The one-year-old diet provides nutrients needed for growth and health as a child moves from the infant to the toddler stage, becomes more mobile and active, develops self-feeding skills with spoon and cup and develops food preferences and aversions. Foods easy for toddlers to eat include soft and moist fruit, bite-sized tender meat, mild colorful vegetables and whole grains.
Goals
The goals of a one-year-old's diet include providing nutritional support for growth and development, creating a positive eating experience and cultivating enjoyment of many healthy foods. The one-year-old begins to eat from the family table with some adaptations and begins to establish attitudes about food.
Features
The one-year-old diet consists of protein such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs or cooked dried beans, grain such as pasta, potatoes or rice, fruits and vegetables, bread, milk and fat such as butter, margarine or salad dressing. Milk should be whole, not low fat, because at this stage of development fat is important for energy and for development of the brain and nervous tissue. Offer a variety of foods from each food group to ensure intake of all needed nutrients.
Menu Ideas
According to the Academy of Pediatrics, breakfast could include iron-fortified breakfast cereal or cooked egg, whole milk and fruit. A morning snack might be toast with cream cheese or yogurt with cut-up fruit and whole milk. A lunch option would include turkey or chicken, tuna or egg salad, cooked green vegetables and whole milk. An afternoon snack could be fruit or berries and whole milk. Dinner options include ground or diced meat, cooked vegetables, pasta, rice or potato and whole milk.
Portion Sizes
Experts differ in defining portion sizes for a one-year-old. According to Ellyn Satter, an internationally recognized authority on nutrition and feeding of children, portion sizes are 1 to 2 tablespoons of cooked meat, ¼ egg, ¼ to 1/3 cup of milk and 1 to 2 tablespoons or ¼ piece of fruit. As a general rule for pasta, rice, potatoes, beans and vegetables, a one-year-old portion size is 1 to 2 tablespoons This is a starting point. Children may eat more or less.
The American Dietetic Association suggests a smaller portion size with a rule of thumb of 1 tablespoon per year of life. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not define portion sizes explicitly but provides a sample one day menu for a one-year-old, with larger portion sizes such as ¼ to 1 cup milk, 1 egg, ½ cup vegetables, and 2 to 3 ounces cooked meat. The AAP estimates that a one-year-old needs approximately 1000 calories per day.
Considerations
Gagging is a normal part of learning to chew and swallow, but choking can be hazardous. Cut hot dogs lengthwise, cut grapes in quarters, and avoid whole nuts, hard candy and jelly beans. A choking one-year-old cannot make noise to attract attention, so always closely supervise meals and learn first aid for choking. Toddlers have strong hunger and satiety sensations, so parents should provide nutritious foods and the child should decide how much to eat.
References
- "Nutrition Across the Life Span"; Mary Kay Mitchell; 2003
- "Child of Mine: Feeding with Love and Good Sense"; Ellyn Satter; 2000
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Sample One-Day Menu for a One-Year-Old
- American Dietetic Association: Size-Wise Nutrition for Toddlers
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Feeding and Nutrition--Your One-Year-Old
