Healthy Diet Plan for Toddlers
Toddlers are growing children. At this stage in their growth, they become more energetic, so they need more energy sources. That means more food. The website Keep Kids Healthy says that between the ages of two and six, children should be eating the same as the rest of the family; as in three meals a day and two healthy snacks.
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Foods To Add
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At this point in their development, kids can begin having 2% low-fat or skim milk, rather than whole milk. Limit this intake to only 16 to 24 oz. a day of milk products though. Give them 4 to 6 oz. of juice a day. Follow the tips of the food pyramid, for toddlers. According to Keep Kids Healthy, the average toddler needs to take in 1300 calories a day. They will get 300 to 455 calories from milk and 60 to 90 from juice, leaving 550 to 950 for their three meals and two snacks. The kid's food pyramid suggests including six servings of grains, three servings of vegetables, two servings of fruits, two servings of the milk/dairy, two servings of meat/protein, and a limited amount of fats and sweets.
Foods To Avoid
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Stop using the bottle, at this point. Avoid giving them large amounts of sugary desserts, soft drinks, fruit-flavored drinks, sugary cereals, chips and candy. Watch out for choking hazards as well. Foods that they can choke on include raw carrots, peanuts, whole grapes, tougher meats, popcorn, chewing gum and hard candies.
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Smart Snacking
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Toddlers can get most of their fruits in during snack time. Feed them fresh fruits like apples, melons, pears and bananas. Be sure to give them to the child in bite sized pieces for easier consumption. The website Snacks For Toddlers also suggests dried fruits as a healthy snack choice.
Other Tips
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Do not force a child to eat when they are not hungry and avoid giving them servings that are too big. A toddler's serving should be about a 1/4 of that of an adult. Do not let them fill up on sweets and junk food all day. Allow them to eat a variety of foods and make sure they are getting the proper amount of physical activity.
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References
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