Menu - 12 to 18months
This can be a very challenging phase in your toddlers life...challenging for parents are they try to choose the most nutritious foods while their kids start developing preferences and become picky about their meal choices.
3-5 servings of Dairy
1 serving
= 4ozof milk; whole or 2%,
=1oz of cheese; string or cubed
=1/2 cup of yogurt or cottage cheese.
4 servings of Grains
1serving
=1/3 cup Cereal
= 1/2 cup rice or pasta
= 1/2 slice bread or bagel
2 servings of Fruit
1 serving = 1/2 cup
2 servings Vegetables
1 serving = 1/2 cup
2 servings Protein
1 serving
=2 tablespoons or 2 one-inch cubes of ground meat, poultry or fish
= 1 egg
= 1/4 cup beans, lentils, tofu
Best of the Best:
Avocado - great source of Fiber. Mash is with lemon juice, mix in yogurt, use as a dip, use in quesadillas
Blue Berries - provides vitamins, minerals & antioxidants. puree or make sauce for pancakes or cookies, Frozen variety as just as good as fresh.
Oats - provides Fiber and long lasting energy, cook in milk, eat as breakfast, add to pancakes/muffins
Salmon - omega 3 fatty acids, fish fingers
Spinach- source of iron, calcium, folic acid and Vit A & C. add to tomato sauce, soup, quesadilla, puree with paneer/cottage cheese.
Sweet Potatoes - Vit B, C, E, Potassium and Iron. Bake, boil, Mash...
Yogurt - source of calcium, aids in digestion. plain yogurt with fresh/frozen fruit.
Introduce new foods one item at a time. Wait 3 to 5 days to make sure your kid is not allergic.
Do not let your child walk/run/play during meal times. Not even for snacks.
Eats and Drinks must be taken at the table/high chair.
Maintain a routine. If child skips lunch, do not offer the same at 3pm...just give a snack.
Let your child learn to finger feed him/herself.
Check for choking hazards. Avoid dried fruits like apricots, peaches, dates, pitted prunes, raisins. Veggies like raw carrots, peas, corn. no Peanuts, gummy bears or any chewy foods.
3-5 servings of Dairy
1 serving
= 4ozof milk; whole or 2%,
=1oz of cheese; string or cubed
=1/2 cup of yogurt or cottage cheese.
4 servings of Grains
1serving
=1/3 cup Cereal
= 1/2 cup rice or pasta
= 1/2 slice bread or bagel
2 servings of Fruit
1 serving = 1/2 cup
2 servings Vegetables
1 serving = 1/2 cup
2 servings Protein
1 serving
=2 tablespoons or 2 one-inch cubes of ground meat, poultry or fish
= 1 egg
= 1/4 cup beans, lentils, tofu
Best of the Best:
Avocado - great source of Fiber. Mash is with lemon juice, mix in yogurt, use as a dip, use in quesadillas
Blue Berries - provides vitamins, minerals & antioxidants. puree or make sauce for pancakes or cookies, Frozen variety as just as good as fresh.
Oats - provides Fiber and long lasting energy, cook in milk, eat as breakfast, add to pancakes/muffins
Salmon - omega 3 fatty acids, fish fingers
Spinach- source of iron, calcium, folic acid and Vit A & C. add to tomato sauce, soup, quesadilla, puree with paneer/cottage cheese.
Sweet Potatoes - Vit B, C, E, Potassium and Iron. Bake, boil, Mash...
Yogurt - source of calcium, aids in digestion. plain yogurt with fresh/frozen fruit.
Introduce new foods one item at a time. Wait 3 to 5 days to make sure your kid is not allergic.
Do not let your child walk/run/play during meal times. Not even for snacks.
Eats and Drinks must be taken at the table/high chair.
Maintain a routine. If child skips lunch, do not offer the same at 3pm...just give a snack.
Let your child learn to finger feed him/herself.
Check for choking hazards. Avoid dried fruits like apricots, peaches, dates, pitted prunes, raisins. Veggies like raw carrots, peas, corn. no Peanuts, gummy bears or any chewy foods.