 Toddler Nutrition
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| T. Berry Brazelton |
World-renowned pediatrician T. Berry Brazelton, MD, talks about the challenges of getting babies and toddlers to eat and offers solutions for frazzled parents based on 65 years of experience with more than 25,000 patients.
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The toddler (ages 1 to 3 years) phase can often be challenging when it comes to feeding. Several developmental changes occur at this time. Toddlers are striving for independence and control. Their growth rate slows down and with this comes a decrease in appetite. These changes can make meal time difficult. It is important for parents to provide structure and set limits for the toddler.
The following are suggestions to help manage mealtimes so that the toddler gets the nutrition he/she needs:
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- Offer meals and snacks to your child on a regular schedule. Allow about 2 to 3 hours between meals and snacks.
- Arrange for a quiet time before meals to help your child pay attention to eating. Too much activity around the table can distract a child.
- Provide you child with a comfortable chair and a good table support for food.
- Try to offer food before your child becomes tired and cranky.
- Offer 2 to 3 foods at a meal.
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- Give your child his or her own small fork and spoon. Children often enjoy feeding themselves.
- Give your child small servings. A normal serving size for a child is about 1/4 to 1/3 the size of an adult serving. Too large a serving may be overwhelming.
- Serve your child different kinds of food. Offer you child food he or she likes, as well as new foods.
- Wait for your child to ask for seconds before giving more food.
- Introduce new foods one at a time and in small portions. At first, your child may reject new food, but continue to offer it at another time. Most children take time to get used to new foods. Try to offer a new food at the beginning of the feeding time when you child is hungriest.
- Never force-feed your child.
- Do not interrupt you child's meal to look for other foods to offer if he or she isn't eating what you serve.
- Cut food into bite-size pieces or serve soft finger foods.
- Cut sandwiches into triangles or small shapes using a cookie cutter.
- Avoid foods that may cause choking, such as; nuts, chips, whole grapes, raw carrots, celery, large pieces of fruit, raisins round or hard candy, popcorn and large pieces of hot dogs.
- Give your child enough time to enjoy the meal. The meal may last about 20 to 30 minutes, If he or she is finished earlier or starts misbehaving, stop the meal.
- Take your child's food away when he or she loses interest, for example if he or she stops eating or pushes food away.
- Juices and sweet drinks should be limited to 4 to 8 ounces per day.
- Give your child water if he or she is thirsty between snacks and meals.
- Do not offer your child food or drinks (except water) between snacks and meals.
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- Your child will learn how to behave by watching you and you family. Include your child at family meals.
- Praise your child for good eating behavior.
- Do not punish your child if he or she refuses to eat.
- Do not reward or bribe your child with food. For example, do not tell your child that he or she may not have dessert if the meal isn't finished.
- Do not worry about the mess you child may make. Toddlers are too young to be tidy at meals.
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- A healthy growing child who eats a variety of foods from the major food groups is probably meeting his or her daily nutrient needs. If you are worried that you child is not taking in enough food, talk with your child's health care provider or dietitian. Your child's diet should include food from the groups below everyday:
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- Meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs and peanut butter (protein)
- Milk and milk substitutes, yogurt and cheese
- Fruit
- Vegetable
- Bread, cereal, rice and pasta (grains)
- Fats, oils and sweets (can also be used, but in small amounts)
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- Strips of lunch meat
- Small cooked and cut meatballs made from ground beef, ground veal or ground turkey
- Cooked chicken pieces, soft pieces of meat or fish, tuna
- Chicken nuggets: pre-made breaded type or chicken fingers
- Fish sticks
- Cooked eggs: scrambled, hard boiled, fried or poached
- Cooked dried beans in sauce
- Tofu
- Thinly spread smooth peanut butter on bread or crackers
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- Strips or cubes of cheese, soft types are best
- String cheese
- Yogurt
- Pudding or custard
- Pudding or custard
- Cottage cheese
- Milk
- Fruit shakes made with milk and fresh fruit
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- Peeled, sliced and pitted apples, oranges, tangerines, peaches and soft pears
- Peeled, sliced and pitted papaya, mango, watermelon, prunes and avocado
- Sliced banana, sliced grapes and canned fruit
- Do not give raisins and other small, dried fruits to your child. They may cause choking.
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- French fries, mashed potatoes and potato puffs
- Cooked pumpkin or squash cut in squares
- Steamed peas, carrots, green beans and broccoli (can be served with low fat dip)
- Cherry tomatoes cut in small pieces
- Other soft vegetables such as spinach and cooked plantain
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- Muffins, rolls, toast, mini pitas, croissants and breads of all kinds
- Pasta: large rotini, elbows macaroni and rigatoni
- Waffles, pancakes and French toast
- Crackers (can be spread with cheese, a think amount of peanut butter or bean dip) and graham crackers
- Ready-to-eat cereals
- Brown or white rice
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- Canola or olive oil
- Butter or margarine
- Mayonnaise
- Cream cheese and sour cream
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- Canola or olive oil
- Butter or margarine
- Mayonnaise
- Cream cheese and sour cream
- Seedless jams and jellies
- Avocado
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