Hi mommies,
Are you running behind your little ones in futile attempts to feed and worried that he is not getting the proper nourishment?
Don’t worry, here is how to feed your toddler.The calorie requirement for a toddler varies from 1000 to 1400 calories, if your kid is very active then the requirement will also be high.
But don’t take too much tension about calories because kids are unpredictable, one day they may be horrendously hungry and another day they will just quit eating.
So don’t count calories while feeding them, just make sure that they are healthy and full of energy.
Make sure that his daily minimum requirement is fulfilled and allow them to experiment with all foods, as this is the age when they acquire a taste for food.
At least every 2 hours the toddler should eat or drink for retaining his energy.
[pullquote]7am to 7.30am[/pullquote]
Morning
One glass of milk (roughly it amounts to 200-250ml, any health drink mix can be added to it)Calorie intake (CI) – 42 calories
If your kid doesn’t like milk then a whole fruit like apple, mossambi or a fruit of your choice can be given.
[pullquote]8 am to 9.30 am[/pullquote]
Breakfast
Breakfast can vary according to your food habits here are some examples
- 1 Idli with milk, sugar or with chutney (Calorie Intake is 150 calories, it may vary according to size of idli)
- 1/2 Dosa with milk or chutney (CI is 120 calories)
- 125ml of oatmeal with the fruit of your choice. ( CI is 100 calories)
- 1/2 cup of cornflakes with milk (CI is 150 calories)
- 1/2 cup of Broken Wheat porridge or Dalia Kheer (CI is 150 calories)
- 1 cup of Poha (CI is 150 calories)
- 1/2 cup of sooji upma (CI is 130 calories)
- 1 small Poori (CI is 170 calories)
- 1 Roti with veggies (CI is 100 calories)
- 1/2 cup of Ven Pongal (CI is 125 calories)
[pullquote]11 am to 11.30 am[/pullquote]
Mid Morning Snack
The mid-morning snack can also vary according to your toddler’s taste, either fruits, or fruit juices, or milk or egg.
- 1 Boiled Egg (CI is 87calories)
- Fruit Juices 100ml – Apple with milk (100 calories), Mossambi (60 calories), Mango milk shake (100 calories), Orange juice (60 calories)
- Whole fruit – 1/2 of any fruit (approx 100 calories)
- Home made Biscuits – 2
- A snack mix of 1 cashew, 1 dry grapes and other dry fruits (u can customize according to your Little one’s taste)
[pullquote]12.30 pm to 1.30 pm[/pullquote]
Lunch
Lunch should compulsorily contain Dal and veggies as they provide the right nourishment and the vitamin requirements for the growing toddler
- 1 cup of rice with Dal, ghee, and veggies (approx 200 to 250 calories) The veggies can be a small serving, boil them nicely with little of salt and pepper and make a semisolid mixture of all the ingredients by mashing with hand. If necessary you can blend them all in the mixie but that destroys the taste of the food.
- Curd, buttermilk can also be given with dal and rice
- At least thrice in a week, non veg items like chicken, fish can be added. Make sure to boil them well before feeding. I would like to avoid mutton because the digestion may take longer time and induce a lethargy in the children.
- Egg can also be added instead of veggies but make sure that the kid has only 1 egg per day. Always give either boiled or scrambled eggs, do not give half boiled or raw eggs in milk as it might cause indigestion and loose stools.
[pullquote]4 pm[/pullquote]
Evening
After napping 1 glass of milk
[pullquote]5.30 pm to 6 pm[/pullquote]
Evening snack
- Home made Biscuits 2 to 3
- Ragi Kheer
- 1 bread slice with either jam or butter. (CI is 50 to 70)
- A slice of any cake (CI is 100)
- 1/2 cup Boiled Channa, you can flavor it with a little onion, coriander leaves. any of the grams can be boiled and given
[pullquote]8 pm[/pullquote]
Dinner
The dinner should be lightest of all the meals in the sense that it should be filling but not with a lot of fat or oil.
