How to Make Breakfast for a Toddler
Toddlers are notoriously picky eaters, and getting them to sit still and actually eat rather than exploring and playing can be a challenge. However, your toddler should be eating three meals and two snacks a day and, and establishing a routine for eating breakfast can reduce your toddler's risk of obesity and improve his mood and attention span. When you make breakfast for your toddler, keep his nutritional needs in mind and try to make the meal fun to entice him to eat.
Things You'll Need
- Lean proteins like eggs and chicken
- Dairy products, such as milk, yogurt and cheese
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Whole grains
- Iron-fortified cereals
Instructions
Offer a variety of options. Toddlers are picky eaters, so giving them several options will increase the odds that they will actually eat one of them. Think of breakfast like an appetizer bar with several small servings of different foods, such as fruits, toast, cereal, yogurt and juice. Provide items from several food groups. The American Academy of Pediatrics says toddlers need two cups of milk or dairy products per day, two ounces of lean meat or nuts, one cup of fruits, one cup of vegetables and three ounces of grains. By including several options at breakfast, you help your toddler get all the recommended food groups for the day. HealthyChildren.org suggests a sample menu of 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup iron-fortified cereal or one egg, 1/3 cup fruit, and a 1/2 slice of whole-grain toast with butter or jelly. You can experiment with other options your toddler may enjoy to meet these needs. Pay special attention to important nutrients, such as vitamin D and iron. HealthyChildren.org says supplements aren't necessary as long as your toddler eats a varied diet that includes the recommended number of servings of meat and dairy. Including milk, yogurt and other dairy products at breakfast can provide the vitamin D your toddler needs, and lean proteins like eggs or chicken can provide the iron, as can iron-fortified cereals. You don't have to stick to traditional breakfast foods for breakfast. Make breakfast fun. If breakfast seems like a tasty treat, toddlers may be more likely to eat it. What To Expect suggests dishes like smoothies, which can blend a variety of fruits, veggies and yogurt, or a rainbow parfait, which alternates layers of yogurt with colorful fruits like berries and pineapple and whole-grain granola. Create pinwheels of strawberries and cream cheese on a whole-grain tortilla. Serve breakfast "pizzas" with cheese and veggies on a whole-grain English muffin. Create funny faces out of fruits and veggies on toast or cereal.
