Many toddlers seem to survive on air alone, leaving worried parents concerned about their growth and development. Since toddlers eat so little, especially compared with the ravenous days of babyhood, they need foods that are both healthy and full of fat to sustain them. Toddlers deprived of adequate fat may become malnourished and may not grow well. The best foods for picky toddlers are nutrient-dense and contain plenty of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients in addition to the fat, protein and carbohydrates they need.
Full-Fat Dairy
Cow's milk can be introduced after a child's first birthday, but toddlers under 2 need full-fat whole milk instead of the reduced-fat or skim varieties. Toddlers should get two servings of milk or other dairy each day. If your toddler doesn't like cow's milk or doesn't want to drink much of it, he can get his full-fat dairy fix from cheese or yogurt instead.
Avocado
A single medium avocado contains 21 g of fat, and most of this fat is monounsaturated. Toddlers often like the creamy texture of avocado. Not only are avocados high in fat to boost toddler growth, they also contain plenty of other nutrients. Avocados contain the nutrients folate, copper, potassium, selenium, zinc, manganese, thiamine, niacin, pantothenic acid, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, riboflavin, choline and vitamins K, A, C, E and B6. Toddlers may enjoy avocado spread on a piece of whole wheat toast, blended into a guacamole dipping sauce or simple eaten raw with a spoon.
Smoothies
Make a high-fat smoothie using full-fat yogurt and frozen berries. The yogurt provides calcium, vitamin D and protein, and the berries give vitamins and antioxidants. Probiotics in the yogurt also help your toddler's digestive tract. Freezing the berries makes the smoothie thicker than thawed berries do, so you can call it a milkshake to make it more enticing to your toddler. Adding a little protein powder or brewer's yeast can boost the nutritional content further.
Peanut Butter Play-Dough
Mix 8 oz. of peanut butter with 1 1/2 cups of powdered whole milk. Stir in 4 to 6 tbsp. of honey and stir well. Add more powdered milk if necessary to get the mixture to a dough-like consistency. Lay down a piece of waxed paper and provide cookie cutters to let your toddler cut out interesting, edible shapes. The forbidden allure of being allowed to play with her food will make this high-fat, high-calorie concoction even more fun.
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