- 1 Idli
- 1/2 Dosa
- 1/2 cup of oatmeal
- 1/2 cup of Wheat porridge.
- If your little one is too tired to eat then give a glass of milk, but do not give daily
Water
Let us not forget the most important aspect of your toddler’s meal plan, Water !!!!!
Children from age 1 to age 3 will need at least 1.3 litre of water, so be sure that your little one is adequately hydrated.
Eating out
Nowadays most of the families eat in the restaurant at least twice or once in a week, here are some tips for eating out.
- Always take water for the kids from home, never rely on the mineral water bottles as there is a possibility that they might be tampered with.
- Never give the kid junk food (french fries too)
- Always choose the food item that is boiled, avoid salads, chutneys likewise.
- Avoid sugary Desserts
Hope this article helped you to sort out your toddler eating habits.
Read more on How much should your toddler eat?
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photo credit: World Bank Photo Collection via photopin cc
Ramya sanjay says
June 19, 2018 at 9:56 pmCan i give bread and cornplex for my 11 months old baby?
pr says
October 4, 2018 at 1:05 pmHi,
You can give whole wheat breads (If baby has no wheat allergy) & corn flakes. Please avoid giving processed cereals.
Anita says
May 7, 2017 at 12:10 pmHi mam,
My kid(2.7 years old ) is not eating chapati.how I encourage my kid to eat chapati.please guide me
Dr Hemapriya says
May 7, 2017 at 10:24 pmWith kids, when we get pushy about a particular food, they get averse of eating it. Best is to serve them food along with you and enjoy your food, this can help them. Or make some other wheat recipes for them, like muffins, cakes etc.
Sadia says
August 9, 2017 at 3:54 pmMy 1.25 year old girl is refusing to take food or hold her food in her mouth and spit it out after few minutes. Its going on frm last 1 month almost nw m irritated coz of her this habbit. Her weight is decreasing day by day i dnt knw wat to do. Plz help me
Dr Hemapriya says
April 23, 2018 at 5:03 pmHi Sadia, many toddlers pass through a phase of refusing solid and favouring milk. Just feed her what she takes, do not force feed. Put a wide variety of foods in front of her and allow her to touch, play and do anything with it. She will slowly move to having solids.
Ankita says
August 24, 2016 at 11:59 amHi Dr Hema,
Your site is very informative. I am a mother of 11 months old baby boy. He used to eat fruits (banana,mangoes) but all of sudden he has stopped taking fruits. I used to give him fruits as a snack. Earlier he used to eat small bites of roti as well but now he just put it in mouth suck it and then spit it out. He’ll mostly prefer eating easy to swallow food. So i am quite concerned how to feed him fruits and finger food. Also he does not like sweet food. Pls suggest something.
Deepthi says
February 26, 2016 at 8:58 pmHi Dr.Hema,
Would like to call you Hema coz you know you solve problems in a jiffy as FRIENDS do!!!!
I googled n landed on ur site. ITS AWESOME!!!!!
You have been of great help thanks for creating this website, I don’t have any elderly person to guide me on the spot….but you know when I get stuck this site pulls me out . THANKS again.
I started with fifty first foods for babies and home made cerelac it saved my day thank you so much. Keep up the Good work. Hats off to U.
Bye.
Dr Hemapriya says
February 29, 2016 at 1:46 pmDear Deepthi,
Thanks a ton for your feedback and appreciation <3 It means a lot to me 🙂
Cheers
Hema
Ridhi says
November 9, 2015 at 10:24 pmHi Hema,
I am following your site frequently.
Its very very helpful..thank you for putting this information out there for mommies….it helps a lot…
i have one concern…my baby is going to turn 1 tomorrow…she doesnt drink water…wt is the best way to make her drink water…shall i give her using sippy cup or shall i make her drink with glass…this worries me a lot..
geetharandy says
July 28, 2015 at 6:29 pmHi
Ms. Hemapriya
Thanks for ur food chart, it was very useful for me to feed my baby, or to plan what to feed my little one….
