Heinz - Tinytums

Foods for your toddler

Fields in the sum Babies are not born liking certain foods, they will learn to like the foods they are given. They learn to recognize the taste, the smell, the texture, and most importantly at this age, the way that the food looks. So the wider the range of foods of different colour and texture that are offered by 12 months, the better, as your toddler will know and like lots of different foods.

Suitable foods
Toddlers should enjoy food, eat a variety of foods from all the four main food groups, so that they eat plenty to grow and be physically active. Healthy eating guidelines for adults don’t apply to children under 5 years of age. A high-fibre and low-fat diet would be too bulky and too low in energy for a child under 2 years of age. But beyond this age lower fat foods, and those providing more starch and fibre can be introduced gradually.

The Four Main Food Groups

Starchy Foods – give 3 or 4 portions every day, but there is no need always to use wholemeal, wholegrain brown or high fibre versions
Fruit and vegetables - your toddler should have 3 or 4 portions every day
Milk and milk products – give 2 portions every day ( about 2/3 pint milk) but lower fat versions are not appropriate for babies and young children
Meat fish and alternatives – your toddler needs 2 portions each day from a wide variety including red meat

Food Group	Foods
Milk and milk products	Breast milk, infant formula, cow’s milk, yogurt, fromage frais, cottage cheese and hard cheese
Starchy foods	Bread, rolls, pitta bread, chapatti, breakfast cereals, baby cereals, plain and savoury biscuits, noodles, spaghetti and other pasta, semolina, rice, oats, millet, potato, yam, plantain
Vegetables and fruit	Leafy and green vegetables (cabbage, green beans, peas, broccoli, leeks) Root Vegetables (carrots, onion, turnip) Salad Vegetables (tomato, cucumber) Mushrooms, Sweetcorn, Marrow, Squashed Fruit (apple, banana, peach, orange, melon) fruit juices and dried fruit.
Meat, fish and alternatives	Lean lamb, beef, pork, chicken, turkey, fish, fish fingers, egg, sausages and burgers lentils, dhal, peas, beans, baked beans, gram
Fats and sweets (occasional foods)	Cakes, sweet biscuits, sweetened squash, sweetened desserts and milk drinks, ice cream, cream, sugar, jam, honey, savoury snacks, fried foods
What to avoid	Whole nuts (because of the risk of choking), salty, sugary or very fatty fried food, strong, hot spices, fizzy drinks, tea or coffee