What should a toddler eat?
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture toddlers need foods from the same for basic food groups as adults do, but the serving sizes should be two- thirds of the adult serving size. According to the Ohio State Agricultural Extension, a good rule for serving sizes for toddlers is 1 tablespoon per year of age or 1/4 of an adult serving per year of age. For example, a serving of milk for a 2-year-old would be 1/2 cup, a serving of cooked carrots for a 3-year-old would be 3 tablespoons, a serving of ground beef for tacos for a 4-year- old would be 4 tablespoons. Your toddler should eat indicated servings from these food groups every day: • Meat, fish, poultry, eggs (two to three servings) • Dairy products (three servings equivalent to two cups of milk each day) • Fruits and vegetables (three servings each) • Cereal grains, potatoes, rice, breads, pasta (six servings) Limit your child’s intake of refined sugar. It can contribute to obesity, tooth decay, and overactivity. However, don
