Feeding a toddler can be a challenge; however, offering a 1-year-old healthy choices from all the food groups can ensure she gets the nutrition she needs for growth and development. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to feeding your toddler, there are a few simple guidelines for healthy breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks.
Breakfast
Toddlers older than 1 should have three meals and two snacks daily, says Dr. Ari Brown of Baby 411. Start your 1-year-old off right with a healthy breakfast. A healthy breakfast helps a toddler get through a morning full of play time. Healthy and tasty choices include fresh fruits, yogurts, whole wheat bagels, fortified cereals and milk. Toddlers should have a few food groups at each meal. Try offering whole milk yogurt, some fresh berries and half a slice of bagel in addition to whole milk. Swap out different grains or fruits or offer cottage cheese to provide variety for your toddler.
Lunch
Dr. Brown suggests including multiple food groups at all meals, lunch included. Pretty much any food is fair game once kids hit 1 year, provided it does not pose a choking hazard and your child is not allergic. Think of lunch as a main feature with two sides. A healthy, toddler-friendly lunch can include a half turkey sandwich, some cheese and several grapes sliced in halves or quarters. Swap out the main attraction with any healthy protein source, such as baked chicken pieces or nut butter on a whole-grain pita. Other easy-to-eat fruits and vegetables include banana pieces, mandarin orange slices and cut green beans. Offer milk to drink, or watered-down juice. If your child is a picky eater, try cutting sandwiches into novelty shapes or arrange foods so they make a picture. Banana slices can become a smiley face.
Dinner
Dinner is often eaten with the whole family. Get toddlers off to a good start by setting a good example: Fill your plate with healthy choices, and offer her the same. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests eating a meal together every day, dinner often being the easiest. Offer your 1-year-old smaller amounts of whatever you are eating; just ensure you have made a balanced meal yourself. If the rest of the family is eating, she will likely follow suit. Now is a good time to introduce foods without too much pressure. Follow the same healthy eating plan as lunch: a main course with two vegetable sides. If she wants dessert, offer fruit.
Snacks
Snacks are a big part of the toddler's day, as she needs enough nutrition between meals to have enough energy for her playtime schedule. A snack is simply a quick bite to eat. A handful of crackers, some slices of fruit, half a muffin: All of these are easy, healthy choices. If your 1-year-old drinks milk at her meals, offer her water or watered-down juice during her snack. Finally, even though a snack is quicker than a meal, be sure to sit your child down to avoid potential choking hazards.
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