What are the appropriate preparation of nutritionally balanced meals for the 1-3 year old toddler?

Question

Plan breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Answer 1

If you honestly don't know how your children should be fed then maybe you shouldn't have any children.

Answer 2

If by preparation you mean cooking, the best method for cooking food for little ones is poaching it (cooking it in water to retain nutrients). You can also steam their food or microwave it but be careful using the microwave since they don't always cook evenly. You shouldn't give small children fried, sauteed, or breaded food. To a great extent, little ones can eat whatever you are making for yourself (as long as you eat healthily too) - just grind it up without salt or seasoning in a food processor.

Answer 3

Here's a website where you can download a kid's healthy meal planner and recipes:

http://www.organix.com/food_for_children/recipes_and_meal_planners_2.cfm

You can also join their club for free:

Young children are not mini adults – they have different needs and require the right kinds of tasty, nutritious foods to encourage healthy growth. Their bodies are developing faster than at any other time in their lives.

This means they need good mix of carbohydrates to give them energy, protein to build their bodies and essential vitamins and minerals for healthy bones and teeth.

Health is not merely the absence of disease but a state of being that provides lifelong resistance to it. Your child’s health is dependent on the development and maintenance of his immune system; a strong resilient immune system is created from the food and drink he consumes while growing throughout his life. (Ref: Lucy Burney, Immunity Foods for Healthy Kids).

Join our FREE online Children's Food Club for more information on healthy eating for your children.

Answer 4

Not sure how nutritious it is, but here's what I give my 33 month old and 18 month old sons on an average day:

Breakfast:
Glass of whole milk
Bowl of Quaker oatmeal (flavored kind)
Banana

Snack:
Glass of juice
A few grapes
A few Ritz crackers

Lunch:
Glass of milk
Grilled cheese sandwich
Butter and dill carrots
A few potato chips

Afternoon snack:
Glass of water
Cheese and Ritz crackers

Dinner:
Glass of milk
Spaghetti with meat sauce
Garlic bread
Broccoli (they won't eat salad!)

Answer 5

Preparation? You mean cooking? I would say they need warm foods. They probably have teeth so I would pick softer foods. Im sure there are some good websites that have recipies for all ages, if not, there should be books.

Answer 6

Just because someone wants to be sure of what to give their child doesn't mean they shouldn't have them. Most people don't even know what to feed themselves.

Anyway, my 17 month old son loves spagghetti and chicken and noodle soup, and really anything with noodles. He loves anything that he can feed himself, too.

Answer 7

I had this same question in my human development class. It's not that hard to figure out
Anything like....
-Soft foods
-Small bits of meats