Meal ideas for your toddler

 
                                     

Now that your child is a toddler, he is ready to try new foods. I went to a seminar on good nutrition for children and these are the things that I've learned:

• As a parent they will copy you. If we eat healthy foods they will want to try it too.
• If they try a lot of different foods when they are little, they will get a taste for them.
• They are growing,but not as fast as before. Sometimes it is normal that they might eat less.
• Their tummy is still little.
• They dictate if they are hungry or not.

We usually decide what healthy foods to offer them. And they decide which of these foods to eat and how much to eat.

Let them start with small amounts, maybe a tablespoon of each food. They will ask for more.

Don't force them to eat or clean their plate. (Must always remember, as we get frustrated if our child will only eat 1 tablespoon sometimes.)

Offer snacks, but it's okay if they refuse sometimes. 

As a technique, serve foods that they like together with a new food that you want to introduce.

Food suggestions

Grains:

5 or 6 of these choices:

1/4 to 1/2 slice bread or tortilla

1/4 to 1/2 cup dry cereal

1/4 cup cooked noodles, rice or oatmeal

2 or 3 small crackers

Protein:

3 or 4 of these choices:

1 tablespoon chopped meat, chicken, turkey or fish

1/2 egg

2 tablespoons cooked mashed beans

1/2 tablespoon butter

2 tablespoon tofu

Vegetables:

3 or more of these choices:

1/4 cup cooked chopped vegetables

1/4 cup cooked mashed vegetables

2 ounces vegetable juice

Dairy:

4 of these choices

4 ounces milk

4 ounces yogurt

1 slice cheese

Remember: No more than 16 ounces of milk per day!

Fruits:

1/4 cup soft fresh fruit

1/4 cup soft canned or frpzen fruit

4 ounces 100% fruit juice (no more than 4 ounce)

Fats, oils and sweets
Only a little bit

Some content adapted from "Help me be healthy" series
California WIC Program, California Department of Health

What do you feed your toddler? Do you have any suggestions? Share it with us!