Feeding Toddlers: Getting the Portions Right

Knowing how much to feed a newborn baby is one of the great stressors for new parents.

Once those brand-new baby days have passed, most parents settle in and develop a feeding routine with their babies, noting when baby isn’t eating enough or when baby is growing and needs more nourishment throughout the day.

But as babies ease from babyhood to toddlerhood, parents again begin to question how much to feed their 1- to 3-year-olds.

Toddlers are in that wonderful and curious stage where they’re gaining a little independence, exploring new tastes and loving the word, “No!” When they shove their plates onto the floor or demand more and more squeeze tubes of yogurt, when do you know it’s OK? Knowing if your toddler has had enough or too much to eat is one of the anxiety-producing rites of parenthood.

Talking to your doctor is the best idea for getting advice on portion size since it’s as dependent on children’s height and weight as it is their age.

Asking other parents – whether those in the trenches with you or seasoned parents – can also be helpful so you know you’re not in it alone.

Here are some guidelines for toddler portion size and some recipes to try. It’s hard to find any recipe that’s a toddler slam dunk. But these are tested and proven to be loved by at least some toddlers. Maybe your toddler will like them, too.

How much to feed a toddler

The easiest calculation is to portion about a quarter to a half of an adult’s portion onto the child’s plate.

Dietitian and therapist Ellyn Satter’s years of research and formula for promoting a mealtime division of responsibility is something else to consider when portioning food for kids. Yes, have a basic idea of how much food should go on the toddler’s plate, but then leave it up to the toddler to decide. Satter’s division of responsibility theory states that toddlers should be in charge of determining how much and whether or not they will eat, and parents determine what to eat, where to eat and when to eat. This is based on children without health conditions or a feeding issue, and doesn’t apply to all children, depending on their medical needs.

Wondering if your kiddo is eating enough? Running out of ideas for what to feed your toddler? Here’s a sample of what to feed a hungry toddler in a day.

Day in the Eating Life of a 12- to 24-month-old

Breakfast

• 1 slice whole-grain toast with butter
• ¼ banana
• ½ cup whole milk

Snack

• ¼ cup blueberries
• ½ cup milk

Lunch

• ½ grilled cheese on whole-grain bread
• 4 baby carrots, cooked and sliced
• ¼ cup sliced strawberries
• ½ cup whole milk

Snack

• 2 whole grain crackers
• 2 tablespoons hummus
• ½ cup water

Dinner

• ¼ chicken breast
• ½ cup pasta
• ½ mandarin orange
• ½ cup whole milk

Snack

• ¼ cup plain yogurt

Toddlers will like this chicken’s sweet and tangy flavor. It makes four adult servings or 16 baby servings. It can be chopped fine for younger toddlers. Older toddlers can handle slightly bigger pieces.

Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• ½ cup tomato sauce
• ½ small onion, finely chopped
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
• ½ cup crushed pineapple with juice
• 1 garlic clove, mashed
• Cooked rice

1. Place chicken breasts in a casserole dish.
2. In a small bowl, combine tomato sauce, onion, sugar, vinegar, pineapple and garlic. Spoon sauce over chicken. Bake in 350-degree preheated oven for 45 minutes or until chicken is fully baked.
3. Serve chicken and sauce over cooked rice.

It’s snack time! Toddlers will like these oatmeal cookies with a glass of milk.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Makes 4 dozen small cookies

• 1 cup butter, softened
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1 cup raisins

1. In a large bowl, combine butter, brown sugar, egg and vanilla with an electric mixer. Beat until smooth.
2. In another bowl, combine flour, salt, baking soda and oats. Add to butter mixture, mixing well.
3. Scoop tablespoon-size balls of dough onto a baking sheet. Bake in a 350-degree preheated oven. Bake 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned.

This quick-to-make corn chowder has a nice sweetness that kids like.

Easy Corn Chowder

Makes 3 cups

• 1 can low-sodium cream of potato soup
• ½ cup milk
• ½ cup canned cream-style corn
• 1 Roma tomato, seeded and diced
• ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
• Black pepper, to taste
• ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese

1. In a medium saucepan, combine soup, milk, corn, tomato, thyme and pepper. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Spoon into serving bowl, cooling to a safe temperature. Sprinkle with cheese.

Make one or several of these. Toddlers like them, but big kids and adults do, too.

Ham and Egg Breakfast Muffin

Makes 2 servings

• 1 slice whole-wheat bread
• 1 teaspoon butter
• 1 slice ham, chopped
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon grated cheddar cheese

1. Remove crusts from bread, and butter one side. Press bread into muffin tin, buttered side down. Sprinkle with ham and top with egg. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake 15 minutes or until egg is cooked.

Natalie Mikles is a mom of three. She writes about food, sharing recipes for busy families and picky eaters. She has been recognized for her food columns as well as features on families and issues affecting local children. She loves pizza and movie nights with her family.