1. Meal Planning for Toddlers
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2. Feeding the Toddler
Self-feeding—for one-year-old---finger-foods, variety, use of spoon, training cup
Two-year old----fine motor skills are improving, eat with spoon and fork, eat with other family members, but can be allowed to get up from table when they are finished due to short attention span
Three-year old----full set of primary teeth and can chew most foods, meat and tough foods should still be cut
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3. Feeding the Toddler
Children from age one to two years eat about ⅓ to ½ of an adult portion.
Food preferences change from day to day
Food should not be used as a reward or as a punishment.
Food habits acquired during early years follow them into adulthood.
Microwave food safety: Expect temperature extremes of hot and cold, to prevent hot spots, stir prior to serving
Foods that may cause choking should be avoided (grapes, hotdogs, peanuts, popcorn, round hard candy)
Be aware of food allergies that may become evident during this time.
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4. Children 2 to 3 years of age need the same variety of foods as 4- to 6-year-olds but may need fewer calories. Offer them smaller amounts.
A good estimate of a serving for a 2- to 3-year-old is about 1/2 of what counts as a regular serving.
Younger children often eat small portions. Offering smaller servings and allowing them to ask for more, satisfies their hunger and does not waste food.
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5. BUILD A PYRAMID
WHAT COUNTS AS ONE My Pyramid SERVING?
Each of the portions listed in the five major food groups below counts as one My Pyramid serving for anyone over 4 years of age.
When counting servings, smaller portions count as part of a serving and larger portions count as more than one serving.
Two- to 6-year-old children need a total of 2 servings from the milk group each day.
Offer whole or mixed grain products for at least three of the six grain group choices for the day
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6. GRAIN GROUP CHOICES for Toddlers (6 servings each day)
WHOLE GRAIN
¼ to ⅓ cup cooked brown rice
1 to 2 graham cracker squares
2 to 4 whole grain crackers
¼-½ cup cooked oatmeal
¼-⅓ cup ready-to-eat whole grain cereal
¼ -½ slice pumpernickel, rye, or whole wheat bread
½ 7-inch corn tortilla
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7. ENRICHED - GRAIN GROUP CHOICES for Toddlers
¼ to ½ 4-inch pita bread
1 4-inch pancake
¼ to ⅓ cup cooked grits
¼ to ⅓ cup cooked farina/other cereal
¼ to ⅓ cup ready-to-eat, non-sugar-coated cereal
½ 7-inch flour tortilla
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8. ENRICHED - GRAIN GROUP CHOICES for Toddlers
¼ to ⅓ cup cooked rice or pasta
¼ to ⅓ cup cooked spaghetti
¼ to ½ English muffin or bagel
¼ to ½ slice white, wheat, French or Italian bread
¼ to ½ hamburger or hot dog bun
2 to 3 crackers (saltine size)
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9. Grain Products with More Fat and Sugars
½ small biscuit or muffin
1 small piece cornbread
⅓ medium doughnut
6 animal crackers
2 small cookies
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10. VEGETABLE GROUP CHOICES for Toddlers (3 servings each day)
DARK-GREEN LEAFY
¼ - ½ cup cooked collard greens
½ - 1 cup leafy raw vegetables— Romaine lettuce, spinach, or mixed green salad
1-2 cooked broccoli spears
¼ - ½ cup cooked turnip greens,
kale, or mustard greens
DEEP-YELLOW
¼ - ½ cups carrots, cooked
¼ - ½ cup winter squash
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11. VEGETABLE GROUP CHOICES for Toddlers (3 servings each day)
OTHER
1/3 small cucumber
6 raw snow or sugar pea pods
¼ - ½ cup cooked green beans
2 medium Brussels sprouts
4 slices raw summer squash
¼ - ½ cup coleslaw
¼ - ½ cup cooked cabbage
2-5 celery sticks (3” long)
¼ - ½ cup tomato or spaghetti sauce
¼ - ½ cup vegetable juice
¼ - ½ cup vegetable soup
1 small tomato
3 cherry tomatoes
STARCHY
7 French fries, regular size
1 baked potato, small
