Chart For Feeding Infants And Toddlers (Page 4 of 5) in pdf

Bread or crackers may be served at the snack or with

Feed child-size portions from the 5 Food Groups.

meals throughout the course of the day. At 8 or

A toddler-size serving is about two-thirds of the

9 months, babies enjoy having finger foods so

adult portion. Although toddlers are not good about

they can practice picking up the foods. Also at

eating meat and other protein sources, it is not likely

that age, a baby’s risk of having a reaction to

that they won’t get enough protein. For example, it

wheat decreases.

only takes 16 ounces of milk, plus one ounce of

meat to provide enough protein for children up to

Examples of bread and cereal foods to serve babies

three years old.

include:

If a child doesn’t want to drink milk, that is okay. It is

•

strips or small pieces of dry bread or toast or

better not to force them or talk about it because this

crackers

may actually cause them to believe they don’t like

•

plain crackers, preferably low in salt

milk, and they will never try it again. If you leave

•

small pieces of soft tortilla or soft pita bread

them alone, a toddler will probably drink milk again,

•

teething biscuits.

because they haven’t been reminded that “they don’t

like milk.”

Never feed babies these foods, due to choking:

Gradually change from whole milk to lower-fat milk so

•

snack potato or corn chips, pretzels or cheese twists

that a child is drinking 1% or fat-free milk by age 5.

•

cookies or granola bars

•

crackers or breads with seeds, nut pieces or whole

Catering to Likes and Dislikes

grain kernels

• whole kernels of cooked rice, barley or wheat

With a toddler, it is good to plan meals that include at

•

raw vegetables (including green peas, string beans,

least one food they like. However, a toddler may really

celery, carrot, etc.)

like a food at one meal, and won’t touch the same

•

whole pieces of canned fruit

food at another meal. Don’t do short order cooking. If

•

hard pieces of raw fruit such as apple, pear or

a toddler refuses to eat anything, ignore his or her

melon

whining. Don’t give her the idea you are upset or

•

whole grapes, berries, cherries, melon balls or

concerned about her complaining.

cherry and grape tomatoes (cut these foods into

Toddlers will eat better if their food is easy to eat.

quarters, with pits removed, before feeding to older

Here are some strategies for presenting food in a form

babies)

•

they can eat:

uncooked dried fruit (including raisins)

•

Cut foods in bite-size pieces, preferably before he

Never feed a baby under 12 months these foods, due

gets there. Toddlers cannot use knives but may have

to allergic reaction risk:

a tantrum about not being allowed to try.

•

shrimp

Make some foods soft and moist.

•

lobster

Allow him to eat his food at room temperature.

•

crab

Give salads without dressing and serve them as

•

crawfish

finger food.

•

scallops

Either make soups thin enough to drink from a cup

•

oysters

or thick enough to eat from a spoon easily.

•

clams

•

Put a little extra color in foods. Children are

•

egg whites

interested in a little parsley in the hot dish or some

carrot grated into the coleslaw.

Toddlers: Food for Thought

•

Cater to their preferences on shapes. Children may

insist on having their sandwiches quartered or pre-

Feeding the Right Kind of Food

fer carrot rounds to sticks. Orange wedges with the

In managing toddler eating, remember who is

skins attached are often eaten better than sections.

responsible for what. Adults are responsible for

Don’t regularly provide cute foods because this tends

deciding what the child is offered to eat, where it is

offered and when it is presented. The child is

to help them confuse food with playthings. Food

should look like food, not like toys.

responsible for how much she eats.

Chart For Feeding Infants And Toddlers Page 4

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