Variety in Food Counts

As your toddler begins eating “grown up” food, they might also develop “grown up” eating habits – like too much junk food and too few vegetables. It is important to pay attention to eating patterns, and to remember that the ultimate key to a balanced diet is variety. Different foods provide different nutrients. In order to ensure your child is getting all of the nutrients he needs to grow, he has to eat a good variety of foods.

Everyday, your baby should eat vegetables, fruits, whole grains (i.e. whole-wheat bread pasta, brown rice, oatmeal), proteins (i.e. beans, fish, lean meats) and dairy products. When your child is two years old, you should switch dairy products to low-fat or nonfat varieties. According the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) the average two-year-old should be eating the following amounts:

Vegetables     8 ounces

Fruits            8 Ounces

Grains           3 ounces

Proteins         2 ounces

Dairy            16 ounces milk/yogurt or 4 ounces cheese

 

Meet our Expert

Cheryl Moellenbeck Tallman is the Founder and CEO of Fresh Baby (www.FreshBaby.com). She serves as both a parenting and cooking expert for many high-profile online communities. Cheryl's ultimate vision is to make the task of raising a healthy eater easier for all parents.

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