Sample Meal Plan for Feeding Your Toddler (Ages 1 to 3)

happy toddler girl eating a meal

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Need some ideas to feed your toddler? Use these sample meal plans and tips on healthy eating to help you feed your little one.

What should I feed my toddler?

Toddlers aged 1 to 3 are able to eat a variety of healthy foods. Offer your toddler the same foods that the rest of the family eats. Offer foods with different tastes, textures and colours according to Canada's Food Guide.

How much should my toddler eat?

Let your toddler decide how much to eat from the foods you offer. Do not force your toddler to eat or restrict the amount of food you allow them to eat. Some days they might eat more. Some days they might eat less. A toddler’s appetite can change from day to day. Use the sample meals below as general guidelines only. Start with small serving sizes and give more if your toddler is still hungry.

Sample Meals for Feeding Toddlers (1 to 3 years old)

Sample Menu 1

Breakfast	Mini oatmeal pancakes with sliced bananas and nut butter Breastmilk or milk in a cup
Morning Snack	Ripe melon pieces Plain, vanilla or fruit yogurt Water
Lunch	Meatballs (cut into small pieces) Plain macaroni or penne pasta Cooked sweet potato Breastmilk or milk in a cup
Afternoon Snack	100% whole wheat unsalted crackers Cheese cubes Water
Dinner	Baked risotto with salmon Carrots and parsnips Breastmilk or water
Bedtime Snack	Fruity Tutti muffins with applesauce Breastmilk or milk in a cup

Sample Menu 2

Breakfast	Mini mushroom omelette Berries with plain yogurt Breastmilk or milk in a cup
Morning Snack	Apple slices with nut butter Cheese cubes Water
Lunch	Tofu Vegetable Soup Potato patties Ripe pear slices Breastmilk or milk in a cup
Afternoon Snack	Hummus with 100% whole wheat pita Cherry tomatoes (cut into quarters) Water
Dinner	Turkey or vegetarian chili 100% whole grain bun or roll Water
Bedtime Snack	Banana yogurt wrap Breastmilk or milk in a cup

Tips for feeding your toddler (1 to 3 years)

Continue to breastfeed your toddler until the age of two and beyond.
If your toddler uses a bottle, wean them to a regular cup. Bottles also make it easy for your toddler to drink too much. This may leave less room for other healthy foods.
Serve full fat milk (3.25%) milk until age two. You can offer cow’s milk in an open cup. After age two, you can switch to skim, 1% or 2% milk or fortified, unflavoured soy beverage.
Fortified soy, rice, almond or coconut beverages do not contain the same amount of nutrients as cow’s milk. Do not use them instead of breastmilk or cow’s milk before 2 years of age.
Offer water between meals. Sipping on milk or juice between meals can decrease appetite. If you give your toddler juice, offer 100% fruit juice and limit it to 125-175 mL (4-6 oz) a day.
Offer meals and snacks at the same time each day. Offer a variety of familiar foods as well new foods at each meal.
Let your toddler decide what and how much to eat when introducing solid foods. It is normal for toddlers to refuse to eat new foods, change their minds about foods they ate before, or want the same food every day.
Eat meals and snacks prepared at home more often. Prepare healthy homemade recipes such as cheesy chicken crunchie quesadillas, mini pizza sandwiches, hummus and pita and mac and “squeese”
Always supervise your toddler while eating. Cut foods into bite size pieces to avoid choking.