![Toddler Menu Planner](https://infantandtoddlerforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/shopsidebar-mini.jpg)
Use our Toddler Meal planning tool to ensure your 1-4 years old receives a balanced diet every day.
Find out more >![](/media/upload/small-images/tot-it-up-link.png)
Use our toddler food tracker to check that your 1-4 year olds are getting a good balance of foods and activity
Find out more >![](https://infantandtoddlerforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/oct-23-blog.png)
This educational programme for frontline professionals contains a range of practical resources on infant feeding.
Find out more >Guidance & Tips for Parents
![](/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/fork_and_spoon.png)
A healthy diet for a toddler is different to that for an older child or an adult because toddlers need a more nutrient rich diet as they are growing rapidly
- Use some butter, margarine and oils in cooking.
- Give a mixture of white and some wholemeal/wholegrain breads and cereals because just wholegrain foods are too filling for toddlers.
- Limit cake, puddings and biscuits to one small serving per day and serve alongside fruit.
![](/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/icon2.png)
Toddlers will get adequate amounts of all the nutrients and energy they need if their diet is based on combining foods from the five food groups, along with a daily vitamin D supplement
- The nutrients in a healthy, balanced diet are protein, fat, carbohydrate, vitamins, minerals, omega 3 and 6 fats, and other protective plant compounds, fibre and fluid.
![](/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/icon3.png)
Toddlers will eat best when they have a routine of three meals and two to three planned snacks per day organised around their sleeping pattern
- Eat with your toddlers and praise them when they eat well, as this will encourage them to enjoy their meals.
![](/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/icon4.png)
Give your toddler between six and eight drinks per day to ensure adequate hydration that is, a drink with each meal and snack
- More may be needed in very hot weather or if they are particularly active.
- Use beakers and cups instead of bottles.
- The best drinks to give between meals and snacks are water or milk.
- Dilute drinks containing sweeteners with a lot of water.
- Do not give sugary drinks including fruit juices and smoothies to toddlers.
- Tea, coffee or fizzy drinks are also unsuitable for toddlers.
![](/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/icon5.png)
Foods that may cause harm
- Keep very salty foods to a minimum. This includes crisps and other salty snacks.
- Limit any sugary food and drinks to a maximum of four times per day to avoid the risk of dental decay i.e. limit them to three meals and no more than one snack per day.
- Do not give raw eggs or raw shellfish to toddlers as they may cause food poisoning. Make sure eggs are well cooked right through.
- Do not give shark, swordfish and marlin to toddlers, as they may contain high levels of mercury. Limit smaller oily fish to twice a week for girls and four times a week for boys. e.g. sardines, mackerel, salmon, trout, eel.
![](/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/icon6.png)
Do not give whole nuts to toddlers because of the risk of choking
- Ground or chopped nuts or nut butters are suitable. Soft round foods such as grapes and cherry tomatoes should be cut in half.
![](/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/icon7.png)
Give toddlers a vitamin A & D supplement each day
- This is for normal growth and development and to prevent rickets.
- It is especially important for fussy eaters, toddlers of African, African-Caribbean and South Asian origin and those living in the northern areas of the UK.
- Vitamin drops usually include vitamin C which helps with iron absorption.