What Should My Toddler Eat?
There are a lot of changes on the horizon, starting with your toddler's daily menu.
What should my 12-month-old eat?
At one-year-old, it's time to transition away from the complete nutrition of Enfamil NeuroPro Infant or breast milk. However, it's just as important that your growing toddler gets the nutrition they still need. And because your toddler's tastes and needs are changing, she might not be getting the necessary nutrients from her diet.
Proper meal planning can help close those nutritional gaps. Follow this sample meal plan to help build a healthy diet for your toddler.
|
Breakfast |
|
|---|---|
| Whole milk or Enfagrow | 4 oz |
| Banana, chopped | 1/2 |
| Cooked oatmeal | 2 oz |
|
Lunch |
|
|---|---|
| Peanut butter sandwich | 1/2 |
| Cooked peas with 1 tsp margarine | 2 oz |
| Grapes, chopped | 2 oz |
| Whole milk or Enfagrow | 4 oz |
|
Dinner |
|
|---|---|
| Grapes, chopped | 2 oz |
| Mashed potatoes with 1 tsp margarine | 2 oz |
| Cooked chicken | 1 oz |
| Whole milk or Enfagrow | 4 oz |
|
Snacks |
|
|---|---|
| Morning snack: Cooked carrots | 2 oz |
| Afternoon snack: Whole grain crackers | 2-3 |
| Whole milk or Enfagrow | 4 oz |
What should my 24-month-old eat?
At two-years-old, your toddler's diet changes slightly again. The reality of a toddler's daily eating habits is that many don't eat recommended foods, but it's important that they do since 85% of brain growth occurs before three-years-old. Here's a sample menu for your older toddler.
|
Breakfast |
|
|---|---|
| Whole milk or Enfagrow | 4 oz |
| Banana, chopped | 1/2 |
| Cooked oatmeal | 2 oz |
|
Lunch |
|
|---|---|
| Peanut butter sandwich | 1/2 |
| Cooked peas with 1 tsp margarine | 2 oz |
| Grapes, chopped | 2 oz |
| Whole milk or Enfagrow | 4 oz |
|
Dinner |
|
|---|---|
| Grapes, chopped | 2 oz |
| Mashed potatoes with 1 tsp margarine | 4 oz |
| Cooked chicken | 1 oz |
| Whole milk or Enfagrow | 4 oz |
|
Snacks |
|
|---|---|
| Morning snack: Cooked carrots | 2 oz |
| Afternoon snack: Whole grain crackers | 5 |
| Whole milk or Enfagrow | 4 oz |
*The recommended menu is based on guidelines from the AHA regarding portions and food choices.
1. AHA. Dietary Recommendations for Healthy Children. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/nutrition-…. Accessed December 13, 2018; 2. Welker EB, et al. J Nutr. 2018;148(suppl 3):1536S-1546S; 3. Skinner JD, et al. J Am Diet Assoc. 2004;104(1 suppl 1):s65-s70; 4. Roess AA, et al. J Nutr. 2018;148(suppl 3):1525S-1535S.
