Toddlers grow much more slowly than babies do--instead of doubling or tripling their weight each year, they might grow only 2 to 3 inches and gain 3 to 5 pounds. This slower rate of growth often causes them to eat less than they did as babies. Serving a variety of healthy foods at mealtimes and augmenting their diet with well-planned snacks can ensure they get the 1,000 to 1,400 calories a day they need to grow and thrive.
Significance
Toddlers can often develop finicky eating habits that might cause parents to worry about their nutritional intake. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, picky eating is a normal toddler behavior. Your toddler's appetite will often vary from meal to meal as well, so he might eat a lot of breakfast, very little lunch and virtually no dinner. Looking at the "big picture" of his diet instead of his intake at each meal can help you better appraise his overall nutrition.
Considerations
Keep the size of your toddler's stomach in mind when serving him portions of different foods. The American Academy of Family Physicians suggests serving one tablespoon of each type of food for each year of your child's age. Don't force him to clean his plate--instead, allow your toddler to eat to his appetite.
Misconceptions
Although offering your child a cookie or other dessert for finishing her dinner might seem like a good plan, Dr. Mary Gavin, a medical editor at the Kids Health from Nemours website, cautions against using sweets as incentives. Gavin states that sweets should not be a regular part of a toddler's diet. Allow her to enjoy cookies or cakes as part of special celebrations, but serve fresh fruit if you want to provide something sweet after a meal.
Prevention/Solution
Since toddlers might be too busy exploring their world to eat during mealtimes, healthy, well-balanced snacks can help you address any nutritional shortfalls in their diets. Stock your cabinets with low-sugar, minimally processed finger foods like fresh fruit, whole-grain crackers, shredded or cubed cheese and whole-grain O-shaped cereal. Give your child small portions of these foods at times during the day when she needs an energy boost, such as midmorning or midafternoon.
Warning
Even though your toddler might consume a broader variety of table foods than he did as an infant, certain foods can still pose a choking or health hazard for him throughout the toddler years. Cut food into pea-size chunks when possible, and slice grapes, cherry tomatoes and melon balls into quarters before giving them to your toddler. Avoid giving him small, hard foods like popcorn, nuts, hard candy or raisins.
The medical advisory board of the Babycenter.com website urges parents not to give low-fat milk to toddlers under the age of 2. Low-fat milk lacks the fat and calories young toddlers need for proper growth and development; whole milk is the best choice for this age group.
