Healthy diet for toddler: In order to stay healthy and develop well, all toddlers need to eat a healthy, balanced diet everyday.

What is a balanced diet?

Your toddler needs to have 5 potions of fruit and vegetables every day. They need to also eat some lean meat or fish, or pulses or beans every day. A small amount of bread, cereal, rice or pasta is also recommended with each meal.

How do I get my toddler to eat fruit and vegetables?

Many toddlers do not eat enough of these during the day, and some eat none! Start your child from very young trying a wide variety of tastes - as soon as you start weaning. It is more likely that they will continue to eat some later even if they become pickier.

Get more info on Tummy Trumbles - a supportive tummy tonic for children and to facilitate normal bowel activity and healthy, firm stools in children.

Kids Fruits:

These are usually easier - give fruits as a snack for your child. Prepare them in advance for them, such as slicing the apple or pear, peeling the tangerine and giving them the segments. With older children it can be laziness which puts them off!

If they are still not keen, give them a dip, such as chocolate with the fruit - make sure they clean their teeth afterwards!This perhaps doesn't sound like a healthy diet for toddler, but if the dip is in moderation, it might mean the difference between eating fruit or not!





Kids Vegetables:

Green, leafy vegetables are the best source of vitamins to have a healthy diet for a toddler. If your child is a sprout or broccoli hater, mix the vegetables with other foods, such as mashed broccoli and potato, spinach added to the mince in burgers or shepherd's pie etc.

Try various ways of cooking them, mashing, steaming, in a creamy, cheesy or tomato sauce.

If your toddler will only eat a limited variety - don't worry. It is better to eat some rather than none. So if your child will only eat sweet corn and strawberries, make sure he gets plenty of them! Continue to offer new possibilities, but be prepared for rejection!

If you are worried your child is not getting a healthy diet of vitamins or minerals, check out our Multivitamin for Toddlers page to find alternatives.





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