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2 years old baby food chart


Feeding & Nutrition Tips: Your 2-Year-Old

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Ages & Stages

With your two-year-old's blossoming language and social skills, they're ready to become an active mealtime participant. They should no longer be drinking from a bottle, and can eat the same food as the rest of the family. Their diet should now include three healthy meals a day, plus one or two snacks.

Here are some tips to help your little one develop healthy, safe eating habits and get the nutrition their growing bodies need.

Mealtime tips for toddlers

  • Try not to fixate on amounts of food they are eating.

  • Avoid making mealtimes a battle.

  • Pay attention to adopting healthy eating habits—including sitting as a family at mealtime.

  • Focus on making healthy food choices as a family.

Unsafe foods for toddlers: choking risks


At two years old, your child should be able to use a spoon, drink from a cup with just one hand, and feed themselves a wide variety of finger foods. However, they are still learning to chew and swallow efficiently and may gulp food down when in a hurry to get on with playing. For that reason, the risk of choking at this age is high.

Avoid these foods, which could be swallowed whole and block the windpipe:


  • Hot dogs (unless cut in quarters lengthwise before being sliced)

  • Chunks of peanut butter (Peanut butter may be spread thinly on bread or a cracker, but never give chunks of peanut butter to a toddler.)

  • Nuts—especially peanuts

  • Raw cherries with pits

  • Round, hard candies—including jelly beans

  • Gum

  • Whole grapes

  • Marshmallows

  • Raw carrots, celery, green beans

  • Popcorn

  • Seeds—such as processed pumpkin or sunflower seeds

  • Whole grapes, cherry tomatoes (cut them in quarters)

  • Large chunks of any food such as meat, potatoes, or raw vegetables and fruits

The best foods for toddlers include:

  • Protein foods like meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, nuts, seeds and soy

  • Dairy such as milk, yogurt, cheese or calcium-fortified soymilk

  • Fruits and vegetables

  • Grains such as whole wheat bread and oatmeal

It is normal for toddlers to choose from a limited number of foods, reject foods entirely, and then change their preferences over time. Never force your child to eat something they do not want to eat. The best approach is to let your child to choose from 2 to 3 healthy options, and continue to offer new foods as their tastes change.

Offering a variety of foods and leaving the choices up to your child will eventually allow them to eat a balanced diet on their own. Toddlers also like to feed themselves. So, whenever possible, offer your child finger foods instead of cooked ones that require a fork or spoon to eat.

Supplements for some children

Vitamin supplements are rarely necessary for toddlers who eat a varied diet, with a few exceptions.

Vitamin D. Infants under 12 months of age require 400 International Units (IU) of vitamin D per day and older children and adolescents require 600 IU per day. This amount of vitamin D can prevent rickets—a condition characterized by the softening and weakening of bones. If your child is not regularly exposed to sunlight or is consuming enough vitamin D in their diet, talk to your pediatrician about a vitamin D supplement. See Vitamin D for Babies, Children & Adolescents for more information and a list of vitamin D-enriched foods.

Iron. Supplemental iron may be needed if your child eats very little meat, iron-fortified cereal, or vegetables rich in iron. Large quantities of milk (more than 32 ounces [960 mL] per day) also may interfere with the proper absorption of iron, increasing the risk of iron deficiency anemia.

Calcium. Your child should drink 16 ounces (480 mL) of low-fat or nonfat milk each day. This will provide most of the calcium they need for bone growth and still not interfere with their appetite for other foods—particularly those that provide iron.

Note: Children stay on whole milk until they are two years of age—unless there is a reason to switch a baby to low-fat milk sooner. Whole milk contains approximately 4% milk fat. It may help to gradually switch your child from whole milk to a lower-fat milk. Therefore, many pediatricians recommend that children get reduced fat (2%) milk for a few weeks before switching them to low fat (1%) or no fat (skim) milk.

More information

  • Sample Menu for a Two-Year-Old
  • Feeding & Nutrition Tips: Your 3-Year-Old
  • Selecting Snacks for Toddlers
  • I Need a Treat: How to Tame Your Child's Sweet Tooth
  • Diagnosis and Prevention of Iron Deficiency and Iron Deficiency Anemia in Infants and Young Children (0-3 Years of Age) (AAP Clinical Report)
Last Updated
9/6/2022
Source
American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Obesity (Copyright © 2022)

The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.

Healthy Foods for 2 Year Old Child Along with Recipes

Food habits change rapidly as your infant grows. Within the first two years, your baby will have begun teething, moved on to solid foods, and more or less integrated with family mealtimes. Here is a food chart, as well as some recipes on how to integrate healthy eating habits in your child and include good, wholesome and nutritious food in his diet.

How Does Your Toddler’s Meal Time Change?

Your child will have begun eating solid foods as he starts teething. Kids this age are impatient and even fussy around mealtimes. At one and a half years (18 months), toddlers usually manage to handle a spoon to feed themselves. By 24 months, your child will have joined the grown-ups table as a regular!

Some Useful Steps to Form Good Eating Habits in Your Child

A toddler’s eating habits and tastes are only being established as he first starts eating solid foods. This is the time when parents should strive to build a healthy eating habit.

