflower, pineapples, apricots | Carbohydrates, vitamins A, B, C |
| Breads and cereals | Wholemeal bread, noodles, rice | Protein, carbohydrates, B vitamins, iron and calcium |
| Fats | Butter, margarine, vegetable oils | Vitamins A, D |
What foods not to give your toddler
- Whole nuts
- Popcorn
- Very rough wholemeal bread, with pieces of whole grain
- Small pieces of raw fruit or vegetable
- Fruits with stones or pips, such as plums
- Unpeeled fruit with thick skins
- Highly spiced dishes, unless he enjoys these and specifically requests them
- Salty foods
- Sugary drinks
Eating patterns
By the time your child is toddling he will eat three smallish meals a day with a snack in the morning and the afternoon. Be prepared for your child's appetite to be a bit erratic during this year: he may be starving one day and eat everything that you serve, but the next day eat hardly anything. And don't worry if your child goes on food binges, eating only one food and refusing all others; it is a perfectly normal occurrence at this age (see Possible Feeding Problems). Similarly, don't be alarmed when he goes through periods of little appetite - your child knows exactly what he needs and will eat to keep pace with himself.
Giving sweets
I believe that it is wrong to deprive children of sweets. Deprivation very often leads to furtiveness and dishonesty. I do believe, however, in sweet rationing. But I am not beyond giving sweets as a reward as this kind of reward is immediately understood by your child. I rationed my own children to one sweet after lunch and supper. This scheme worked with all four of them and encouraged self-control and good eating habits. They should always brush their teeth afterwards.
New Babycare
Copyright © 2009 Dorling Kindersley
Text copyright © 2009 Miriam Stoppard
Posted 03.11.2010
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