Meal Planning for Toddlers

Feeding the Toddler Self-feeding for one-year-old Finger-foods Variety of foods Can use a spoon and training cup Two-year old Fine motor skills are improving Can eat with spoon and fork Can eat with other family members-allow to get up from table when finished due to short attention span Three-year old Has all full primary teeth and can chew most foods Meat and tough foods should still be cut by caregiver

Feeding the Toddler-general information Portion Size- for child one to two years is about ⅓ to ½ of an adult portion. Food preferences change from day to day Do not use food as a reward or as a punishment. Eating habits from early years follow child into adulthood. Watch child for food allergies which may appear during this time. Microwave food safely! Expect temperature extremes of hot and cold; to prevent hot spots, stir prior to serving. Do not give foods that may cause choking(grapes, hotdogs, peanuts, popcorn, round hard candy)

Information on Feeding Children ages 2 to 3 years: They need a variety of foods but need fewer calories than a 4- to 6-year-old. They often eat small portions. Offer smaller servings and let them to ask for more to satisfy their hunger and avoid wasting food. Serving size for 2 to 3 years is 1/2 of what counts as a regular serving on the food guide pyramid.

BUILD A PYRAMID WHAT COUNTS AS ONE “MY PYRAMID” SERVING? Portions listed in the major food groups counts as one “My Pyramid” serving for anyone over 4 years of age. To count servings: smaller portions count as part of a serving; larger portions count as more than one serving. Two to 6 year old children need a total of 2 servings from the milk group each day. Whole grain products should make up at least three of the six grain up choices each day. http://www.mypyramid.gov/pyramid/index.html http://www.mypyramid.gov/preschoolers/index.html

GRAIN GROUP CHOICES for Toddlers (6 servings each day) WHOLE GRAIN ¼ to ⅓ cup cooked brown rice 1 to 2 graham cracker squares 2 to 4 whole grain crackers ¼-½ cup cooked oatmeal ¼-⅓ cup ready-to-eat whole grain cereal ¼ -½ slice pumpernickel, rye, or whole wheat bread ½ 7-inch corn tortilla

ENRICHED - GRAIN GROUP CHOICES for Toddlers ¼ to ½ 4-inch pita bread 1 4-inch pancake ¼ to ⅓ cup cooked grits ¼ to ⅓ cup cooked farina or other cereal ¼ to ⅓ cup ready-to-eat, non-sugar coated, cereal ½ 7-inch flour tortilla .

ENRICHED - GRAIN GROUP CHOICES for Toddlers ¼ to ⅓ cup cooked rice or pasta ¼ to ⅓ cup cooked spaghetti ¼ to ½ English muffin or bagel ¼ to ½ slice white, wheat, French or Italian bread ¼ to ½ hamburger or hot dog bun 2 to 3 crackers (saltine size)

Grain Products with More Fat and Sugars ½ small biscuit or muffin 1 small piece cornbread ⅓ medium doughnut 6 animal crackers 2 small cookies

VEGETABLE GROUP CHOICES for Toddlers (3 servings each day) DARK-GREEN LEAFY ¼ - ½ cup cooked collard greens ½ - 1 cup leafy raw vegetables— romaine lettuce, spinach, or mixed green salad 1-2 cooked broccoli spears ¼ - ½ cup cooked turnip greens, kale, or mustard greens DEEP-YELLOW ¼ - ½ cups carrots, cooked ¼ - ½ cup winter squash

VEGETABLE GROUP CHOICES for Toddlers (3 servings each day) STARCHY Vegetables 7 French fries, regular size 1 baked potato, small ¼ - ½ cup potato salad ¼ - ½ cup green peas ¼ - ½ cup lima beans 1 small plantain DRY BEANS & PEAS ¼ - ½ cup cooked black, kidney, pinto, or garbanzo beans, or black-eyed peas ¼ - ½ cup cooked lentils ½ -2/3 cup bean soup ¼ - ½ cup cooked split peas OTHER Vegetables 1/3 small cucumber 6 raw snow or sugar pea pods ¼ - ½ cup cooked green beans 2 medium Brussels sprouts 4 slices raw summer squash ¼ - ½ cup coleslaw ¼ - ½ cup cooked cabbage 2-5 celery sticks (3” long) ¼ - ½ cup tomato or spaghetti sauce ¼ - ½ cup vegetable juice ¼ - ½ cup vegetable soup 1 small tomato 3 cherry tomatoes

FRUIT GROUP CHOICES for Toddlers (2 servings each day) CITRUS, MELONS, BERRIES ¼ - ½ cup blueberries or raspberries 4 medium strawberries ¼ - ½ cup 100% citrus juice (orange) grapefruit half 1 small kiwifruit ½ medium orange ½ medium tangerine 1/4 medium cantaloupe ¼ - ½ cup watermelon pieces 1/8 small honeydew

FRUIT GROUP CHOICES for Toddlers (2 servings each day) More Fruits ½ medium apple, banana, peach, or nectarine 1 medium apricots ¼ - ½ cup applesauce 1½ pineapple slices, canned ½ medium mango ¼ medium papaya ½ small pear ¼ - ½ cup cut-up fruit-fresh, canned, or cooked

Fruit Juice Tips: Buy 100% juice and check to see if it is a high quality juice (label will tell source of fruit). Juice Drinks” are not 100% juice. Check the ingredient list to be sure you are getting 100% juice without added sugars such as high fructose corn syrup. Serve the whole fruit rather than juice when possible for better nutrition.

Milk Group Milk provides calcium and vitamin D to help build strong bones. Whole milk preferred for children under two years only because it provides dietary fats needed for normal growth and brain development. Three year olds can drink 2% fat milk

½ cup soy milk, calcium fortified ½ cup skim milk 1/2 ½ cup 2% milk For this amount of food Count this many milk group servings ½ to ¾ cup whole milk 1 ½ cup soy milk, calcium fortified ½ cup skim milk 1/2 ½ cup 2% milk 1/2 cup yogurt (4 ounces) 1 ounce natural cheese 1 ounce of processed cheese ½ ounce string cheese 2/3 ½ cup cottage cheese 1/4 ½ cup ice cream 1/3 ½ cup frozen yogurt ½ cup pudding

MEAT GROUP CHOICES (2 servings each day) 2-3 ounces (oz.) of cooked lean meat, poultry, or fish is one serving from this group. 2 to 3 year olds need to eat a total of about 3 ½ oz. per day . 4 to 6 year olds need to eat a total of 5 oz. a day. Servings: 1 egg or 1/2 cup of cooked dry beans, and 2 tablespoons (T.) of peanut butter counts as 1 oz. of lean meat.

2 ounces cooked poultry or fish 2 ounces 2 ounces cooked lean meat For this amount of food Count this many ounces 2 ounces cooked poultry or fish 2 ounces 2 ounces cooked lean meat 1 egg (yolk and white) 1 ounces 2 tablespoons peanut butter *1 ½ frankfurters (2 ounces) 2 slices bologna or luncheon meat (2 ounces) ¼ cup drained canned salmon or tuna ½ cup cooked kidney, pinto, or white beans ½ cup tofu 1 soy burger patty *May cause choking in 2- to 3-year-old children.

Food Selections for Toddlers Introduce foods withheld as an infant: whole milk, citrus fruits, whole eggs Watch for allergic reactions when offering any new food. Tell the child's pediatrician if close family members have food allergies. Delay introducing foods associated with food allergies, such as peanuts and seafood. Avoid choking hazard foods like popcorn, hard candies, hot dogs, raw vegetables and hard fruits, whole grapes, raisins, and nuts.

Children should be supervised at all times when eating.