Regards
Geetharathinavel
Dr Hemapriya says
July 31, 2015 at 12:51 pmGlad to know it was helpful Geetha 🙂
pooja says
July 14, 2015 at 1:16 pmHi.my kid is 1.5 yr..she does’t like to eat anything..espicially salty food(dal & veggies). Most of the days she’s only on milk and sometimes she have fruits like banana and papaya.
Suggest what should I do?
Dr Hemapriya says
August 7, 2015 at 1:57 pmHi Pooja,
Yes I can understandard , toddlers can become very fussy, check this page for tips on how to make your toddler eat
nisha says
February 18, 2015 at 10:49 amThanks for information….it is really helpful…
Dr Hemapriya says
February 18, 2015 at 1:21 pm🙂
varshini says
December 13, 2014 at 5:20 pmHi.. My son is 2 1/2 now.. I m very much worried about his eating . whatever I give or feed him he is not showing interest at all n never opens his mouth. Not drinking milk n even juices.. I need to starve to make him open his mouth by making him play something or watch some rhymes to make him open his mouth without his knowledge.. I m not sure what he likes n what different ways or items to give to make him eat.. Please do suggest.. Thanks
Dr Hemapriya says
December 14, 2014 at 5:52 pmToddlers are always like that only varshini, try giving him healthy finger foods, cut dosas , rotis in his favorite cartoon characters, make healthy sweets like dry fruit , ragi, oats ladoos, mix dry fruit powder while making atta, porridges..
jasmin says
December 7, 2014 at 9:37 amHi,
I am a mother to 2 very active boys one is 5 years and other 1.8 mnths , i am having terrible troubles feeding the younger one , intially he was very much interested in food , but now for few months he is judst noe interested , now he starteed putting food out after chewing it…am really worried , he doesnot take milk, and i still nurse him. what should i do , we recently started with cerelac for him, which i am not happy at all, but not much choice since he eats that without fuss, where ia m going wrong in this…pls help.
Dr Hemapriya says
December 7, 2014 at 12:17 pmHi Jasmin, Chill !! You are not doing wrong…Toddlers are always the same everywhere, they are fussy, cranky and lots more. Since you have an older child, you can make them eat together and making mealtimes enjoyable with stories, play etc. Try fresh fruit juices, milkshakes, disguise food in a more appealing manner that he eats. Try out chapati, dosa, cheela rolls so that he can eat it while playing. Don’t restrict food only during meal times, try to sneak in food when he is playing too. Hope this helped you. Do comment how did this turn out…
jasmin says
December 10, 2014 at 2:23 pmthanks a lot Dr. Hema , i ll try these tips with my kids.
Dr Hemapriya says
December 11, 2014 at 11:29 amDo share your feedback with us Jasmin as how these tips worked out for you
translate online says
September 24, 2014 at 11:57 pmWhat’s up everyone, it’s my first go to see at this site,
and post is truly fruitful designed for me, keep
up posting these types of articles.
trup16 says
August 22, 2014 at 8:22 amThank you for taking it positively 🙂
Hemapriya Natesan says
August 24, 2014 at 4:08 am🙂
trup16 says
August 20, 2014 at 12:40 pmI think instead of sugar you should use Jaggery, honey,dates etc.. Avoid baked food like biscuits, cake<br />Health drinks are also having much sugar content so please avoid that. <br />In my opinion please read why to avoid health drink "http://rajganpath.com/2011/11/02/the-truth-behind-health-drinks/"<br />
Hemapriya Natesan says
August 20, 2014 at 4:03 pmThanks for the info 🙂
Taste Junction says
August 20, 2014 at 12:14 pmVery informative..specially the calorie per dish bit
Hemapriya Natesan says
August 20, 2014 at 3:47 pmThanks :)<br />