Practical Advice

Ten steps for healthy toddlers

Toddlers need a varied, balanced diet to thrive. Healthy eating at this age isn’t just important for growth and development. Toddlers learn to like the food that parents offer them, which can shape their eating habits for the future.

With the launch of ‘Ten Steps for Healthy Toddlers’, the Infant & Toddler Forum are providing a simple, practical easy-to-follow guide for all. By following them, parents and carers will be giving toddlers a good start in life.

The toddler years (1–3 years) are a time of rapid change. After your child’s first birthday he or she may:

• Show some food preferences – this might be for different textures, tastes and colours
• Like to feed himself or herself and be more independent
• Show sudden changes in food likes and dislikes
• Refuse to try new foods – this usually decreases as toddlers approach school age.

Try these ten steps for a healthy balance. Click on titles to expand and collapse:

1.

Eat together as a family and make mealtimes relaxed, happy occasions

Make food easy to eat – finger foods are good. ...

Eat the foods that you would like your toddler to eat.
Praise your toddler when he or she eats well or tries something new – toddlers take time to learn to like new foods.

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2.

You decide which nutritious foods to offer but let your toddler decide how much to eat

Never insist your toddler eats everything on his or her

plate.

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3.

Offer foods from all 5 food groups each day

Together they give the right mix of nutrients your toddler needs. Five Food Groups

4.

Have a routine and offer 3 meals and 2-3 snacks each day

Offer 2 courses at each meal and only offer nutritious

snacks. Don’t allow grazing on food.

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5.

Offer 6-8 drinks a day

Give all drinks in a beaker or cup – not bottles. 3-4oz or 100-120ml is about right. Water is a good choice.

6.

Give vitamins A & D each day

Choose a vitamin supplement suitable for toddlers – most toddlers don’t get enough in their food.

7.

Respect your toddlers’ tastes and preferences - don’t force feed

Understand that some children eat almost everything

while others are much more picky. Some like foods kept separate at a meal and others are happy with foods mixed in together.

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8.

Reward your toddler with your attention - never give food and drink as a reward, treat or for comfort

Play, read or talk with your toddler as a reward. Always

give a nutritious pudding – don’t use it as a reward for eating other foods or for good behaviour.

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9.

Limit...

fried food, crisps, packet snacks, pastries, cakes and biscuits to very small amounts. ...

sweet foods to four times a day e.g. as part of the three meals and one snack.

... and avoid

sweetened fruit squashes, fizzy drinks, tea and coffee.
undiluted fruit juices – only give juice well diluted at meal times.
whole nuts which may cause choking or be inhaled.

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10.

Encourage physical activity for at least 3 hours every day and about 12 hours sleep

All activity such as active play inside or outside, walking,

running and dancing counts. Limit TV and other screen time like computers to just 1 hour a day.

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Click to download "Ten Steps for Healthy Toddlers" A4 pdf
Click to download "Ten Steps for Healthy Toddlers" A3 poster pdf
Click here to listen to interviews from the speakers at the Ten Steps launch

For a more detailed explanation of the Ten Steps for Healthcare Professionals, or to order a free poster, please visit the Infant & Toddler Forum