Nutrition Science and Everyday Application - beta v 0.1

NUTRITION IN LATER INFANCY AND TODDLERHOOD 603
(usually three meals and two to three snacks each day). This prevents constant grazing and
means that children come to the table hungry, ready to enjoy a nourishing meal. As much as
you can, sit down to meals together so that your toddler learns that part of the joy of eating
is enjoying time with loved ones. 2,8
The AMDRs for children ages 1 to 3 recommend that 45 to 65 percent of calories come
from carbohydrate, 30 to 40 percent from fat, and 5 to 20 percent from protein. Compared
with older children and adults, this balance of macronutrients includes a higher level of fat
to support young children’s energy demands for growth and development. Therefore, fat
or cholesterol generally should not be restricted in toddlers, although the focus should be
on nutrient-dense sources of fat. Pediatricians usually recommend that toddlers ages 1 to
2 drink 2 to 3 cups of whole cow’s milk per day to provide fat, protein, and micronutrients,
including calcium and vitamin D. At age 2, parents can switch to low-fat or nonfat milk
to reduce fat intake. For toddlers with a family history or other risk factors for obesity,
pediatricians may recommend switching to low-fat milk sooner. It is important for toddlers
to not over-consume cow’s milk, as filling up on milk will reduce the consumption of other
healthful foods. In particular, toddlers who drink too much cow’s milk have a greater risk of
iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia, which is a common nutrient for this age group
and can cause deficits in brain development. 8
Just as for adults, MyPlate can be helpful for planning balanced meals for children 2 and
up, with appropriate serving sizes. A ballpark recommendation for serving sizes for children
ages 2 to 6 is about 1 tablespoon per year of age for each food, with additional food provided
based on appetite. 8
Other recommendations for feeding toddlers include the following: 2,8,9
• Continuing to offer a variety of foods from all of the food groups, including a mix of
vegetables and fruits of different colors, tastes, and textures.
• Include whole grains and protein sources, such as poultry, fish, meats, tofu, or
legumes in most meals and snacks.
• Limit salty foods and sugary snacks for health reasons, and so that your child
doesn’t come to expect these tastes in foods.
• By 12 to 15 months, wean toddlers from a bottle, transitioning to giving milk at
meals in a cup. Prolonged bottle use tends to promote overconsumption of milk
and can cause dental caries, particularly when toddlers fall asleep with a bottle.
• Continue to take care with choking hazards, as many choking incidents happen in
children younger than 4. Common choking hazards include hot dogs, hard candy,
nuts, seeds, whole grapes, raw carrots, apples, popcorn, marshmallows, chewing
gum, sausages, and globs of peanut butter. Ensuring that children are sitting down
when eating can help to prevent choking accidents.
• Stick to cow’s milk and water as main beverage choices. Juice can be enjoyed
occasionally in small servings (