Toddlers need a healthy balanced diet to fuel their growth. It should contain all the main food groups - protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals and a mixture of fruit and vegetables.

 

If you follow a healthy diet, then there is no reason why your child can’t eat the same as you. If they see you eating healthy food, it will be less reason for them to complain because you practice what you preach.

 

Avoid sweetened drinks and beware of drinks that are labelled with ‘no added sugar’ because they too contain enough fruit-sugar which can rot teeth. Stick to boiled cooled water.

 

If you are a vegetarian and want to feed your child a vegetarian diet, you should consult a qualified nutritionist first, to make sure that your child doesn’t miss out on essential nutrients.