Introduce a variety of foods as early as possible•Startwithsmallservingsizes–yourtoddlercan

askformore.

•Trypreparingnewfoodsindifferentways–cooked,insoup,withdips.Toddlersliketotrydifferentcolours,shapesandtextures.

Be patient – it may take many times before a child will accept a new food•Bearolemodelforyourtoddler–eatwell

yourself.

•Respectthetoddler’sappetiteandfollowtheirhungerandfullnesscues–do not force feed, restrict food or trick your child to eat.

Feeding your Toddler 1–2 yearsHelping toddlers learn to eat right and feed

themselves is not an easy job!

What to ExpectToddlers...

•Mayeatlessasgrowthslowsdown.

•Eatmoreonsomedaysandlessonothers.

•Refusetoeatnewfoods,orchangetheirmindsaboutfoodstheyatebefore.

•Sometimeswantthesamefoodeverydayforaweek.

•Areeasilydistracted.

• Independence:Toddlerscanfeedthemselvessmall,softpiecesoffoodusingtheirhands,ormaytryaspoonorfork.

•Cup Use:Sippycuporcupisbestfortoddlers.Bottlescanleadtotoothdecayortodrinkingtoomuchmilkorjuice.Toomuchfluidcandecreaseappetite.

•Mess: Expect a mess! Toddlersarelearningabouttaste,smellandtexture.

Tips for Feeding ToddlersItisnormalformostyoungchildrentodislikesomefoods.Mostchildrenwhoarepickyeaterswillgrowoutofit.Herearesometipsforparentsandcaregiverstomakesuretoddlerseatavarietyoffoodsandgrowwell:

Toddlers decide:

How muchtheywilleat

Whetherornottheywilleat

Parents decide:

Whatfoodstooffer

Whentooffermealsandsnacks

Whereyourchildwilleat

•Donotusefoodasarewardorpunishment.

•Letyourtoddlerlearnaboutfoodathisownpace–everychildisdifferent.

•Servefoodinchild-sizedplates,cupsandutensils.

Set regular times for snacks and meals•Planmealsandsnacksaroundthesametimestoset

routines.

•Ifyourtoddleriseatingthroughouttheday,hewon’tbehungryatmealtimes.

•Toomuchjuiceormilkcanfillupyourtoddler–offerwaterforthirst.

Make mealtimes a pleasant family time•Eatwithyourtoddlerinsteadoffeedingyourchild.

•TurnofftheTVandremovetoysduringmeals–avoiddistractions.

•Haveyourtoddlersitdowntoeat.

What is a toddler-sized serving?Canada’sFoodGuideismeantforchildren2yearsofagetoadultbutitcanbeusedasaguidefortoddlersages1–2years.Thenumberofservingsisthesameaschildrenaged2–3years.Usuallytheservingsizeis1/3to¼oftheportionshownintheFoodGuide.

Sample meal plan for your toddlerRemember,thisisonlyaguide!Everychildisdifferent,andappetitesvaryfromdaytoday.

Remember:•Toddlersneed3

mealsperdayandsmallsnacksbetweenmeals.

•Trytoinclude3–4foodgroupsateachmeal.

•Snacksshouldinclude2foodgroups.

•Include2servingsoflowmercuryfisheveryweek.Someexamplesare“light”tuna,salmon,troutorsole.Offeravarietyoffish–notalwaysthesamekind.CallaRegisteredDietitianatTorontoPublicHealthforafulllistofrecommendedfishorseehttp://www.toronto.ca/health/hphe/fish_mercury.htm.

•Toddlersneedaround2cups(500ml)ofhomogenized(3.25%)milkperdaytomeetcalciumandvitaminrequirements.

Prevent choking:Chokingisacommonconcernwithyoungchildren.Keepfoodsageappropriateandalwayssuperviseyourtoddlerwhilesheiseating.

•Makefoodmoistandcutmeatintosmallerpieces.

•Cutwienersandsausageslengthwiseinstripsandthencutintobite-sizedpieces.

•Graterawcarrots,cuthardfruitintopieces,removepitsandseedsfromfruitsandslicegrapesinhalf.

•Avoidround,hard,stringy,orsmallfoods(e.g.nuts,seeds,popcorn,candy).

•Spreadpeanutbutterthinlyoverbreadorcrackers.Donotserveitfromaspoon.

•Removebonesfromfishandmeat.

Time of day Amount

Breakfast 75g(1/3cup)cereal

60ml(¼cup)freshfruit–cutup

125ml(½cup)homogenized(3.25%)milk

Snack 60–90ml(¼cup–1/3cup)yogurt

Lunch 60ml(¼cup)cookedvegetables

¼pita,cutup

1egg

125ml(½cup)homogenized(3.25%)milk

Snack ½slicewholegrainbread

25g(3/4oz)cheese

Dinner 60ml(¼cup)pasta

60ml(¼cup)tomatosauce

30–40g(1–1½oz)chicken,cutup

125ml(½cup)homogenized(3.25%)milk

Good Sources of Fat for Toddlers:Itisimportanttomakesurethatyourtoddlergetsenoughcalorieseveryday.Healthyfatsareimportantforbraindevelopmentandcanhelpmeetyourtoddler’snutritionalneeds.Examplesinclude:

•Homogenized(3.25%)milkorbreastmilk

•Full-fatyogurt(3.25%)

•Avocado

•Cheese

•Nutbutters(thinlyspread),likepeanutbutteroralmondbutter

•Vegetableoilslikecanola,oliveorsunfloweroil

•Soy milk or milk alternatives (rice milk, almond milk, and oat milk) do not have enough fat to meet a toddler’s needs, and should not be given before 2 years of age.

