Laying a healthy foundation
Good feeding habits can last a lifetime!
These tips can help you teach your toddler good eating habits that will stick with her for a lifetime:
- Mix it up . A balanced diet depends on a variety of foods from every food group every day—whole grains, fruit, vegetables, meat and beans and dairy. Also be sure to include foods with nutrients that your child may be lacking: Iron, Zinc, Iodine, Vitamin D, and fibre.
- Serve a rainbow of fruits and veggies. A variety of colourful foods expands your child’s tastes and provides a variety of nutrients for her tummy. Introducing new foods with old favourites may improve acceptance. For example, if she likes corn, try adding small red capsicum dices.
- Let your child decide how much to eat. Teach your child to respect her appetite by letting her decide what and how much to eat. If she’s hungry, let her eat heartily. But if she’s full, let her stop.
- Snack smart. Serve three small meals and two to three snacks a day. Because some toddlers get 25% of their kilojoules from snacks, make sure to offer nutritious choices for every snack. Avoid high-energy, low-nutrient foods, like chips, cookies and sugary drinks.
- Drink responsibly. Beverages are important for hydration, but too many of them can make your toddler too full to eat. Your toddler’s beverage choices should include water and pasteurized full cream cow’s milk. Limit milk to 2 cups per day. Avoid fruit juice and other sweetened drinks.
- Offer healthy fats. Young children need energy from fat for growth. Incorporate healthy sources of predominantly unsaturated fat – fatty fish, avocados, food made with vegetable oils – into your toddlers diet.
- Avoid adding salt. Even if you think your child’s food tastes too bland, remember that she doesn’t need all the salt that tastes right to you. Sodium also becomes a preferred taste once it’s introduced.
Related articles
Baby Bottle Feeding Equipment
If you have decided to bottle feed your baby, there is some equipment which you will need. Thorough cleaning and sterilising of the feeding equipment is most important!
1 min to read
Baby-led Weaning Checklist
Most babies start solid foods at around 6 months. Baby-led weaning, where your baby feeds themself finger foods, is a way to help them discover new flavours and textures at their own pace.
3 mins to read
Your Guide To Introducing Solids To Your Baby
Starting solid foods is a new and exciting step in your baby’s development journey, but knowing where to start can be confusing. Let us help you master mealtimes!
11 mins to read
Introducing Baby’s First Foods? Be Prepared With This Handy List
Introducing solid foods to your baby is a lot of fun as they adjust to new tastes and textures. Check out this essential list for introducing baby’s first food.
3 mins to read
What is Baby Led Weaning?
Apart from the traditional 3 stage process of introducing solids, you may find other ways or methods to follow.
5 mins to read
Breastfeeding Tips
In Australia, almost all mums intend to breastfeed. While breastfeeding is a natural way of feeding, it isn’t always easy.
4 mins to read
How To Prepare and Store Infant Puree
Ready to start solids? First foods are often a smooth consistency, making infant purees the perfect choice. Learn how to prepare and safely store puree for infants.
5 mins to read
Taste Tracker
Did you know? Many children are afraid of new foods, preferring to eat foods they are used to.
1 min to read
How To Start Complementary Feeding
Starting complementary feeding is an exciting (and messy) time! Here are our top tips on how and when to start baby food.
3 mins to read
Starting Solid Foods and Breastfeeding – The Perfect Combination
Your baby’s first spoonful of food marks an exciting and important milestone in their development.
4 mins to read
Your Baby's First Foods – Starting Solids From 4 months
Australian recommendations state solid foods should be introduced at around 6 months of age, and not before 4 months.
3 mins to read
Ready for finger-feeding?
At around 8 months old, your baby will be able to grasp and pick up small pieces of food.
2 mins to read
Baby Formula Feeding Concerns
Most formula fed babies will be very happy on the baby formula you first choose. However, it’s important to know that not all formulas suit all babies.
6 mins to read
Best First Foods for Infants, and What to Avoid
There will be plenty of time for occasional treats when your baby is older, however particularly in the first two years when your baby’s tastes are developing, it is important for them to stick to
5 mins to read
Hungry or full? Nine faces of feeding
It may seem like a whole new world now that your little one is starting to eat solid foods.
4 mins to read
Comebacks to Unwanted Breastfeeding Questions
Stop those unwanted breastfeeding questions in their tracks with these useful breastfeeding comebacks.
2 mins to read
Weaning From The Breast
There may be many reasons why you will slowly reduce then stop breastfeeding, the right time will always depend on you and your baby.
3 mins to read
7 basic rules of safe food preparation
Follow these stay-safe principles when you’re shopping or preparing food for your baby.
4 mins to read
Lonely Parents: How Can You Feel Alone With a Baby in Your Arms?
You never get a minute to yourself, yet you’ve never felt lonelier? Yes, that’s the paradox of lonely parents.
4 mins to read
