Hi mommies,

Are you running behind your little ones in futile attempts to feed and worried that he is not getting the proper nourishment?

Don’t worry, here is how to feed your toddler.The calorie requirement for a toddler varies from 1000 to 1400 calories, if your kid is very active then the requirement will also be high.

But don’t take too much tension about calories because kids are unpredictable, one day they may be horrendously hungry and another day they will just quit eating.

So don’t count calories while feeding them, just make sure that they are healthy and full of energy.
Make sure that his daily minimum requirement is fulfilled and allow them to experiment with all foods, as this is the age when they acquire a taste for food.

At least every 2 hours the toddler should eat or drink for retaining his energy.

[pullquote]7am to 7.30am[/pullquote]

Morning

One glass of milk (roughly it amounts to 200-250ml, any health drink mix can be added to it)Calorie intake (CI) – 42 calories

If your kid doesn’t like milk then a whole fruit like apple, mossambi or a fruit of your choice can be given.

[pullquote]8 am to 9.30 am[/pullquote]

Breakfast

Breakfast can vary according to your food habits here are some examples

1 Idli with milk, sugar or with chutney (Calorie Intake is 150 calories, it may vary according to size of idli)
1/2 Dosa with milk or chutney (CI is 120 calories)
125ml of oatmeal with the fruit of your choice. ( CI is 100 calories)
1/2 cup of cornflakes with milk (CI is 150 calories)
1/2 cup of Broken Wheat porridge or Dalia Kheer (CI is 150 calories)
1 cup of Poha (CI is 150 calories)
1/2 cup of sooji upma (CI is 130 calories)
1 small Poori (CI is 170 calories)
1 Roti with veggies (CI is 100 calories)
1/2 cup of Ven Pongal (CI is 125 calories)

[pullquote]11 am to 11.30 am[/pullquote]

Mid Morning Snack

The mid-morning snack can also vary according to your toddler’s taste, either fruits, or fruit juices, or milk or egg.

1 Boiled Egg (CI is 87calories)
Fruit Juices 100ml – Apple with milk (100 calories), Mossambi (60 calories), Mango milk shake (100 calories), Orange juice (60 calories)
Whole fruit – 1/2 of any fruit (approx 100 calories)
Biscuits like Marie or Horlicks – 2
A snack mix of 1 cashew, 1 dry grapes and other dry fruits (u can customize according to your Little one’s taste)

[pullquote]12.30 pm to 1.30 pm[/pullquote]

Lunch

Lunch should compulsorily contain Dal and veggies as they provide the right nourishment and the vitamin requirements for the growing toddler

1 cup of rice with Dal, ghee, and veggies (approx 200 to 250 calories) The veggies can be a small serving, boil them nicely with little of salt and pepper and make a semisolid mixture of all the ingredients by mashing with hand. If necessary you can blend them all in the mixie but that destroys the taste of the food.
Curd, buttermilk can also be given with dal and rice
At least thrice in a week, non veg items like chicken, fish can be added. Make sure to boil them well before feeding. I would like to avoid mutton because the digestion may take longer time and induce a lethargy in the children.
Egg can also be added instead of veggies but make sure that the kid has only 1 egg per day. Always give either boiled or scrambled eggs, do not give half boiled or raw eggs in milk as it might cause indigestion and loose stools.

[pullquote]4 pm[/pullquote]

Evening

After napping 1 glass of milk or biscuits

[pullquote]5.30 pm to 6 pm[/pullquote]

Evening snack

Biscuits 2 to 3
Ragi Kheer
1 bread slice with either jam or butter. (CI is 50 to 70)
A slice of any cake (CI is 100)
1/2 cup Boiled Channa, you can flavor it with a little onion, coriander leaves. any of the grams can be boiled and given

[pullquote]8 pm[/pullquote]

Dinner

The dinner should be lightest of all the meals in the sense that it should be filling but not with a lot of fat or oil.

1 Idli
1/2 Dosa
1/2 cup of oatmeal
1/2 cup of Wheat porridge.
If your little one is too tired to eat then give a glass of milk, but do not give daily

Water

Let us not forget the most important aspect of your toddler’s meal plan, Water !!!!!

Children from age 1 to age 3 will need at least 1.3 litre of water, so be sure that your little one is adequately hydrated.

Eating out

Nowadays most of the families eat in the restaurant at least twice or once in a week, here are some tips for eating out.

Always take water for the kids from home, never rely on the mineral water bottles as there is a possibility that they might be tampered with.
Never give the kid junk food (french fries too)
Always choose the food item that is boiled, avoid salads, chutneys likewise.
Avoid sugary Desserts

Hope this article helped you to sort out your toddler eating habits.

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photo credit: World Bank Photo Collection via photopin cc