•Fortoddlerswhocannotdrinkhomogenizedmilkorbreastmilk,soy-basedinfantformulacanbegiveninacup.

•Somepackagedorprocessedfoodsarelowinnutrients.Treatsarefunandspecialforkids,soservethemoccasionally,noteveryday.

•Skipthe“KidsMenu”inrestaurants.Thesefoodsareusuallyhighinfatandlowinnutrients.Choosehealthyfoodsandsharethemwithyourtoddler.

Examples of healthy snacks:•Toast,pita,naan,bread

sticks,cornbreadorcrackerswithcheese

•Freshorcannedfruit;cutupcookedveggies,gratedrawveggies

•3.25%plainyogurtorcottagecheesemixedwithfruit,tofuortapiocapudding

•Cerealwithmilk

•Pancakes,frenchtoast,muffins,plaincookies

Foods worth trying:Thesearesometastyfoodsthatofferavarietyofimportantnutrientslikeiron,fibreandcalcium.

•Pasta,perogies,ordumplingswithtomatosauceandcheese

•Stew,goulash,chilli–chopmeatifneeded

•Peasoup,lentils,dahl,chickpeas

•Rice,barley,couscous

•Cookedfreshorfrozenvegetables,sweetpotato–cutup

•Tofu–addtosoupsorstews

•Wholewheatpita,roti,chapattiorbagels

AllergiesAlwayswatchforanallergicreactionwhenofferingnewfoodstoyourchild.Consultwithyourdoctorifyourchildhasfamilyhistoryofallergies.Formoreinformationaboutfoodallergiesgetacopyof“FoodAllergiesandYourChild–1to6years”fromTorontoPublicHealthorseehttp://www.toronto.ca/health/nm_index.htm#children.

ConstipationNormalbowelmovementsaredifferentforeverychild.Thenumberofbowelmovementsdependsonchild’sage,dietandactivitylevel.Thesignsofconstipationarehard,drystools.

What can you do?•Offeravarietyoffoodsfrom Canada’sFoodGuideespecially highfibrefoodssuchaswhole grainbreadsandcereals, vegetablesandfruitandlegumes (beans,peas,andlentils).

•Ensureyourchildisgetting enoughfluids,withmorewater thanjuice.

•Keepyourchildphysicallyactive.

•Teachyourchildnottoholda bowelmovement.

•Makesureyourchildhasfirmsupportforherfeetwhensheispassingabowelmovement.Itwillmakeiteasiertopush.

PH0906SS192

Vitamins and SupplementsSupplementsarerarelynecessaryifyourtoddlerhasabalanceddiet.Therearetimeswhenyourtoddlermaynotbegettingenoughvarietyintheirdiet.Forexampleif:

•Yourtoddlerhasseverefoodallergiesorintolerances

•Yourtoddlerisastrictvegetarianorvegan

•Yourtoddlerisaverypickyeater

•Yourtoddlerhasbeensick

Food safetyFollowsomesimpleguidelinestopreventfood-borneillness.

•Washhandsandequipmentwithsoapandwarmwaterbeforehandlingfood.

•Cleanworkareaswithsoapandwarmwater.

•Alwayswashproducebeforecutting,cookingandgivingtoyourchild.

•Keepperishablefoodssuchasmilk,cheese,andsandwichesrefrigerateduntilyouarereadytoservethem.

•Servecookedfoodsrightawayorcoverandkeepthemrefrigerated.

Yourdoctororadietitiancansuggesttherightsupplement,andwillknowifyourtoddlercannottakecertainsupplements(i.e.interferencewithothermedications).

Adietitiancanhelpyouplanhealthy,balancedmealsifyourchildhasallergies.

•Donotleavefoodatroomtemperatureforlongerthan2hours.

•Separaterawmeatfromrawvegetables.

Physical ActivityPhysicalactivityisimportantforchildrenfromanearlyage.Ithelpsthem:

•Sleepwellandeatbetter

•Developbasicmovementskillssuchasrunning,jumping,throwingandkicking

•Developalifelongactivelifestyle

Where can I find more information?OntarioEarlyYearsCentres:1-866-821-7770

EatRightOntario:1-877-510-5102orwww.Ontario.ca/EatRight

PeerNutritionProgram,TorontoPublicHealth:416-338-8395

CanadianPediatricSociety:www.caringforkids.cps.ca/

TheHospitalForSickChildren-SpecialtyFoodShop:1-800-737-7976orwww.sickkids.on.ca/specialtyfoodshop/

Donotgiveyourchildlaxatives,herbalsupplementsorothermedications.CallyourdoctororTorontoPublicHealthifyouareconcerned.