Chances are, if you&rsquo;ve got a toddler, <a href="https://groceries.asda.com/product/bananas/asda-growers-selection-loose-banana-order-by-number-of-bananas-or-select-kg/20332" target="_blank">bananas</a> and veg sticks feature regularly in their diet. They&rsquo;re one of the first foods parents give babies when they start solids as they&rsquo;re easy to eat &ndash; and kids love them!But as babies move into toddler stage, it&rsquo;s vital to give them a more varied, nutrient-packed diet to support growth. "After 12 months, you need to ensure your child has a good appetite for food by reducing milk intake," says Judy More, paediatric dietitian and expert for the Infant & Toddler Forum."By this time, tots should be having three meals and two or three snacks a day. Plus, baby food should be replaced with normal family meals to offer more flavours and textures." <h2>It&rsquo;s in the mix</h2>Make sure tots get a balanced diet by including…Starchy foods: Foods, like <a href="https://groceries.asda.com/product/brown-wholemeal-bread/kingsmill-tasty-thick-wholemeal-bread/42747405" target="_blank">bread</a>, rice, potatoes and <a href="https://groceries.asda.com/product/spaghetti-tagliatelle/asda-spaghetti/36628" target="_blank">pasta</a>, serve five portions of these each day. Avoid too many fibre-rich foods as toddlers can fill up on these before they&rsquo;ve eaten enough to get all the nutrients they need. Move them onto wholegrains from about the age of five.<img alt="toddler-playing-with-a-bowl-of-pasta__hero" class="ci-image ci-hero" src="https://ui3.assets-asda.com/dm/toddler-playing-with-a-bowl-of-pasta__hero_GL?scl=1">Fruit and veg: Give toddlers their 5-a-day, ideally different varieties &ndash; though don&rsquo;t worry if they&rsquo;ll only eat a few types. Milk and dairy: Include three servings a day to provide calcium for bones to develop. Choose <a href="https://groceries.asda.com/product/whole-milk/asda-whole-milk/20502" target="_blank">full-fat versions</a> at first (toddlers need fat to provide the energy they need for growth). From age one, non-dairy alternatives can be introduced, but go for calcium-fortified, unsweetened versions.Protein foods: Foods like beans, pulses, fish, <a href="https://groceries.asda.com/product/free-range/asda-6-large-free-range-eggs/20510" target="_blank">eggs</a>, and meat. Tots need two servings of these a day. Pulses, tofu, soya and <a href="https://groceries.asda.com/product/dippers-nuggets-bites/quorn-meat-free-chicken-nuggets/18448147" target="_blank">Quorn</a> are suitable for vegetarian diets.<h2>Toddler&rsquo;s diets&ndash; the low-down</h2><img alt="toddler-eating-yoghurt__hero" class="ci-image ci-hero" src="https://ui3.assets-asda.com/dm/toddler-eating-yoghurt__hero_GL?scl=1">Sugar pit: On average, tots aged 18 months to three years get about nine cubes of added sugar a day in their diet &ndash; at least twice the recommended maximum for four- to six-year-olds. Biscuits, cakes, sweets, sugary drinks and fruit juice provide almost two-thirds of this, so limit these.Drink up: When it comes to toddlers&rsquo; drinks, it&rsquo;s best to stick with water and milk. From 12 months, <a href="https://groceries.asda.com/product/whole-milk/asda-whole-milk/20502" target="_blank">full-fat cows&rsquo; milk is suitable</a> in place of formula (it&rsquo;s fine to continue breastfeeding). If children are developing well, you can give them semi-skimmed milk from the age of two. Shake off salt: Youngsters between one and three years should have less than 2g of salt a day. So, to keep it low, don&rsquo;t add salt when you prepare meals, limit salty foods like crisps, and choose foods with a green traffic light for salt.<img alt="toddler_eating_a_yoghurt__hero" class="ci-image ci-hero" src="https://ui3.assets-asda.com/dm/toddler_eating_a_yoghurt__hero_GL?scl=1">Boost vitamin: Give their diets a helping hand with a vitamin top-up &ndash; the Department of Health recommends a supplement of vitamins A, C and D for kids from six months to five years. Ask your health visitor for advice, or visit NHS Choices for more details.Proper portions: A recent survey found 79% of UK parents offer toddlers bigger portions than recommended, yet almost three-quarters worry their little ones aren&rsquo;t eating enough. We can take a lead from our children, explains Judy. "Toddlers are experts at regulating their appetites and eating the right amount to grow properly." For more guidance on portion sizes, <a href="https://www.nutrition.org.uk/" target="_blank">go to nutrition.org.uk</a>.Iron it out: Lean red meat and oily fish are the best sources of iron. Eggs, pulses, fortified cereals and green leafy veg provide some iron, but it&rsquo;s less well absorbed by the body.Written by Juliette Kellow

Is your toddler getting all the nutrients they need?

By Asda Good Living,7th April 2017

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