By age two, your child should be eating three healthy meals a day, plus one or two snacks. He or she can eat the same food as the rest of the family. Do not fixate on amounts and do not make mealtimes a battle. Whenever possible, offer your child finger foods instead of soft ones that require a fork or spoon to eat.
See the following sample menu ideas for a two-year-old.
Note: This menu is planned for a two-year-old child who weighs approximately 27 pounds (12.5 kg).
1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons (15 mL)
1 tablespoon = 1⁄2 ounce (15 mL)
1 ounce = 30 mL
1 cup = 8 ounces (240 mL)
Breakfast
- ½ cup nonfat or low- fat milk
- ½ cup iron- fortified cereal or 1 egg
- 1⁄3 cup fruit (for example, banana, cantaloupe, or strawberries)
- ½ slice whole wheat toast
- ½ teaspoon margarine or butter or 1 teaspoon jelly
Snack
- 4 crackers with cheese or hummus or ½ cup cut-up fruit or berries
- ½ cup water
Lunch
- ½ cup low- fat or nonfat milk
- ½ sandwich—1 slice whole wheat bread, 1 ounce meat, slice of cheese, veggie (avocado, lettuce, or tomato)
- 2–3 carrot sticks (cut up) or 2 tablespoons other dark- yellow or dark-green vegetable
- ½ cup berries or 1 small (½ ounce) low-fat oatmeal cookie
Snack
- ½ cup nonfat or low-fat milk
- ½ apple (sliced), 3 prunes, 1⁄3 cup grapes (cut up), or ½ orange
Dinner
- ½ cup nonfat or low-fat milk
- 2 ounces meat
- 1⁄3 cup pasta, rice, or potato
- 2 tablespoons vegetable
Additional Information on HealthyChildren.org: