This month, the Infant & Toddler Forum – a team of specialist paediatricians, psychologists and dietitians who work together to improve nutrition in the under-3s – has launched a brand new initiative to help mums and carers – Ten Steps for Healthy Toddlers.
The Ten Steps are an easy-to-use guide on what food to offer toddlers and how best to manage mealtimes.
Figures from a recent Infant & Toddler Forum poll reveal that over a third of parents in the UK are concerned that their toddlers aren’t getting healthy, balanced meals. Judy More, a leading paediatric dietitian in the UK, is a member of Forum and key author of the Ten Steps.
“Toddlers do need a varied and balanced diet for their growth and their development but they also need time to learn to like the food that parents and carers offer them,” Ms More explained.
Despite its importance, toddler nutrition is a subject that is often overlooked. Advice on what to feed toddlers can seem inconsistent or confusing,. But with the launch of Ten Steps for Healthy Toddlers this could all change.
“The Ten Steps bust some of the myths about feeding toddlers, providing reassurance and clarity for parents and carers,” explains Ms More. “They also reinforce the need to be vigilant and aware about the nutritional value of the foods we feed toddlers, and the importance of forging good habits and attitudes towards food and meal times.”
The survey also shows that, in a typical week, almost 30% of toddler’s meals and snacks are provided by people other than parents. By giving the Ten Steps to nursery staff and childminders, you can be sure that everyone is offering your toddler the same basic care.
For Ms More, the Steps are a positive resource for parents. “We hope these ten steps will help parents have more confidence in the fact that most of them are doing the right thing, and some of them could make some small changes to manage mealtimes better.”
To read all of the Ten Steps for Healthy Toddlers along with other information and handy tools on feeding toddlers, visit www.littlepeoplesplates.co.uk/ten-steps.html. The Steps are also available to order or as a download.
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