These practical food portion size ranges could be used both in early years settings and in advice to parents. The food plan emphasises the need to include a variety of nutrient-dense foods if a balanced diet is to be achieved for preschool children.
Summary The toddler years (12–36 months) are a period of changing nutritional requirements and food intake. As a time of considerable growth and development, they are crucial not only to the health of the toddler, but also to his or her later health. Toddlers need a relatively energy‐dense diet to meet their needs for growth and activity, but also adequate micronutrients to guard against iron deficiency, rickets and growth faltering. Healthy eating habits in toddlerhood can be the basis for lifelong healthy eating, including the prevention of obesity, diabetes and dental caries. Parents and carers need clear and consistent advice, and healthcare professionals need access to evidence‐based information and best practice in order to support them.
Optimal nutritional intake is essential for protecting the health of adults and children. A balanced diet that provides sufficient energy and essential nutrients is vital for supporting metabolism and daily activity. Children have higher energy and nutrient requirements than adults in relation to their body size as a result of the extra demands of growth and development. 1 However, excessive energy intake is associated with an increased risk of overweight/ obesity. This is a major public health concern because being overweight or obese in childhood increases the risk of disease in the short-and long-term. Children who are overweight are at increased risk of potentially life-threatening illnesses such as asthma and sleep apnoea. 2,3 Affected children have lower self-esteem and suffer more
Summary
To address the lack of guidance in feeding toddlers, the Infant and Toddler Forum has launched a factsheet providing evidence‐based portion size ranges of a wide variety of foods. They can be used to limit excess energy intakes in toddlers (aged 1–3 years) and to reassure parents who worry that their toddlers do not eat enough.
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