Nutrition Guide: Toddler

During this stage, your independent Toddler will probably let you know what foods she likes and what foods she doesn’t like. And her preferences can change from day to day. Just be sure to continue to offer her a variety of nutrient-dense foods at meal and snack times. Remember too that your toddler’s appetite fluctuates, so she may eat a lot at one meal and less at other meals. Let your toddler follow her hunger and fullness cues.

* Average estimated intake. Your Toddler's needs may be greater or less than these stated; always follow your child's hunger and fullness cues

**One toddler serving is equivalent to ¼ cup of fruit

Common nutrition needs and gaps

The Nestlé Feeding Infants and Toddler Study (FITS) 2008 found that on a given day toddlers met most of the recommended amounts of nutrients to support their healthy growth and development. Nutrients from wholesome food choices are important as toddlers transition from breastmilk or formula:

• Fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables have essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber. A diet high in fruits and vegetables is important for healthy growth and development. Unfortunately, Nestlé FITS 2008 found that on a given day 25 percent of toddlers 12- to 24- months don't eat a single serving of fruit and 30% don’t eat a single serving of vegetables. French fries are one of the more popular vegetables for toddlers. Make it a goal to feed your toddler 1 cup of fruit and ¾ cup of vegetables every day. Fruit and vegetable servings can be from fresh, frozen, or pureed canned foods. Remember you can always still serve purees in toddler-favorite foods to add variety. For example, stir ¼ cup GERBER® 3RD FOODS® fruit purees into plain yogurt or ¼ cup GERBER® 3RD FOODS® vegetable purees into rice.
• Cereals. According to Nestlé FITS 2008, about 60% of toddlers between 12 and 18 months of age are eating adult, non-whole grain cereals during the day. But transitioning to adult cereals may not be best for your toddler. These cereals may not be as rich in iron as infant cereal and may be high in sugar. So continue to give your toddler iron-rich infant cereal and remember that cereal can be served any time of the day.
• Sweetened beverages and desserts. It’s important to make sure the foods your toddler does eat are nutritious. There isn’t a lot of room in her diet for foods that offer calories but not many nutrients. Nestlé FITS 2008 found that more than 70 percent of toddlers consume a dessert, sweet, and sweetened beverage on a given day. Desserts, sweets, and sweetened beverages can be high in calories compared to the micronutrients they provide and can displace other nutritious foods in the diet. In place of sweets, serve your toddler more nutritious options such as fruits, yogurt, and cereals and snacks that are made with whole grains.

• Fiber. Fiber is important for your child’s digestive health. However, Nestlé FITS 2008 found that on a given day, virtually no toddlers are meeting the recommended daily intake of 19 grams of fiber. To help your growing toddler get the fiber she needs, be sure to offer whole grains, and fresh, frozen, pureed, or canned fruits and vegetables each day.
• Vitamin E. According to Nestlé FITS 2008, more than half of toddlers (age 1 year) are not getting the recommended amount of vitamin E from the foods they eat on a given day. Vitamin E is an important antioxidant that helps protect the cells in the body from damage. Foods that have vitamin E include vegetable oils (canola, corn, soybean), avocados, whole grains, some leafy green vegetables (spinach, broccoli), and fortified products like GRADUATES® SMART SIPS™ dairy beverages.
• Potassium. According to Nestlé FITS 2008, virtually no toddlers are meeting the recommended intake of potassium in their diet on a given day. Potassium is an important mineral that helps muscles work properly. Potassium is found in many foods, including potatoes, sweet potatoes, yogurt, bananas, and citrus fruits.

• Fat. Healthy fats are important for growth and brain development. Fat also helps the body use vitamins, such as vitamins A, D, E, and K. Nestlé FITS 2008 found that about 23% of toddlers don’t eat the recommended amount of total fat on a given day. A toddler’s diet should include about 30 to 40% of total calories from fat, preferably mono- and polyunsaturated fats like those found in fish, avocados, and foods made with vegetable oils, such as canola and soybean oil. These healthy fats should replace the saturated fats found in high-fat dairy products such as butter, cheese, and fatty meats such as hot dogs, bacon, and sausages. Try preparing foods with fat, like soy or canola oil, that also have the omega-3 fat, alpha-linolenic acid, or offer condiments such as mayonnaise or salad dressings made with these oils. Remember to limit foods high in saturated and trans fats. You can also serve GRADUATES® LIL’ STICKS® meat and poultry sticks that have 70 mg omega-3 essential fatty acids (alpha linolenic acid) per serving.

  Try preparing foods with 1 tablespoon soy or canola oil and avoid foods high in saturated and trans fats. You can also serve GRADUATES® LIL' STICKS® meat or poultry sticks, with 70 mg omega-3 essential fatty acids (alpha linolenic acid) per serving. Or try GRADUATES® Smart Sips^TM beverages with 140mg of Omega 3 fat (alpha linolenic acid) per 8.25 fl oz serving.

  Note that low fat dairy foods, such as low fat milk, generally shouldn’t be introduced until after age 2. But recent guidance indicates that this advice may be changing, and low-fat dairy may be recommended at an earlier age. Please talk with your pediatrician to see what’s right for your child.

Following your toddler’s appetite cues

An important way to tell whether your toddler is getting enough to eat is by following her hunger and fullness cues. Responding to these cues can help your toddler understand her own feelings of hunger and fullness.

Start Healthy, Stay Healthy™ Menu Planner

The Start Healthy, Stay Healthy™ Menu Planner generates easy-to-follow menus based on the food groups and nutrients recommended by health professionals for children’s healthy growth and development. You can use the generated menus, or create your own—either way, the unique 5-Star Rating System** lets you know your menu falls within our recommended nutrition guidelines for your child’s stage.

**patent pending

Menu Planner for Toddlers

Start Healthy, Stay Healthy™ Nutrition System

The Start Healthy, Stay Healthy Nutrition System is an innovative approach which helps you choose the right nutrition for your baby based on her stage of development. Only Gerber offers a unique stage-based system with products, and feeding and nutrition guidance to support healthy growth and development and encourage healthy eating for your child from birth to 4 years.

Healthy menus

Our nutrition experts want to make meal planning easier on you! They've developed healthy menus to help ensure that your toddler gets the nutrition he needs to grow healthy and strong.

Menu Planner for Toddlers

Learn more about products for this developmental stage.

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