Grumpy
RESEARCH shows 90 per cent of toddlers do not get enough iron in their diet. This can leave them at risk of anaemia, feeling tired and being grumpy, not performing well intellectually and with behavioural problems.
They need meals that are rich in iron. Give them a boiled egg with soldiers and a glass of diluted orange juice for breakfast, a lunch of peanut butter sandwiches and cherry tomatoes and a main meal of salmon fish cakes and broccoli.
Snacks include hummus with vegetable sticks or a slice of fruit cake and dessert such as dried fruit salad with yogurt or baked apple with sultanas and custard.
Fussy
TODDLERS who are normally “good” eaters can suddenly start turning their nose up at meals they previously enjoyed.
Whatever you do, don’t panic – this is a normal part of toddler development and is explained by experts as being down to “neophagia” which means “fear of the new”. Researchers say this behaviour occurs as your little one becomes able to crawl and toddle around.
Thousands of years ago, this was a time when they could start finding foods independently.
The instinct to be fearful of new foods could have saved them from poisoning. This ancient instinct can still kick in.
Give your child time, be patient, keep offering them varied meals and, crucially, eat with them.
Weird
SOME children refuse to eat foods if they touch each other on the plate. Others reject meals out of hand because they just don’t “look right” and some are timid of trying anything new.
Stay calm, take a deep breath and bear in mind that toddlers are like adults – they do have some genuine likes and dislikes.
Some simply do not like it when their foods are all mixed up as, for example, with stews and casseroles.
Others can not bear foods in sauces, such as fish pie. Some prefer soft textures and some crunchy foods.
They can often grow out of these little preferences but not always. Try to take into account reasonable preferences which do not pander too much to their whims.
And remember that when introducing a new food, it can take ten or more times of offering for it to become familiar and accepted.
Colds
BUGS can seem to affect some children more than others and there can be varied reasons for this.
Ensuring that your toddler has plenty of fruit and vegetables will help to bolster their immune system.
It is also important to ensure that they have a daily supplement that contains the vitamins A and D.
The Department of Health has been recommending this since 1991. A lack of vitamin A can reduce a child’s immunity and insufficient vitamin D can lead to poor bone development and ultimately bowed legs as a result of rickets.
If you qualify for the Healthy Start scheme, you should get children’s vitamin drops free from your NHS trust or board.
Giving toddlers a specific milk containing these vitamins is another way to boost daily intakes.
Water
DRINKING milk or other things such as juices or squash is something toddlers can get used to and they can turn up their noses when offered water.
You have to be tough and ride this out, replacing all but a couple of milk drinks a day (preferably toddler milk) with water.
Toddlers need six to eight 100-120ml cups or beakers of water a day, more in hot weather or if running around a lot.
As a measurement guide, a standard yogurt pot is 150ml.
Dehydration can affect mood, behaviour and learning.
Remember that toddlers’ thirst mechanisms are not as developed as adults’ and they are not as aware of being thirsty.
If they are busy playing, they can ignore their thirst so you need to offer water regularly.
Won’t eat
THERE is nothing more frustrating than cooking a meal and someone refusing to eat it, whatever their age. Toddlers can get into the habit of doing this.
Check what your toddler is having between meals. If they are drinking a lot of milk, juices or squashes, this can make them feel full and can put them off their main meals.
The same is true of large snacks, sweets and crisps.
Swap most drinks to water and try hard to get into a pattern of breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner.
If you stick to your guns and make sure other carers do the same, they should be hungry when it comes to meals and begin to eat them.
Portions
MORE than three in four parents recently surveyed by the Infant And Toddler Forum say that they have never received clear advice about portion sizes for children aged one to three. Check our portion size information below.
Starchy foods (offer one at each meal): Half to one slice of bread, muffin or roll; 3-6 tblsp fortified breakfast cereal; 5-8 tblsp porridge made with milk; 2-5 tblsp rice; 1-3 tblsp pasta; half to 1 and a half egg-sized potatoes; half to 2 crispbreads.
Fruit and vegetables (offer at each meal and snack time):
Quarter to half an apple, orange, pear or banana; 3-10 grapes or berries; 2-4 tblsp stewed or mashed fruit; 1-3 tblsp veg.
Dairy (three a day): 100-120 ml cow’s or toddler milk; small yogurt or fromage frais pot; 2-4 tblsp grated cheese; 3-6 tblsp custard or milk pudding.
Meat, fish, eggs, nuts and pulses (2-3 servings a day):
2-4 tblsp ground, chopped or cubed lean meats, fish or poultry; half to one whole egg; 2-4 tblsp whole or mashed pulses such as peas; half to 1 tblsp peanut butter.
Recipes
BREAKFAST
Super-quick porridge with mango: Makes two small or one bigger child-sized portion. Ingredients – 40g porridge oats; 140ml semi-skimmed or whole milk; 40g dried mango cut into small pieces Mix ingredients and pop in microwave on full power for 90 seconds. Stir and let stand for a minute.
Serve with a little milk and sprinkling of granulated fruit or brown sugar once cool enough to eat. Or make the traditional way on the hob with a pan.
After porridge offer children toast with the toppings you usually choose to ensure they have had enough to eat.
Great because: Filling and the oats give slow-release energy while there’s protein in the milk.
SNACK
Carrot cake: Ingredients – 150g plain wholemeal flour; 1tsp bicarbonate of soda; 1tsp baking powder; 120g granulated fruit sugar; 250g carrots; 150ml olive oil; 2 eggs; 1 tsp vanilla essence.
Grease and line cake tin (18cm round.) Put on oven at 180°C/gas mark 4. Sieve flour, bicarbonate of soda and baking powder into a bowl and stir in sugar. Peel and grate the carrots and stir in. Lightly beat eggs and pour in plus the olive oil and vanilla essence. Beat until everything well combined. Pour into tin.
Check after 30 minutes. If risen and firm to touch, it is ready. Remove from oven. After a few minutes of resting, turn out and let cool. Serve with blob of plain Greek yogurt.
Great because: A brilliant way to get children to eat carrots, and there’s no big sugar rush. The eggs and oil help make it filling.
Serve as a snack, breakfast or pudding.
Fitness
TODDLERS need to be active for at least 60 minutes each day.
How much is enough? The National Association Of Sports And Physical Education, say each day toddlers should:
Get at least 30 minutes’ structured physical activity – this can be done in ten-minute segments led by an adult.
Get at least 60 minutes unstructured physical activity (free play).
What Toddlers Can Do BY age two, toddlers should be able to walk, run and jump.
By three, most toddlers can run and jump well. In addition, they’ll learn to balance briefly on one foot, climb well, kick a ball forward, throw a ball overhand and pedal a tricycle.
Family Fitness Tips
THESE games can provide fun and fitness for parents and toddlers:
Walk like a penguin, hop like a frog.
Sit facing each other and hold hands. Rock back and forward and sing Row, Row, Row Your Boat.
Listen to music and dance together