When a baby grows, its nutritional needs grow with it. A complete diet of 4 to 5 meals a day is necessary for the proper development of the toddler. Every meal and even every ingredient is important. See what a good diet for a baby should look like.
A healthy breakfast - energy for the day
Breakfast is a child's most important meal. As well as giving your child plenty of energy, it has other important benefits. First of all, it stabilises blood sugar levels, which helps control appetite. You should get your child used to eating regular meals, this way your toddler's body will not demand unhealthy snacks during the day. A breakfast eaten soon after waking up also has a positive effect on the metabolism, thus reducing the risk of developing excess weight. A well-balanced breakfast also has an impact on the memory, concentration and well-being of the toddler during the day.
In a healthy breakfast, the balance of ingredients is very important. When preparing this meal, use protein and cereal products, as well as vegetables and fruit. Above all, make sure your child has enough protein - breakfast should be based on milk and dairy products, which are very important for a child's diet up to the age of 3. What does this mean in practice? If you are giving your child dairy soup, do not give them a sandwich with dairy in the same breakfast set anymore. A sandwich with cold meat, which is a source of protein, will go perfectly with fruit juice.
Lunch, the richest meal of the day
The lunch of a one-year-old toddler can already consist of two courses, but remember not to make these lunch portions too generous. The first course is a soup based on vegetables. The second should alternate between poultry, fish and red meat, and alternate between potatoes, rice, pasta and porridge. A worthwhile lunch consists of all food groups, but vegetables should be the mainstay here and always serve them with the second course.