¼ - ½ cup potato salad
¼ - ½ cup green peas
¼ - ½ cup lima beans
1 small plantain
DRY BEANS & PEAS
¼ - ½ cup cooked black, kidney, pinto, or garbanzo beans, or black-eyed peas
¼ - ½ cup cooked lentils
½ -2/3 cup bean soup
¼ - ½ cup cooked split peas
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12. FRUIT GROUP CHOICES for Toddlers (2 servings each day)
CITRUS, MELONS, BERRIES
¼ - ½ cup blueberries or raspberries
1/4 medium cantaloupe
¼ - ½ cup 100% citrus juice (orange)
grapefruit half
1/8 small honeydew
1 small kiwifruit
½ medium orange
4 medium strawberries
½ medium tangerine
¼ - ½ cup watermelon pieces
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13. FRUIT GROUP CHOICES for Toddlers (2 servings each day)
OTHER
½ medium apple, banana,
peach, or nectarine
1 medium apricots
¼ - ½ cup applesauce
1½ canned pineapple slices
½ medium mango
¼ medium papaya
½ small pear
¼ - ½ cup cut-up fresh, canned or cooked fruit
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14. Many juice beverages are not 100% juice
Many juice beverages are not 100% juice. Check the ingredient listing to make sure you’re getting all juice without added sugars such as corn syrup.
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15. Whole Milk for Toddlers
Milk is important in a toddler's diet because it provides calcium and vitamin D. Calcium and vitamin D help build strong bones.
Whole milk is the preferred milk choice for children under two years of age because it provides dietary fats needed for normal growth and brain development.
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16. Count this number of Milk Group servings:
For this amount of food . . .
Count this number of Milk Group servings:
½ to ¾ cup whole milk 1
½ cup soy milk, calcium fortified
½ cup skim milk
1/2
½ cup 2% milk
1/2 cup yogurt (4 ounces)
1 ounce natural cheese
1 ounce of processed cheese
½ ounce string cheese
2/3
½ cup cottage cheese
1/4
½ cup ice cream
1/3
½ cup frozen yogurt
½ cup pudding
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17. MEAT GROUP CHOICES (2 servings each day)
Two to three ounces of cooked lean meat, poultry, or fish equals one serving from this group.
Amounts from this food group should total 5 ounces a day for 4- to 6-year-olds and about 3 ½ ounces a day for 2- to 3-year-olds.
Count 1 egg or 1/2 cup of cooked dry beans as 1 ounce of lean meat. Count 2 tablespoons peanut butter as 1 ounce of meat.
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18. Count this amount of Meat Group servings:
For this amount of food . . .
Count this amount of Meat Group servings:
2 ounces cooked poultry or fish
2 ounces
2 ounces cooked lean meat
1 egg (yolk and white)
1 ounces
2 tablespoons peanut butter
*1 ½ frankfurters (2 ounces)
2 slices bologna or luncheon meat (2 ounces)
¼ cup drained canned salmon or tuna
½ cup cooked kidney, pinto, or white beans
½ cup tofu
1 soy burger patty
*May cause choking in 2- to 3-year-old children.
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19. Foods to Avoid
Toddlers can have foods that have been withheld as an infant (whole milk, citrus fruits, whole eggs).
Childcare providers should watch for allergic reactions when offering any new food. The child's doctor should be informed of close family members who suffer from food allergies.
It is better to delay introducing foods commonly associated with food allergies, such as peanuts and seafood.
Avoid foods that could present choking hazards, like popcorn, hard candies, hot dogs, raw vegetables and hard fruits, whole grapes, raisins, and nuts.
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20. Variety of textures in a meal
Children need to experience a variety of textures in a meal such as soft, like bananas, and mushy, like applesauce.
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21. Variety of shapes
Toddlers should be offered foods of different shapes.
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22. Children should be supervised at all times when eating.
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