Diet for toddler

How to prepare a balance diet chart for 1 to 5 years child and this balanced diet should be cost effective?
(October 19, 2010)

Feeding your toddlers can be quite a challenge as they are hesitant about trying new foods, are picky eaters, and generally seem to eat too little.  While planning a toddler diet remember that you need to feed him/her a lot less than you think. This is because toddlers have energy needs that are slightly lower as compared to their first year, and they also have smaller appetites. So if your toddler is healthy, active, and developing normally, there is no need to worry as he/she is probably eating well.
 
While planning a toddler diet, or for that matter while feeding your toddler, try to the following common mistakes that most parents make:
• Do not make your child drink milk in excess of 16 to 24 ounces per day.
• His/her juice intake should not be more than 4 to 6 ounces per day.
• Do not allow your toddler fill up on snacks or sweets.
• If your child is not hungry, avoid forcing him/her to eat.

If your child looks to no longer be interested in the food or just play with his food give him/her one warning. If he/she continues to not be interested in the meal, simply remove what is served and state that the meal is over.


It is best that you do not force or strongly encourage your child to clear his plate. Also, bribing your child with rewards or sweets to clear his plate is not a good idea. Remember that your toddler will eat what they want over a 24 hour period.  

Over-encouraging your toddlers to eat will increase his/her chances of putting on extra weight and cause disorders related to eating in the future. As part of your toddler diet plan avoid large servings. The average toddler diet plan should include servings that are ¼ the size of adult servings.  If your child is still hungry a couple of hours after dinner, give him something nutritious to eat such as cheese or fruit.  

Although a toddler nutrition pyramid is not available, you can use the pyramid for kids’ diet that is available for kids aged two to six years as a guideline. So include six grain servings, two fruit servings, three vegetable servings, two milk/dairy servings, two meat/protein servings, and small amounts of sweets and fat in your toddler diet, but ensure that the servings are small.

Although calories are not usually counted as far as an infant diet or a baby diet is concerned, knowing the number of calories required by your toddler can be beneficial while planning his/her diet. In this way, you can be sure that your toddler is getting sufficient to eat. An average toddler requires about 1300 calories daily, whereas bigger kids require a little more. One thumb rule you can keep in mind is that your kid will require about 40 calories daily for every inch of his/her height. 

Every stage of your child’s development can offer feeding challenges.  If your child does not eat properly and this seems to be affecting his/her weight, it is best that you consult your doctor. 

Diet for toddler 

Children are growing and developing bones, teeth, muscles and blood, hence they need more nutritious foods in proportion to their weight than adults. Children can be victims of malnutrition if they suffer from poor appetite for long duration of time or accept fewer amounts of foods or dilute their diets.

It is very much essential to give proper diet to the child. Variety is very much essential in terms of color, flavor or taste otherwise children may find it boring to have food. A balanced diet is essential for proper development of the child. As the activity of the child increases, the Childs nutrient needs will also increase.
Certain guidelines to prepare healthy balanced diet for small children:-

• Introduce family foods so that the child can easily adjust to the food pattern of the family. It also decreases the load on the mother to prepare special diet for the child. Avoid too spicy or hot foods.
• It is very essential to be creative in planning food for the child. Color tends to be fascinating for the baby. Can give vegetable fried rice or vegetable noodles or vegetable semolina preparation. Pinwheel sandwiches made with dressing of different colors can also be tried.
• Stress on seasonal fruits and vegetables so that it tastes good and costs cheaper. Avoid packaged foods or processed foods. Prefer natural foods for the child.
• Avoid longer duration for eating foods. Keep a gap of two hours. However if the child is not interested in having food as planned do not force him. Try to make mealtime pleasant and interesting.
• Certain foods like soybean, eggs and milk are rich in protein that is essential for wear and tear of the body and maintenance of immune system. Do not give these foods as raw as it can affect the child's system and may start develop allergies to certain foods.
• See to it that all the food groups like cereals, pulses, vegetables and fruits, flesh foods, sugar and fats are provided to the child in one or other form.
• Avoid too fatty foods as it can lead to indigestion. Allow the child to drink ample amount of water.