Pre-school Children

The nutritional requirements of children between the ages of 1 – 4 years are unique and quite different to those of older children. Like babies, this age group’s requirement for energy is much higher than older children. Did you know that weight for weight, toddlers need 3 times as many calories as adults for example?

However, adult healthy eating still does not apply to toddlers as these types of foods would be too bulky and filling for small stomachs.

A toddler’s stomach capacity is quite small so they need to eat little and often. A good pattern to follow is breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a mid morning snack and a mid afternoon snack in between. Some children also need a bedtime snack, particularly if they have had an early dinner.

It is also a good idea to always offer a savoury and a sweet course as this gives two opportunities for getting the nutrients in. It also prevents making sweet foods more desirable than savoury, as children grow to learn that sweet foods are just a normal part of mealtimes.

The reason for this eating pattern is purely to allow your toddler to maximise their food intake to make sure they get the right balance of nutrition to grow and develop.