Meal Suggestions for Toddlers

Meal Suggestions for Toddlers

 

 

Include your toddler in regular family meals and snacks. This helps support healthy eating, language and social skills.

Offer an assortment of food three to four times a day, plus one or two snacks.

Daily Food Suggestions for 12-24 Months

Milk and Alternatives

  • Breast milk.
  • About 500 ml (2 cups) whole milk if your toddler is no longer breastfeeding.
  • Offer milk products (yogurt, cottage cheese, pasteurized cheese, etc.).

Suggested portions:

  • 25-50 g (1-2 oz.) pasteurized cheese. 
  • 60 ml (1/4 cup) cottage cheese. 
  • 75-175 g (1/3-3/4 cup) yogurt.

Grain Products

  • Choose 100% whole grain products.
  • Offer five to six times each day.

Suggested portions:

  • 1/2 to 1 slice bread, bannock, tortilla, roti.
  • 125-250 ml (1/2-1 cup) whole grain cereal.
  • 75-125 ml (1/3-1/2 cup) hot cereal, cooked pasta, rice, congee.

Vegetables and Fruit

  • Choose at least one dark green and one orange vegetable.
  • Offer five or more times each day.

Suggested portions:

  • 1/2 to 1 medium sized vegetable or fresh fruit.
  • 30-60 ml (2-4 tbsp.) fresh, cooked or mashed fruit.
  • 60-125 ml (1/4-1/2 cup) cooked vegetables.
  • 60-125 ml (1/4-1/2 cup) raw vegetables.
  • Juice is not necessary for your toddler. If you decide to give juice, choose 100% unsweetened juice and offer it in a cup as part of a meal or snack. Limit to no more than 125-175 ml (1/2-3/4 cup) per day.

Meat and Alternatives

  • Offer two to three times each day.

Suggested portions:

  • 30-60 ml (2-4 tbsp.) well cooked, ground, chopped, or cubed lean meat, fish, or poultry.
  • 30-60 ml (2-4 tbsp.) of mashed legumes.
  • 1 whole egg.
  • 50-100 g (3-6 tbsp.) tofu or tempeh.
  • 15 g (1 tbsp.) peanut or nut butter.

Daily Food Suggestions for 24-36 Months

Recommended Daily Food Guide Servings for toddlers 24-36 months:

  • Vegetables and Fruits - 4 servings 
  • Grain Products - 3 servings
  • Milk and Alternatives - 2 servings
  • Meat and Alternatives - 1 serving

Resources and Links:

HealthLink BC: Meal and Snack Ideas for Your 1 to 3 year old Toddler
HealthLink BC: Helping Your 1 to 3 Year Old Toddler Eat Well
HealthLink BC: Healthy Eating Guidelines for Your Vegetarian Toddler 1 to 3 years

Previous:

Next:

  • Finding Cookie Cutters for Kids
    Kids love to help you bake. They also love it when you make their food in fun shapes. One way to make fun-shaped food is by using cookie cutters. Finding kid-friendly cookie cutters is easy. Check Your Local Stores Your first stop w
  • What does it mean when your 3 year old not want to eat?
    Its common for 3-year-olds to go through phases where they dont want to eat, and it can be frustrating for parents. Here are some potential reasons and what to do:Possible Reasons:* Picky Eating: This is a normal developmental stage. Kids this age ar
  • Cleaning and Sterilizing Sippy Cup Valves and Other Small Items
    If your child uses sippy cups, especially the type designed to be spill-free, you've probably seen the ooey-gooey gunk that gets stuck inside the valves, straws, and other parts. The gunk isn't just unsightly—it can be dangerous. Bacteria