How Much Food Should a Toddler Eat?

The Super Baby Food recommends 1/4 of an adult serving per year of age or 1 tablespoon* per age of child per serving:

- 4 servings of vegetables and fruit per day.
- 4 servings of grains (carbohydrates) per day e.g. bread, rice, cereal, noodles, etc.
- 2 servings of protein per day e.g. meat, fish, eggs, tofu, etc.
- 500-700ml of daily per day e.g. milk, yogurt or cheese

* 1 baby food cube = approx. 2 tablespoons

The above is in line with the Danish government recommendation of a "Y" shaped "plate" for each main meal, divided into:

- 2/5 consisting of carbohydrates such as rice, bread, potato or pasta; and
- 2/5 consisting of vegetables and
- 1/5 consisting of protein such as meat, fish, egg or cheese.

At 1.5 year old (1 serving=1.5 TBS= a little less than 1 cube):

J is 1.5 years old, thus, a meal will consist of:
- 3 tablespoons of carbohydrates (equivalent to 1/4 cup or 1/4 slice) - rice, bread, potato, pasta; and
- 3 tablepoons of vegetable and fruit; and
- 1.5 tablespoons of protein - meat, fish, egg or cheese.

Aim at 3 full meals a day, although it is alright if toddler eats only 2 full meals a day. Thus, total daily serving would be:
- 6 - 9 tablespoons of carbohydrates (equivalent to +/- 1/2 cup or 1/2 slice) - rice, bread, potato, pasta; and
- 6 - 9 tablepoons of vegetable and fruit (equivalent to +/- 1/2 cup of cut fruit).
- 3 - 4.5 tablespoons of protein (equivalent to 1/4 cup) - meat, fish, egg or cheese;

In addition, a toddler should consume 2-3 cups of milk daily to get the required calcium.

At 2 years old (1 servings = 2 TBS = 1 cube):

J is soon turning 2 years old, thus, a meal of breakfast will consist of:
- 2 cubes of carbohydrates - oatmeal, millet, quinoa, rice, bread, potato, noodles, etc.; and
- 2 cubes of vegetable and fruit - carrots, broccoli, sweet potatoes, french beans, etc.; and
- 1 cube of protein - beans, meat, fish, egg or cheese.

A meal of lunch will consists of:
- 1 slice of bread (carbohydrates); and
- 2 cubes of vegetable and fruit - carrots, broccoli, sweet potatoes, french beans, etc.; and

A meal of dinner will consists of:
- 4 TBS of carbohydrates - brown rice, brown rice beehoon, potatoes, etc.; and
- 4 TBS of vegetables and fruit; and
- 2 TBS of protein - meat, fish, tofu, etc.

Aiming at 3 full meals a day, although it is alright if toddler eats only 2 full meals a day. Thus, total daily serving would be:
- 4 cubes of carbohydrates - oatmeal, rice, bread, potato, pasta or noodles, etc.; and
- 4 cubes of vegetable and fruit
- 2 cubes of protein - beans, meat, fish, egg or cheese;

In addition, a toddler should consume 2-3 cups of milk daily to get the required calcium, but I am quite relaxed about this, since right now he is eating very well all the 3 courses of meals, more than the average toddler. J drinks a lot of plain water.