Between the ages of 12 to 36 months, toddlers grow an average of 3 to 5 inches a year, according to Kids Health. Even though the growth rate is slower than that of infants, nutritional needs are still important. Toddlerhood is when children are first introduced to new food, and it sometimes takes creativity and patience to get them to try it.
Nutritional Needs
According to Kids Health, toddlers need between 1,000 and 1,400 calories a day. The Cleveland Clinic says these calories should come from a variety of healthy foods, including at least six servings of grains, five servings of fruits and vegetables and three servings of dairy. In addition, they need two servings from the meat group and three to four servings from the fat group. This sounds like a lot of food, but a serving is not large. Examples of servings of grains are 1/4 to 1/2 slice of bread or 1/4 to 1/3 cup of rice, pasta or cereal. Examples of servings from the meat group are one egg or 2 to 4 tbsp. of beans or peas.
Meals and Snacks
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, a toddler should have three meals at regular times and two snacks a day. Offer the toddler choices of good food, but if it's refused, don't panic. One missed meal is not an emergency. A few hours later, offer the child a healthy snack, followed a few hours later by another healthy meal. Don't force a child to eat or clean the plate, and don't use rewards, such as candy or ice cream, as a way of getting the child to eat.
Getting Toddlers to Try New Foods
Toddlers are little people with a lot to learn. Faced with new tastes and textures, they are learning that they have choices. They often practice their independence by refusing to eat what parents offer them. The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends offering more than one healthy food item, then letting the toddler choose. When introducing a new food, it sometimes helps to offer it along with a familiar and well-liked one.
Foods to Avoid
The Cleveland Clinic cautions against giving toddlers food that can cause choking. These include obvious ones such as whole grapes and large pieces of meat. It also includes sticky food, such as peanut butter and marshmallows, and small hard food such as raw carrots, raisins, popcorn, nuts and seeds. Candy, chips and pretzels can be choking hazards, in addition to not being a healthy snack. Watch toddlers when they are eating to prevent choking and to monitor for possible allergic reactions to food. The most common foods that cause allergies are fish, shellfish, milk, eggs, nuts, soybeans and wheat.
Setting a Good Example
Children from toddlers through teens rebel against parents, but they still notice what parents do. If parents set a good example by eating healthy and offering healthy food to their toddlers, chances are good that the child will grow up healthy and with good eating habits.
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