Toddler Eating Cheat-Sheet

Up until this point we have tried to offer LL a variety of healthy foods, but it has been hit or miss…a little of this and that, usually what we are eating. We eat meals together. He makes a big mess, eats some food, does a little banging and screaming. It’s all great fun, really. ;)

But since we are now approaching the time when the food he eats is going to need to start replacing some of the nutrition he gets from his formula, I need to do a better job of making sure I am providing him with enough variety and the right amount of the foods that he needs. Food before 1 is just for fun, but we only have a month left until the big O.N.E, so I feel like this is a good time to start transitioning.

I’ve done a lot of research about how much food a 12 month old should be eating. Good news is, they don’t need nearly as much as we think. Toddlers’ growth significantly slows, and they don’t require nearly as much as they did in throughout babyhood. The closest I could come to actual recommended amounts was from the USDA website, which has developed suggestions for children as young as 2. Since I know I will be referencing this frequently, I took the information presented on the USDA website and condensed it into my own Toddler Eating Cheat Sheet. Feel free to print for your own fridge!

Since LL is not consuming anywhere near these amounts at this point in time, I plan on offering half of the amount for now and building up as he is ready for more. If he is really digging one of the foods I offer, he can have more of it. This is strictly just a guideline. Toddlers are picky, and it is okay if they do not eat every food offered every single time. The important thing is to keep offering the good stuff, and take advantage of when they love something!