INTRODUCTION:-

A toddler is a child between the ages of one and three. The toddler years are a
time of great cognitive, emotional and social development. The word is derived
from "to toddle", which means to walk unsteadily, like a child of this age.

DAILY REQUIREMENT OF TODDLER:-

Calorie for toddler
Depending on their age, size, and activity level, toddlers need about 1,000-1,400
calories a day. Refer to the chart below to get an idea of how much your child
should be eating and what kinds of foods would satisfy the requirements.
Protein and your toddler

Protein is crucial to ensuring the proper and healthy growth of toddlers (and
preschoolers), Try to serve a protein at EVERY meal and if you are able to, sneak
it into snack time as well! You should attempt to feed your Toddler 16 grams of
protein per day - some nutritionists suggest that 16 ounces of milk along with one
ounce of meat should ensure the proper daily intake of protein.

Vitamins and Minerals your toddler needs

Among the most important vitamins that your Toddler needs are

 Vitamin A
 Vitamin C
 Vitamin D
 Folate and
 Zinc.

Vitamin A is found in: carrots, avocados, spinach, yellow/orange fruits and

vegetables, dark green leafy vegetables, kiwi, prunes, papaya, liver, eggs, milk and
milk products, and the spice paprika. It is a a fat-soluble vitamin that plays
essential roles in vision, growth, and development; the development and
maintenance of healthy skin, hair, and mucous membranes; immune functions; and
reproduction.

Vitamin C is found in: green and red peppers, avocados, banana, cabbage, kiwi,
turnip greens, kale, collards, parsley, sprouted alfalfa seeds, broccoli, tomatoes,
mango lemons, orange peel, black currants, acerola cherries, cantaloupe,
strawberries, citrus fruits, rose hips. It is a water-soluble, antioxidant vitamin. It is
important in forming collagen, a protein that gives structure to bones, cartilage,
muscle, and blood vessels. Vitamin C also aids in the absorption of iron, and helps
maintain capillaries, bones, and teeth. Vitamin C is said to help with colds and
remove free radicals from body.

Vitamin D is found in: salmon, sardines, herring, tuna, organ meats, Vitamin D-
fortified milk and milk products, egg yolks, wheat germ. It helps strengthen bones
and is essential for normal growth and development. Vitamin D is also obtained
from sunlight exposure.

Folate is found in Chicken liver, Breakfast cereals, Braised beef liver, Lentils,
Chickpeas, Asparagus Spinach, Black beans, Kidney beans, Lima beans, Tomato
juice, Brussels sprouts, Oranges, Broccoli, Wheat germ, Fortified white bread. It is
a water-soluble vitamin that helps the body form red blood cells and aids in the
formation of genetic material within every body cell. It plays a role in reducing
blood homosysteine levels and aids in protein metabolism.

Zinc is found in: mushrooms, wheat germ, brewer's yeast, soybeans, pumpkin
seeds, sunflower seeds, seafood, meats, organ meats, oysters, herring, eggs. It is
important for growth, functioning of immune system, sexual development and
reproduction

Portion sizes and foods for toddlers aged two to three years
Food Portions size Number of servings per day
Milk & dairy ½ cup of milk or
4-5
products yoghurt or 15g cheese
30-60g meat, fish or
Meat, fish,
poultry, 1 egg, 2
poultry, eggs,
tablespoons peanut
peanut butter 2
butter or 4 tablespoons
or cooked
cooked legumes like
legumes
baked beans
Fruit &
4-5
vegetables
Vegetables,
2-3 tablespoons
cooked
Vegetables, A few pieces - only if
raw child can chew well
Fruit, raw ½-1 small fruit
Fruit, canned 2-4 tablespoons
90-120ml (less than ½
Fruit juice
cup)
Bread and
3
cereals
Wholewheat or
vitamin &
½-1 slice
mineral
fortified bread
Cooked
1/4-½ cup
porridge
Dry breakfast
½-1 cup
cereal

Typical menu for toddlers aged two to three years

Breakfast:
40 ml fruit juice
1/4 cup oats porridge with 1 T honey
½ cup full cream milk
Mid-morning snack:
½ cup yoghurt
½ mashed, ripe banana
Lunch:
1 boiled egg
½ - 1 slice wholewheat bread with 1 t polyunsaturated margarine
½ grated apple
½ cup full cream milk
Mid-afternoon snack:
15 g sweetmilk or Gouda cheese
½ slice wholewheat bread with 1 t polyunsaturated margarine
40 ml fruit juice
Supper:
30 g cooked, mince meat
Mashed potato 2 T
Cooked butternut 1 T
1/4 cup custard
Bed-time snack:
1/4 cup full cream milk with Ovaltine
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4
Apricot juice Orange juice 40 Banana ½ mashed Apple ½ grated
40 ml ml Egg 1 poached Creamy meal 1/4
Oats porridge Cornflakes, ½
Toast ½-1 slice cup
Breakfast 1/4 cup cup
Honey 1 T
Honey 1 T Brown sugar 1 T Margarine 1 t
Milk ½ cup Yoghurt, ½ cup
Milk ½ cup Millk ½ cup

Mid- Yoghurt ½ cup

Yoghurt ½ cup Cheese 15g Milk ½ cup
morning Banana ½ Oats cookie 1 Apple juice 40 ml Dried fruit 1 T
snack mashed, ripe
Egg, 1 boiled
Peanut butter 2 T Baked beans 3 T Fish finger 1
Bread ½-1
Bread ½-1 slice Bread ½-1 slice Mashed potato 2 T
slice
Margarine 1 t Margarine 1 t Canned pear 1
Lunch Margarine 1 t
Canned peach 1 Carrot sticks Custard 1/4 cup
Apple ½ grated
Milk ½ cup Yoghurt 1/4 cup Milk 1/4 cup
Milk ½ cup
Cheese 15g
sweetmilk/Gou Yoghurt ½ cup
Provitas 1-2 Cottage cheese 15g
da Peanut butter 2 T
Mid- Bread ½ slice
Bread ½ slice Margarine 1 t Crackers 2
afternoon Margarine 1 t
snack Margarine 1 t Honey 1 T Cranberry juice 40ml
Apricot juice 40ml
Pear juice 40 Canned apricot 2
ml
Meat 30g Fish cake, 30g Meat 30g cooked Egg, scrambled 1
cooked mince Pumpkin, 2 T Carrots, cooked 2 T Bread ½-1 slice
dinner Potato, mashed
2T Tomato, 2 slices Naartjie ½-1 Margarine, 1 t
 Butternut, Milk pudding 1/4 Jelly Banana 1
cooked 1 T cup
Milk ½ cup Custard ½ cup
Custard 1/4
cup
Bedtime Milk 1/4 cup Milk 1/4 cup with Milk 1/4 cup with Milk 1/4 cup with
snack with Ovaltine honey Horlicks Milo