Toddlers can be notoriously picky when it comes to their food choices, which is why it can be hard for parents to make sure their toddlers get all of the healthy foods, vitamins and nutrients that they need. Making a feeding plan for a toddler can help you see that your toddler eats a balanced diet, while keeping track of which foods are well-received and which are rejected. A toddler feeding plan can give parents peace of mind that their toddlers are getting the right nutrition.
Step 1
Review the food pyramid for toddlers and children so that you're sure your toddler is getting the optimal amount of nutrition for his body. The age, sex and activity level for your child will affect the food pyramid, so get a customized food pyramid at the MyPyramid.gov website, and enter in the information for your toddler. The pyramid will then display the exact amounts your toddler should be eating from each food group.
Step 2
Create a detailed meal plan by using a weekly calendar system. Dr. William Sears, a pediatrician and professor at the University of California-Irvine, notes that toddlers often feed sporadically and prefer to binge on one food group at a time, so it is wiser to make your feeding plan weekly, instead of daily, to suit the needs of your toddler.
Step 3
Write down a few of your toddler's favorite meals on a separate piece of paper. They're likely staples like macaroni and cheese or spaghetti. Insert those meals into the feeding plan as lunches or dinners. Add a vegetable to each dinner, and a fruit to each lunch to add extra nutrition to their favorite meals.
Step 4
Add breakfast ideas. Some toddler may not seem very hungry first thing in the morning, so choose light and easy-to-eat fare like yogurt, bagel pieces, cereal or chopped fruit. Have a general idea of what you want your toddler to eat for breakfast, without hard or fast rules. You may find that playing it by ear is more effective for the morning hours.
Step 5
Disperse snacks at least twice each day for your toddler to graze on while she plays. Snacks can help your child's blood sugar to remain stable, which can help promote happier moods. Consider healthy snacks like cheese and crackers, a yogurt tube, nuts and dried fruit. Allow your toddler to eat snacks on the go or while playing, as long as they don't pose a choking hazard.
Step 6
Be flexible. Your toddler may turn his nose up at a new dish, but try serving it on the side of an old favorite, notes the British Columbia Ministry for Children and Families. If your child doesn't like the new food, he still gets to eat well. Keep offering new foods until he begins to accept them.
Things You'll Need
- Calendar
- Recipes
- Highlighters
- Copy of the food pyramid
