1. Nutrition for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Healthy Living: Lesson 6

2. Welcome! Beverly Utt, MS, MPH, RD Email: Bev.Utt@multicare.org
Registered Dietitian
Wellness Coach and Smoking Cessation Coordinator with the
MultiCare Center for Healthy Living
Phone:
-Feel free to contact me anytime with questions or concerns.
-Any questions before we get started?

3. Today’s Class Nutrition for Toddlers and Preschoolers
What we will cover:
Developing, Growing, Eating
Mealtime Management
Who decides?
Tips & Tricks

4. Developing, Growing & Eating

5. Developing, Growing & Eating
Toddlers change rapidly from age one to preschool causing changes in the way they:
Eat
Talk
Think
Respond
All of these changes influence the parent-toddler feeding relationship

6. Development 1-2-3 Age One Age Two Age Three
Curious – watches and Explorers
Short attention span – watches many things
Long attention span – more social
Uses fingers to feed self
Can use spoon and cup fairly well
Able to pour and serve – likes to help
Doesn’t like new situations
Independent – often says “no!”
Likes many choices
Has varied eating patterns
Many have food jags (picky eater)
Has food preferences (i.e. no mixed foods)
Says two or three words
Says short phrases – “more juice”
Good at conversation
Add TIPS sheet notes

7. Developing, Growing & Eating
Remember developmental charts are just approximations
Every toddler is unique and variation among toddlers is common

8. Developing, Growing & Eating
Choking is a safety hazard related to toddlers’ development stages
A toddlers mouth is only about 1 ½ inches, the size of a toilet paper roll opening
A child’s throat is about the size of the toddler’s pinky finger
Choking is a safety hazard related to toddlers’ developmental stages. Foods most likely to cause choking are small enough to fit into the child's mouth, but not small enough to fit in the throat.

9. Choking Prevention
Give foods cut into very small pieces and soft enough to chew
Avoid items such as popcorn, hard candy, whole grapes, etc.
Make sure toddler is seated
Do not feed toddlers in the car
Limit distractions such as the TV

10. Mealtime Management
Mealtime can be stressful, but there are things you can do that will help.
Establish regular mealtimes
Have a child sit while eating
Permit child to decide if and how much to eat
Offer a variety of healthy foods

11. Who Decides? Role of the Parent: Provides nutritious foods
Offers variety of healthy food choices
Serves routine meals and snacks
Establishes where meals/snacks served
Parents help toddlers learn healthy eating habits. A good way for them to learn is by providing healthy options for them to choose from and let children provide how much to eat.

12. Who Decides? Role of the child Decides to eat or not eat
Picks foods to eat from choices offered
Decides how much to eat

13. Encouraging Healthy Foods
Let toddlers choose between two foods that are healthier selections
Try to include 2+ food groups in snacks and 3+ food groups in meals
Include a fruit, vegetable or both with every meal/snack

14. Toddler Friendly Fruits and Vegetables
Banana
Broccoli (steamed)
Blueberries
Carrots (steamed)
Avocado
Corn
Melons
Peas
Pear
Sweat Potato
Apple
Tomato
Peach
Squash
Nectarine
Cucumber
Apricot
Cauliflower (steamed)

15. Introducing New Foods When introducing new foods:
Attempt when you knew the child is hungry
Offer along with a familiar and well liked food
Don’t insist that all of it is eaten, but encourage a taste
Be a role model
Allow children to assist or watch preparation
Offer new foods frequently – may take up to 20 tries
May offer as little as 1 teaspoon
Provide encouragement

16. Meal Patterns
Toddlers have a very small stomach, only about the size of their fist
Provide healthy meals and snacks throughout the day to ensure children get all the nutrients they need
Remember children decide how much to eat

17. Be Watchful of Juice Limit total juice a day to ½ cup or 4 oz
Too much juice can cause:
Child to not be hungry at mealtimes
Diarrhea
Cavities
Try serving juice with meals or snacks
Provide water in-between meals

18. Suggested Serving Amounts at Meals
Food Item
Household Measurement
Lean meat, poultry, fish
1 oz
Egg
½ an egg
Cooked dry beans/peas
¼ cup
Veggie/Fruit
Grains/Breads
½ slice of bread
Cereal
Milk/Yogurt/Cheese
1 oz or 1 slice American Cheese
GOALS:
3 servings of dairy a day
1 ½ - 3 cups Fruits and Vegetables

19. P.L.A.N. Ahead
It can be very frustrating feeding toddlers at meal times, especially when they do not want to eat or will only eat specific types of foods
It is important to remember that this is normal toddler behavior

20. P.L.A.N. Ahead P Prevent L Limits A Accept N
Mealtime behavior problems. L
Limits
Set positive limits that are reasonable, specific, enforceable and consistent. Limits are used to protect the child, other people, and property from being hurt or destroyed. A
Accept
Accept behaviors that are developmentally appropriate. N
New Expectation or Behavior
Modify expectations or behaviors to meet developmental needs.

21. Tips & Tricks

22. Meal Preparation It is hard to prepare food with toddlers around
Tips to get toddlers involved:
Have cabinet, drawer, or one area of the kitchen where toddlers have their own unbreakable items (i.e. Tupperware) that they can use to mimic your meal prep
Have toddler appropriate magnets on the fridge they can play with

23. My Size
To help keep toddlers from getting frustrated when they eat be sure to have cups, plates and utensils appropriate for their size

24. TV-Free Meals
Turning off the TV during meals allows for family time and helps distracted children focus on their meals

25. Wash Your Hands! Clean hands will keep your family healthy
Teach children to wash their hands between meals