You may think that loading your toddler up on fruit is healthy, but this may not always be the case. Toddlers need an adequate intake of fruit for nutrients that support their health, but overdoing it may be detrimental. Starting good eating habits at a young age sets a toddler up for making his own healthy choices as he gets older.
Daily Intake Recommendations
Toddlers should be getting 1 cup of fruit each day, according to the American Heart Association. This amount should be divided up among meals and snacks throughout the day. Offering your toddler a wide variety of fruits allows her to get more nutrients and may get her used to the different flavors of fruit, reducing the likelihood that she will be picky as she gets older.
Too Much Fruit
Many people mistakenly assume that fruit is a calorie-free food, but it does contain calories, and eating too much may mean that your toddler could be gaining too much weight. The average toddler needs 1,300 calories per day; allowing him to fill up on fruit makes it more likely that he will exceed this number. Too much fruit may fill your toddler up with fiber, which leaves little room for additional foods because fiber fills small tummies and leaves them feeling full for longer periods of time, reports the BBC. In addition, too much fruit may make it difficult for toddlers to get the healthy fats they need to grow, develop and learn. However, it is important to feed your toddler some fruit because doing so ensures that he is getting adequate amounts of vitamins A and C, potassium and fiber, which supports his immunity, skin health, blood pressure and digestive function.
Juice
While 100 percent fruit juice does count toward your toddler's fruit intake, it should not replace fresh fruit. A toddler should not drink more than 4 to 6 oz. of fruit juice each day. Too much juice can result in poor nutrition, gas, bloating, diarrhea and tooth decay, reports the University of Michigan Health System. Giving your toddler juice with meals may reduce the amount of food he eats, which can lead to nutritional deficiencies, if done on a regular basis. Fruit juice often contains more calories than fresh fruit, and too much could lead to weight gain, according to MayoClinic.com.
Cutting Back
If you find that your toddler is eating more fruit or drinking more juice than is recommended, talk with her pediatrician about scaling back to more healthy levels. Offering healthy alternatives at meals and snacks will provide nutrients to your toddler, while ensuring a well-balanced diet. In addition to a cup of fruit each day, offer your toddler about 3/4 cups of vegetables, 2 oz. of whole grains, 2 cups of milk products, in addition to lean protein and healthy fats. This meal plan will allow your toddler to enjoy fruit without getting so much that it replaces other healthy foods that she needs for good overall health.
References
- University of Michigan Health System; Feeding Your Baby and Toddler (Birth to Age 2); Kyla Boyse, RN
- Keep Kids Healthy: Feeding Your Toddler
- American Heart Association: Dietary Recommendations for Healthy Children
- BBC; More Fat, Less Fruit for Toddlers; Maddy Savage; April 2008
- MayoClinic.com; Is It OK to Give My Child Fruit Juice?; Katherine Zeratsky, RD, LD; June 2011
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