It's important to watch out for iron deficiency after kids reach 1 year of age. It can affect their physical, mental, and behavioral development, and also can lead to anemia.
Talk with your doctor if your child drinks a lot of cow's milk or isn't getting enough iron-rich foods, or if you're thinking of giving your child a vitamin supplement. By now your child should be eating a variety of foods. Continue to watch for allergic reactions when introducing new foods. Kids are at higher risk for food allergies if they or a close family member have allergies or allergy-related conditions like eczema or asthma.
Avoid foods that could cause choking , like popcorn, hard candies, hot dogs, raw vegetables and hard fruits, whole grapes, raisins, and nuts. Supervise your child at all times when eating. Offer your toddler three meals and two or three healthy snacks a day. But expect your toddler to sometimes skip meals. Always stay with your child while they eat and drink. Avoid feeding your child in a moving vehicle or in a stroller. Young children are at increased risk of food-borne illness.
Bacteria such as E. To avoid food-borne illness, do not offer your child:. Skip to main content. Child Nutrition Series. Last Updated:.
January Download PDF:. If your child sees you eating a variety of healthy foods, he or she will be more likely to try them. Pleasant mealtimes Give your child a heads up.
Ten to 15 minutes before mealtime, tell your child it will be time to eat soon. Telling them mealtime is coming will let them transition from playtime to mealtime. Establish a routine. Children like it when things are the same. Set regular mealtimes. Sit in the same place for every meal. Reserve mealtimes for eating and spending time with family. Explain to your child how good it is to eat together. Ask him or her to stay at the table until everyone is done eating.
Make mealtimes pleasant. If mealtimes are pleasant, your child is more likely to look forward to eating. Try to avoid arguments or negative talk at the table. Manage your expectations.
For many children, a spoon is much easier to handle than a fork. What about snacks? Healthy snacks include: Low-fat string cheese. Apple slices or strawberry halves. Slices of lean turkey. Whole-grain crackers with peanut butter. Things to consider There are many things you can do to encourage your child to eat. Once he or she is no longer hungry, your child should be allowed to stop eating. Allowing them to choose when to stop eating teaches them how to listen to their bodies and make healthy food choices.
After their second birthday, older toddlers continue to develop new eating skills and food habits. At times, older toddlers can be erratic eaters; they love food one day and dislike it the next. The meal they refused at home is eaten happily away from home. Very few children pass through these years without creating some worry and concern about eating. Toddlers need a variety of foods daily from the following groups: fruit and vegetables, breads and cereals, meat, fish, chicken, eggs and legumes, and milk, cheese and yogurt, for good health and growth.
Reduced-fat dairy products can be included for toddlers two years or older, but avoid no-fat dairy products in this age group. Restricted diets are not recommended for toddlers, as they may limit the energy and nutrients needed for growth and development. Toddlers have changeable appetites.
Growth spurts and changing activity levels during the day can result in a large appetite for a while, followed by small and picky eating soon after. The evening meal may cause the most concern, when children may be tired or not hungry.
Some other common reasons for irregular food intake include:. Most children are able to balance food intake with activity if they are encouraged, but not forced to eat. You can help by providing a variety of healthy and nourishing foods from which your child can choose. Offer children the same foods as the family, with a variety of textures and flavours for balanced nutrition. If a food is refused, the child may not be objecting to the actual food, but may be testing to see the effect they have on people around them.
By assuming the food is to blame, some parents can get caught up in a frustrating game. Some helpful tips to deal with food refusal include:. You can use food activities with older toddlers to help them learn about foods and nutrition. Letting children get involved in basic food preparation — like washing or peeling vegetables, making a sandwich or salad, or baking fruit or vegetable muffins — teaches them about healthy foods.
Other learning opportunities include:. Snacks between meals are an important part of the day for young children, so keep these as healthy, nutritious and as interesting as possible. Suggestions include:.
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