Food Pyramid for Toddlers

Grains

• The grain food group of the USDA My Plate gives toddlers dietary fiber and nutritional supplements from cereals and grains. USDA suggestions for the grain group include whole-grain cereals, rice, pasta and breads. Breakfast cereal and snack options feature shredded wheat, toasted oats, oatmeal and bagels or muffins. Whole-wheat foods have the entire grain kernel with the germ, bran and endosperm. Toddlers need between 3 and 5 ounces of grains every day with whole grains making up at least half of these ounces.

Vegetables

• The My Plate vegetable grouping gives toddlers minerals and vitamins from a variety of seasonal veggies. The USDA endorses serving toddlers frozen, fresh or dried vegetables, but recommends serving canned vegetables labeled "no-salt added." Veggies offer interesting snack choices for toddlers, particularly colorful selections of red, green, bright orange or purple from this food group. The agency suggests hiding vegetables in other foods or offering toddlers refusing to eat vegetables pureed veggies mixed with favorite foods such as mashed potatoes or natural fruit smoothies. The USDA daily recommendations for toddlers include approximately 1 cup of vegetables.

Fruit

• The fruit group from the My Plate recommendations give toddlers important minerals and vitamins. The USDA recommends serving toddlers canned, fresh, frozen, dried fruits without any additives such as sugar or corn syrup. Fruit juice provides a healthy option for some meals, but only juice made from 100-percent fruit without added sugars. Fresh fruit provides a better option for toddlers due to the fiber content. Toddlers need approximately 1 cup of fruit every day, according to the USDA.

Dairy

• The USDA-recommended dairy group provides toddlers with calcium to build strong bones. Fat-free, low-fat and reduced-fat cheese, milk, soy and yogurt for children older than two years gives toddlers a wide variety of dairy choices for regular meals and snacking. The USDA warns parents against allowing toddlers to fill up by drinking milk and failing to eat a well-rounded meal that includes all of the My Plate food groups. The USDA recommends toddlers eat approximately two cups of dairy foods every day.

Protein Foods

• The My Plate food recommendations encourage parents to offer toddlers a variety of foods with protein, including meat, poultry, eggs, beans, soy products, nuts, seeds, peas and seafood. Toddlers need protein every meal for healthy blood development, and the USDA recommends toddlers eat approximately 2 ounces of protein daily. My Plate tips feature serving lean meat and limiting the amount of seafood for toddlers due to the high levels of mercury and other pollutants in waterways. Parents of vegetarian toddlers have special My Plate suggestions that feature nuts, peas, beans and soy products.