Toddler nutrition made easy

Life is a huge adventure for our little explorers. There is so much to learn and experience. As far as nutrition is concerned, toddlers have very special requirements and parents regularly have many questions.

From the age of 12 months, your child becomes a toddler and usually starts eating with the family. The four milk and porridge meals per day have now become three main meals (morning, noon, evening) and two smaller snacks (second breakfast and afternoon snack). Your child can now tolerate almost all foods and is curious about a variety of foods - so offer them over and over again.

Delicious ideas for toddlers

• In the morning you can mix a muesli with natural yoghurt(1.5% fat), fine flakes and fresh fruit such as apple, pear or banana for your child. You don't have to soak fine oatmeal beforehand.
• As a snack between breakfast and lunch or between noon and evening, you can always offer your toddler vegetables and fruit cut into handy pieces or strips to nibble on. Fresh carrots, peppers, kohlrabi, cucumber, apples and pears are particularly good. Whole-grain rusks, spelled sticks, crispbread or even yoghurt are ideal for this as well.
• At lunchtime, your toddler can take part in the family meal. To do this, take the appropriate portion for your toddler from the family meal before seasoning. If possible, you should avoid salt, sugar and high-fat foods.
• In the evening, many toddlers like to eat a slice of bread made from finely ground whole grain, which has been thinly coated with butter or cream cheese and topped with cheese or ham. You can then cut these into small pieces so that your child can eat on their own.

The Importance of Milk for Toddlers?

Milk and dairy products are important sources of calcium for your toddler and should therefore be part of their daily diet. According to the recommendations of the Research Department for Child Nutrition, children in the second year of life need around 330 ml of milk or milk products per day.

For children aged 2-3 years, three meals a day that contain milk or dairy products are ideal. This can be muesli, cheese bread, a small yogurt or a cup of children's milk with bread. Other milk-containing meals such as rice pudding (note: toddlers no longer eat porridge), milkshakes or casseroles baked with cheese are also suitable.

From when do we stop giving milk bottles at night?

Most toddlers no longer need a milk bottle at night when they are 2 years old. Because the eating and saturation rhythm has slowly settled down to the day. For example, if your child ate badly during the day, they will be hungry at night and want the milk bottle. However, this should no longer be the rule until the end of the second year of life.