7 Toddler Steps for Healthy Eating
7 TODDLER STEPS FOR HEALTHY EATING
Feeding toddlers can be tricky. Some eat everything while others are picky with what they like to eat. We have steps to help you regulate your toddlers eating habits and some quick and easy healthy snack ideas for them to try.
Last month, we helped you get you through emotional eating with clean foods for your 20s, 30s and 40s [1] to ensure optimum health. This month we’re looking at 10 steps to help you nourish your children with clean snacks.
STEP 1: FAMILY TIME
When you eat together as a family, meal times can become more relaxed. It’s a good time to share your day together while eating. This teaches toddlers social skills and they get to learn about new foods.
STEP 2 FOOD GROUPS
Always ensure that you offer the right mix of nutrients from the five food groups that your toddler needs, to sustain a healthy diet. The five food groups are bread, rice, potatoes, pasta and starchy foods; fruit and vegetables; milk, cheese and yogurt; meat, fish, eggs, nuts and pulses; oils, butter and fat spreads.
STEP 3 OFFER SNACKS INBETWEEN MEALS
The recommended three meals per day just isn’t enough for your growing toddler. Offer at least 2 – 3 healthy snacks in between meals. Check out the Clean Snack Ideas below for some easy to prepare healthy options.
STEP 4 OFFER 6-8 DRINKS PER DAY
When you have an active toddler it’s a good choice to offer at least 6 - 8 drinks in a beaker or cup. The best drink a toddler can have is water rather than a fizzy drink or fruit juice.
STEP 5 VITAMIN D
Even when toddlers eat well it’s recommended by health professionals that toddlers need 10 micrograms of vitamin D supplements every day. Consult your health care specialist for a recommendation of which ones to give your toddler.
STEP 6 AVOID SUGARY TREATS OR SNACKS
It is recommended by health professionals to avoid fizzy drinks, fruit juice, and whole nuts. Limit junk foods like packet snacks, pastries, cakes and biscuits to very small amounts, or ideally none.
STEP 7 PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
As your toddler grows it’s good to be active for at least 3 hours a day, whether inside or outdoors. Walking, running and dancing also count towards physical activities.
SIMPLE SNACK IDEAS
Clean snack foods are generally the best type of food to offer your toddler. These include anything that was once alive or has grown from the ground. Avoid anything processed or in a jar as much as possible for toddlers. Most will have additives such as sugar and salt.
Try adding these recipes for your toddlers to help them snack healthy:
- CORN THINS™ slices spread with fruit puree
- Hummus spread over CORN THINS™ slices and offer vegetable slices
- Grill CORN THINS™ slices by melting cheese and offer fruit slices
- Peanut butter and banana slices topped on CORN THINS™ slices
- Zucchini Hummus[2] spread over CORN THINS™ slices
DO YOU HAVE ANY RECIPES USING CORN THINS™ SLICES FOR TODDLERS YOU CAN SHARE WITH US?
We’d love to hear what your toddler enjoys. Please send us an email email@realfoods.com.au or visit our Facebook page Real Foods CORN THINS™ to leave a comment.