Toddlers

Toddler Healthy Eating

Toddler Healthy Eating.

Increasingly parents want their toddlers to eat healthily and to get their children interested in what they are eating, how its grown or prepared is a great way to achieve this.

Why is a balanced diet important for a toddler?

A balanced diet is important as a toddler that doesn’t have a balanced diet is less likely to achieve their potential in terms of brain development, growth, energy levels and moods. A poor diet as a toddler can also have health implications later in life.

How to achieve a balanced diet

Children have different nutritional needs as they get older. Some nutrients are more important than others at key stages, for example: protein is important as it helps with their growth; slow released energy from proteins, carbohydrates, and fat is important as toddlers are very active; and a toddler can be vulnerable to iron deficiency if they do not have a broad range of foods in their diet.

Ensuring your toddler has a broad range of foods in their diet isn’t difficult, you just need to make sure that they get a mix of food each day from the five main food groups (food pyramid).

The  five main food groups are:

• bread, cereals and potatoes

• fruit and vegetables
• meat, fish or tofu
• foods with fat and sugar

• dairy

Read More about Kids Food Pyramid

A varied Diet is essential as no one food contains the all the nutrients a toddler needs.

Tips for helping Toddlers eat healthily

• Get them involved if you are taking them food shopping, ask them to choose one vegetable to have with dinner, and to choose one fruit for their afternoon snack.
• If you can give them some small tasks to help you while you prepare the meal, crush a garlic glove, or tearing up some herbs.
• REMEMBER. Make sure that any sharp or hazardous objects are kept well out of their reach if they are helping you in the kitchen.
• Establish Meal time routines. If possible try to sit down as a family and to share a meal rather than have it on you lap in front of the TV. The family meal gives everyone to opportunity to talk and is good for building social skills.
• The working week presents Parents with a dilemma of should they eat with their children or later when their partner returns home from work. One solution would be to eat with your children as you will lead by example and be a role model for them eating well. You can then sit down with your partner and just have a drink or some fruit but are able to keep them company.

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