A balanced diet for toddlers

It’s very tempting for parents to see their toddlers as mini-adults as they begin to walk, talk and eat similar foods to the rest of the family. However, they still have very different dietary needs from adults and older children.

During the toddler years (ages 1-3 years) they are developing rapidly both physically and mentally. This means that their nutrient and energy requirements are still high compared to adults, relative to their size¹.

By the age of 1 year a toddler diet should comprise of three meals a day along with healthy snacks to enable them to meet their nutrient requirements in a manageable volume. As in infancy, a variety of foods should be offered from the four main food groups while salt and sugar should continue to be limited.

Healthy snacks for toddlers:

Fresh fruit e.g. melon slices, banana, grapes, orange segments

Fruit pots

Fruit yogurts

Vegetable sticks and dip

Pitta bread slices

Crackers and cheese

Fruit loaf

Toddler cereals

Food groups and daily recommended servings for toddlers²

Adapted from Department of Health Weaning and the Weaning Diet¹

References:

1. Department of Health. Report on Health and Social Subjects 41 Dietary Reference Values for Food Energy and Nutrients for the United Kingdom. London: HMSO, 1991.
2. Department of Health. Report on Health and Social Subjects 45 Weaning and the Weaning Diet. London: HMSO, 1994.

For more information visit (click links to access)

Cow & Gate booklet for HCPs – Good feeding practices for toddlers - laying down sound nutritional foundations for life-long health.

Dealing with fussy eating and food refusal

Toddlers are renowned for being ‘fussy eaters’, suddenly refusing to eat previously liked foods or eating well one day but not the next. It’s important to reassure parents that toddlers don’t need to eat well at every meal or each day. Instead it’s more appropriate to look at their average intake over a week which in most cases is varied enough to support their nutritional needs.

Useful advice for healthcare professionals to give to parents to help deal with fussy eaters:

Continue to offer a variety of foods
Just because a food is rejected on one occasion it doesn’t mean that you should not offer it again another time. The more familiar a toddler is with a food, the more likely they are to eat it.

Lead by example
Toddlers often copy other people, so by eating the foods yourself you will help encourage your toddler to do the same.

Ensure there are no distractions at mealtimes
Toddlers are very active and easily preoccupied by things going on around them so make sure that mealtimes are calm and without distractions such as the TV.

Get your toddler involved
Involving your toddler in the cooking process, or involving them when you go shopping, may encourage them to eat more.

For more information visit (click links to access)

Past Nurture & Nutrition article – ‘Food refusal – a better understanding’
Past Nurture & Nutrition article – ‘Fussy eaters; both born and made’

Infant & Toddler Forum website

For parents - for practical advice and information on weaning including meal planners, weaning stages, recipes and hints & tips, visit the Cow & Gate website using this link:

Cow & Gate parents website - weaning information