Your child’s first year of life was full of rapid growth. Once she enters her toddler and early school years, she doesn't grow as quickly, but nutrition is still as important as ever because her little body has a lot of developing to do. Plus, your young child is impressionable and may model her lifelong eating habits on the ones you help set for her now.
Calories
Children ages 1 to 3 years old should get approximately 40 calories for every inch of height on a daily basis, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. As a result, your toddler would need about 1,300 calories per day to sustain normal growth and gain a healthy amount of weight. Children 4 to 8 years of age need about 1,200 to 2,000 calories a day, but your child is likely on the lower half of the range if he is still in preschool or kindergarten. Your young child’s caloric needs also vary based on his activity level, metabolism and size. Get specific advice from his pediatrician.
Nutrients
Boys and girls 2 to 3 years of age need about 45 to 65 percent of their calories from carbohydrates, 5 to 20 percent of their calories from protein and 30 to 40 percent from fat, according to MayoClinic.com. Once your child reaches ages 4 to 8, she should continue getting 45 to 65 percent of her daily calories from carbohydrates, but her protein intake should be about 10 to 30 percent of her calories and her fat intake should go down to about 25 to 35 percent of her calories.
Food Intake
Your child will need about 3 oz. of grains per day if he is 2 to 3 years old, but his needs will increase to about 5 oz. per day once he is 4 to 8 years old. At least half of his grains should be whole grains, such as oatmeal, quinoa, brown rice and whole wheat bread. Your child should also get about 1 cup of fruit and 1 cup of vegetables a day when he is 2 to 3, and 1 to 1 1/2 cups of fruits and 1 1/2 cups of vegetables a day once he is 4 to 8. His dairy needs at ages 2 and 3 should be 2 cups a day and 2 1/2 cups at ages 4 to 8. For protein, his intake should be about 2 oz. at ages 2 to 3 and 4 oz. once he is 4 to 8 years old.
Considerations
The U.S. Department of Agriculture hasn’t set nutrient percentage recommendations and serving guidelines for children under age 2. Toddlers between 12 and 24 months are still in transition in their diets – some may still be getting supplementation from breast milk – but recommendations for 2-year-old toddlers can serve as a general guide, according to KidsHealth from Nemours. One difference is you can continue offering your young toddler whole-fat milk and start offering a child low-fat milk once she is 2.
Serving Your Child
Your child’s food serving sizes will grow as he grows. He doesn’t need adult-sized portions because he has a small stomach and a small appetite. For instance, toddlers should get a minimum of about 1 tablespoon of a serving per year of age, or about a quarter of an adult’s serving size per year of age, according to Health Services at Columbia University. Let your child dictate his serving sizes and remove your child’s food when he says he is finished.
References
- BabyCenter: Nutrition Guidelines for Young Children
- KidsHealth from Nemours: Nutrition Guide for Toddlers
- FamilyEducation Network: Nutrition for Toddlers and Preschoolers
- MayoClinic.com: Nutrition for Kids: Guidelines for a Healthy Diet
- ChooseMyPlate.gov: Food Groups
- MayoClinic.com: Children’s Nutrition: 10 Tips for Picky Eaters
