How To Choose a Healthy Diet for Toddlers

Most parents find it easy to feed their babies. Breast milk or formula provide nutrition for the first six months and after that, the vast array of commercially prepared baby foods on the market today make it simple enough to put together healthy meals. Once those babies become toddlers, though, some parents have a difficult time knowing how to best meet their little ones' nutritional needs.

1. Check with the Pediatrician: While most toddlers can safely eat what the rest of the family is eating, some kids require special diets because of their height to weight ratio or other special health concerns.

2. Beverages Matter: Many parents wean their children from breast milk or formula to whole milk at around one year, but some parents prefer to keep their toddlers on these beverages longer. Children who are lactose intolerant may do well on soy milk, and most children enjoy a bit of fruit juice. Parents should be careful to limit their toddler's consumption of juices since they are not particularly nutritious and can fill their children's bellies, leaving little room for other, more nutritional choices. Toddlers should be encouraged to drink plain water between meals and snacks if they are thirsty.

3. Be Aware of Choking Hazards: Toddlers are at risk of choking, especially on small, hard, round foods. Grapes, hot dogs, popcorn and cherry tomatoes are common culprits, so parents need to be cautious when feeding these or other similarly shaped foods. Toddler foods should be cut into small pieces and meals and snacks should always be well-supervised. Sticky food such as peanut butter can also pose a choking hazard.

4. No Room for Junk Food: The small tummies of toddlers cannot hold a great deal of food at one time, so it is especially important that they do not fill up on empty calories, such as junk food. Nutritionally rich meals and snacks of fruits, veggies, whole grains, legumes and lean sources of protein are important for healthy growth and development.

5. Simple is Best: Before transitioning to table foods, most toddlers ate baby food - likely plain fruits, vegetables, meats and simple cereals. Since they are accustomed to a fairly basic diet, most toddlers prefer their veggies without butter or other sauces, and will usually accept small pieces of meat that aren't heavily seasoned. Adding butter and salt to a toddler's food is unnecessary and encourages them to develop a taste for things that aren't very healthful.

6. Mix it Up: Variety is important in any healthy diet, so it is essential to introduce toddlers to a wide assortment of foods. It can be easy to fall into the habit of feeding the same foods over and over, but toddlers who learn to enjoy a nice variety will not only be healthier, but will be less likely to be picky eaters in the future.

7. Choose Whole Foods: The less processed that food is, the better, especially for growing bodies. Fruits and veggies are not only healthful, but often require very little in the way of preparation, making them easy choices. Whole grain breads and cereals are far better than processed ones, which deplete them of vital nutrients. Many toddlers enjoy dairy foods such as cheese and yogurt, which can be enjoyed in moderation, as long as the yogurt isn't loaded with added sugar.

8. Consider Organics: Organic foods, once available only at specialty stores, are now found easily at most grocery stores. While they may cost a bit more than their non-organic counterparts, many parents feel better serving their young children foods that are free of pesticides, fertilizers, antibiotics, food additives or growth hormones.

9. Snack Smart: Snacking is an important part of a toddler's diet, but snacks must be chosen wisely. Small portions of fruit (fresh, frozen or canned without added sugar), whole grain crackers (baked, not fried), vegetables with plain yogurt dip, and raisin toast with all-fruit preserves are all good choices.

When choosing foods for their toddlers, parents should keep in mind the fact that they are helping to establish lifelong eating habits. Many adults suffer a variety of health concerns that resulted from making poor dietary choices, so teaching your child to enjoy eating healthy foods is an investment in his future.