Idaho CareLine: Dial 2-1-1 or 800-926-2588
Beyond an Apple a Day
Food and nutrition are as important in childhood as love and care. Children who are rapidly growing and developing need enhanced nutrition and the food they eat also play an important role in their development.
Idaho Women Infants and Children (WIC) — Help for women and children to purchase nutritional foods.
Starting Out Right: Feeding Your Baby
Babies may be ready for solid foods when they:
Beginning solid foods when:
How to prepare infant cereal:
Foods for Baby's First Year
Age
Foods to Begin
Breast milk or Formula
Plain Fruits and Cooked Vegetables. Mashed and peeled, 2 to 4 spoonfuls. Orange vegetables and apricots have Vitamin A.
Offer a Variety of Foods. Baby may begin to feed self.
Use Cup More for Drinking. Water, juice and formula with iron.
Wean from Bottle. Use a cup for drinking.
New Foods
Caution
Stepping Out: Healthy Foods for Toddlers (1-2 years)
Things to Remember
Toddler Eating Guide Food Group Major Nutrients Servings per day Serving Sizes (1 to 2 years) Food Sources Protein Protein Iron 2 to 4 1/2 ounce meat or 2 tablespoons 1/2 egg 1/4 cup beans or peas 1 tablespoon of peanut butter Dried beans, cheese, eggs, peanut butter, split peas, beef, fish, cottage cheese, pork, poultry, tofu, tuna fish Milk Products Calcium Protein 6 1/2 ounce cheese 1/2 cup milk or yogurt Whole milk, lowfat milk, skim milk, powdered milk, evaporated milk, cheese, yogurt Vegetables and Fruits Vitamin A Fiber 1 1/4 cup Apricots, broccoli, cantaloupe, carrots, mangos, nectarines, peaches, pumpkin, peppers, spinach, tomatoes, watermelon, winter squash, sweet potatoes Vitamin C Fiber (not in juice) 1 1/4 cup Juices fortified with vitamin C, orange juice, grapefruit juice, cabbage, cantaloupe, cauliflower, grapefruit, oranges, peppers, strawberries Other Vitamins and Minerals Fiber 2 1/4 cup Apples, bananas, berries, corn, cucumbers, grapes, green beans, lettuce, melons, pears, peas, potatoes, turnips, zucchini Breads and Cereals Carbohydrates B Vitamins Iron Fiber 4 to 6 1/2 slice bread, roll or tortilla 3 crackers 1/4 cup rice, pasta or hot cereal 1/2 cup cold cereal Cold cereal, hot cereal, crackers, macaroni, noodles, spaghetti, rice, rolls, tortillas, white bread, whole wheat bread Fats and Sugar Limit these foods. They provide calories with few nutrients. Butter, margarine, salad dressing, sugar, candy, jam, syrup, soda pop, cake, pie, chips, bacon, Koolaid WIC foods printed in color (Women, Infants, and Children Program)
Toddler Eating Guide
Protein
Iron
Milk Products
Vegetables and Fruits
Fiber
Fiber (not in juice)
Breads and Cereals
Fats and Sugar
WIC foods printed in color (Women, Infants, and Children Program)
Parents choose to serve healthy foods at meal times. Children decide how much of those foods to eat.
Sample Menu Breakfast 1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup cereal with milk 1/4 cup orange juice Snack 1 graham cracker 2 tablespoons applesauce 1/2 cup milk Lunch 1/2 cup milk 1/2 peanut butter sandwich 1/2 cup vegetable soup 1/4 cup cantaloupe cubes Snack 2 vanilla wafers 1/2 cup milk Dinner 1/2 cup milk 1 chicken leg (no skin) 2 tablespoons carrots 1 roll
Growing Up: Healthy Foods for Pre-Schoolers (3-5 years)
Build Good Eating Habits
Preschooler Eating Guide Food Group Major Nutrients Servings per day Serving Sizes (3 to 5 years) Food Sources Protein Protein Iron 3 1 ounce meat 1 egg 1/4 cup beans or peas 2 tablespoons of peanut butter Dried beans, cheese, eggs, peanut butter, split peas, beef, fish, cottage cheese, pork, poultry, tofu, tuna fish Milk Products Calcium Protein 4 3/4 ounce cheese 3/4 cup milk or yogurt Whole milk, lowfat milk, skim milk, powdered milk, evaporated milk, cheese, yogurt Vegetables and Fruits Vitamin A Fiber 1 1/2 cup Apricots, broccoli, cantaloupe, carrots, mangos, nectarines, peaches, pumpkin, peppers, spinach, tomatoes, watermelon, winter squash, sweet potatoes Vitamin C Fiber (not in juice) 1 1/2 cup Juices fortified with vitamin C, orange juice, grapefruit juice, cabbage, cantaloupe, cauliflower, grapefruit, oranges, peppers, strawberries Other Vitamins and Minerals Fiber 2 to 4 1/4 cup Apples, bananas, berries, corn, cucumbers, grapes, green beans, lettuce, melons, pears, peas, potatoes, turnips, zucchini Breads and Cereals Carbohydrates B Vitamins Iron Fiber 4 1/2 slice bread, roll or tortilla 3 crackers 1/4 cup rice, pasta or hot cereal 1/2 cup cold cereal Cold cereal, hot cereal, crackers, macaroni, noodles, spaghetti, rice, rolls, tortillas, white bread, whole wheat bread Fats and Sugar Limit these foods. They provide calories with few nutrients. Butter, margarine, salad dressing, sugar, candy, jam, syrup, soda pop, cake, pie, chips, bacon, Koolaid
Preschooler Eating Guide
Sample Menu Breakfast 1/2 cup milk 3/4 cup cereal with milk 1/2 banana Snack 2 cheese cubes 1/2 apple, sliced Lunch 1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup bean soup 1 tortilla 1/2 orange Snack 4 vanilla wafers 1/2 cup milk Dinner 1/2 cup milk 1 chicken leg 1/4 cup carrots 1 roll
Include Children When Fixing Food