How much should my one year old be eating?

Q: How much nourishment should my toddler have?

A: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends one year olds consume about 900 calories per day, eating foods from the basic food groups. Over the course of a day, here’s what that looks like:

1 cup of fruit

3/4 cup of vegetables

2 ounces of grains

2 cups of dairy

1.5 ounces of protein

Because the dietary fat needs of a one year old are high, it’s ok to boost the amount of fat in meals by preparing or topping foods with a few teaspoons of healthy oils or oily foods (for example: olive oil, mayonnaise, and avocado).

Here’s a sample daily menu for a one year old:

Breakfast

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup Cheerios

1 small banana, mashed

Lunch

1/2 cup yogurt

1/2 cup (about 4) strawberries, sliced

Snack

Egg salad (1 hard-boiled egg, 1/4 cup finely-chopped celery, and 1 tsp mayonnaise)

1 slice whole wheat bread

Dinner

1/2 cup macaroni made with 1 ounce melted cheddar cheese

1/2 cup cooked broccoli, finely chopped

1 thin slice turkey breast (about 1/2 ounce), diced

1/2 cup milk

Answered by Elisa Zied