Baby
Nutrition
The
Healthy Grocery Cart Checklist
Toddler
Nutrition Facts
Encourage your kids to learn healthy eating habits.
Feeding a tiny
child is not as easy as you might think. But take heart! There are
definitely ways to ensure your tot is getting the nutrition he needs.
How many calories
do toddlers need each day?
According to
the American Academy of Pediatrics(AAP), toddlers need at least 1,000
calories a day to meet their nutritional needs for growth and energy.
The best way to provide your child with these much needed calories
is to give her three meals and two snacks a day.
What should a
toddler eat?
According to
the U.S. Department of Agriculture toddlers need foods from the same
for basic food groups as adults do, but the serving sizes should be
two-thirds of the adult serving size. According to the Ohio State
Agricultural Extension, a good rule for serving sizes for toddlers
is 1 tablespoon per year of age or 1/4 of an adult serving per year
of age. For example, a serving of milk for a 2-year-old would be 1/2
cup, a serving of cooked carrots for a 3-year-old would be 3 tablespoons,
a serving of ground beef for tacos for a 4-year-old would be 4 tablespoons.
Your toddler should eat indicated servings from these food groups
every day:
Meat, fish, poultry, eggs (two to three servings)
Dairy products
(three servings equivalent to two cups of milk each day)
Fruits and vegetables
(three servings each)
Cereal grains,
potatoes, rice, breads, pasta (six servings)
Limit your child's intake of refined sugar. It can contribute to obesity,
tooth decay, and overactivity. However, don't restrict cholesterol
and fat in children this age as both are needed for normal development
says the AAP.
What are some
common toddler eating problems?
Toddlers have
an unnerving tendency to suddenly become picky eaters even if they
had a good appetite as infants. Also, because they're so full of energy
and curiosity, it's often difficult to get them to settle down for
a good meal. It's also difficult to predict a toddler's eating habits
from day to day. One day he may eat everything in sight, but the next
day he may not want to eat much at all. Sometimes for days on end
he'll seem fixated on one particular food, and then suddenly reject
that food without warning!
How can I help
my tot develop good eating habits?
It's never too
early to begin teaching good eating habits.
Encourage your child to try new foods.
Model a balanced
diet by consuming healthy foods and limiting sweets, salty snacks,
and soft drinks yourself.
Keep regular
mealtimes to prevent your child from relying on erratic snacks to
curb hunger.
Sit and eat together
as a family, focusing on each other instead of on television shows
and other distractions.
Don't allow your
child to bring toys to the table.
Don't serve heavily
spiced foods. Most children don't like very spicy food. Your child
may reject a particular food entirely in the future if he has a bad
taste experience because he tasted it heavily spiced.
Avoid serving
foods that are very heavily salted, buttered, or sugared so that your
child doesn't develop an unhealthy taste for such food.
Your
should know:
The
information on this Web site is designed for educational purposes
only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical
advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose
or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your
pediatrician or family doctor. Please consult a doctor with any
questions or concerns you might have regarding your or your child's
condition.
Rebornne Baby. American Baby
