Question

What aspects of children's nutrition would you explore in order to prepare yourself to feed toddlers appropriately?

Answer 1

Toddler period is between 1 and 3 years of age and they are having immense developments happening in all areas and they want to be independent and uncontrolled. The body growth rate comes down and cause a decrease in appetite and meal times are real challenge to the care giver.

toddlers may need 1000-1400 calories per day depending on their age and activity levels. the daily meal planning can be done from the caloric value of the foods. also can set up a menu for the whole wee, varying the items daily.

The major aspects to be considered are:

• Serve regular meals and snacks.
• Toddlers may not like trying new foods, introduce it when they wish.
• Serve one fourth the portion size of an adult’s food, do not make it too less or too big.
• Reduce juices and provide whole fruit, like apple instead of apple juice. This increases the fiber intake and improves functioning of jaws and gums.
• Serve food so that it is easy for them to eat, position at a comfortable seating, cut the fruits to small pieces, serve the food at room temperature, avoid too dry and too sticky foods. Provide spoon or fork of the child size.
• Avoid choking in the kid by continuous supervision of feeding, avoiding hard to chew foods, cutting large size pieces to small ones etc
• Do not provide sweets as a reward for eating the meal.
• Nutritional needs of the toddler has to be assessed and include grains, fruits, vegetables, protein and dairy to the meals. The caloric needs of the child must be considered while feeding. Make a regular meal pattern and timings.
• Add whole grains mostly. This adds more fiber and keeps the gut health from childhood.
• Add variety to the vegetables , add colorful vegetables which increase interest in the child.
• Whole fruits are best and juices must be less than 4 ounces per day. Fruit juices must be served fresh if possible, avoid canned juices and soft drinks, which contain preservatives and extra sugars.
• Low fat meats are best to start with. Include more fish and nuts to the diet. This act as healthy proteins for the body building.
• Dairy can be added if the child doesn’t have lactate tolerance issues. Milk, cheese, yoghurt and butter are best for toddlers. This adds protein and calcium to the child’s nutrition.