  • Delay your child’s introduction to fast food and sweetened aerated drinks, and help build a preference for fresh, wholesome food.
  • Stick to strict meal timings. Establishing a routine will lead to your child developing a fixed mealtime by getting hungry at the right time.
  • Do not feed your child heavy snacks or lots of liquid rights before mealtime.
  • Each meal should last for 20 minutes and no longer.

Food for a 2-Year-Old Baby

While a balanced diet is essential for us, children need a boost of nourishment that helps them grow.

1. Dairy Products

Milk, yoghurt, and paneer are all rich in calcium. Calcium helps build strong bones. In case your child is lactose intolerant, he may need to take calcium from other sources like nuts and pulses to make up for a gap in the calcium intake.

2. Chicken

Chicken and other non-vegetarian foods contain good quantities of easily absorbable iron and protein. Iron helps power haemoglobin in the blood and prevents anaemia. Iron found in vegetarian food is harder for the body to absorb and, hence, your child will need to consume at least twice as much of it to get the required amount.

3. Fish

Fish is a good source of Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs). EFAs help builds immunity and strengthens the cardiovascular system. Vegetarians will need proper substitution of EFA sources, as it is not produced in the body and can only be gained externally.

4. Healthy Oils

Flaxseeds, walnuts, soybeans, and other nuts and their oil contain reasonable amounts of EFAs and minerals.

5. Carrots

Carrots are famous as a rich source of Vitamin A. Spinach, kale, and other vegetables also contain high levels of Vitamin A. It is essential to include foods rich in different vitamins in your child’s diet. Vitamin A helps in boosting eyesight and immunity.

6. Citrus Fruits

Lemons and oranges are renowned for their Vitamin C content. Deficiency of Vitamin C can lead to serious diseases like scurvy. Vitamin C helps in strengthening gums and blood vessels and recovering from bruises. Guavas, mangos, bananas, tomatoes, and spinach also contain Vitamin C.

7. Sunshine

Although this isn’t technically a food, it is something the body absorbs. Hence, it is included in this list, considering the integral role it plays in growth. The element we gain from sunshine is Vitamin D. Vitamin D is essential for a child to achieve his maximum growth potential. Foods that contain Vitamin D are fish and dairy products.

8. Bananas

Magnesium and potassium, are essential elements for cardiac health, and muscle condition, and are found in bananas. Incorporate this beneficial fruit into cereals and other foods to make it a staple.

Food Chart/Schedule for 2-Year-Old Baby

Breakfast Mid Morning Lunch Afternoon Dinner
Sunday Poha/Upma with vegetables/ sprouts/ peanuts and milk/ curd Cup of milk and fruits Curry made with any pulses or rice and dahi Paneer cutlet with milk Aloo matar with missi roti
Monday Dosa or Moong dal cheela with added vegetables and curd Seasonal Fruits Mixed vegetables curry with chapatti Fruit milkshake Chapatti with fried soya chunks
Tuesday Egg roll in roti or egg rice Vegetable soup / fruits Veg biryani with cucumber sticks Boiled corn or boiled peanuts + fruit Vegetable khichdi with curd

 
Wednesday Idli and sambar Almonds/ raisins Aloo paratha with dahi Fruits Boiled chicken with rice
Thursday Ragi porridge with chopped nuts Fruit Chana dal khichdi with curd

 

 Upma with curd/ milk

 

 Vegetable soup with 2 cutlets (veg or non-veg)
Friday Oats cooked in milk Fruit smoothie or custard Chole curry with chapattis Oats khichdi Sambar with rice
Saturday Vegetable paratha Fruits and nuts Paneer pulao Omlette or cheese-chapati roll Vegetable pulao with dahi

Homemade Food Recipes for 2-Year-Old Baby

Here are some select recipes from the food chart that may not be too familiar to you.

1.

Moong Dal Cheela

A power-packed start to your day!

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup moong dal
  •  ¼ teaspoon turmeric
  • ¼ teaspoon red chilli powder
  • ½ teaspoon roasted cumin
  • Salt to taste
  •  ¼ cup chopped onions
  • 1 teaspoon grated ginger
  • Finely chopped green chillis
  • A pinch of hing (asafoetida)
  • Butter

How to Prepare:

  • Soak the moong dal in water overnight.
  • Drain the water and grind with adequate water to form a thick paste – similar to dosa batter.
  • Add spices to the batter and mix well.
  • Add the seasoning and a pinch of hing, and mix again.
  • Allow the batter to rest for 15-20 minutes.
  • Heat butter in a non-stick pan and spread the batter like you would a dosa.

2. Coconut

Chutney

A traditional accompaniment to dosas and idlis!

Ingredients:

  • ½ cup fresh grated coconut
  • 2 tablespoons fried yellow gram
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • 2 green chillis
  • 1 garlic clove
  • ¼ teaspoon mustard
  • 1 dried red chilli
  • ¾ teaspoon urad dal
  • Hing
  • Curry leaves

How to Prepare:

  • Blend all the ingredients, except the seasoning, together.
  • Add water and salt (to taste) while blending.
  • In a few drops of oil heated in a pan, saute the seasonings.
  • Add the blended chutney to the seasoning and turn off the heat. Serve with idli or dosa.

3.

Chana Dal Khichdi

A simple recipe that uses very little seasoning and embraces the natural flavour of chana.

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 teaspoon of red chilli powder
  • 1 pinch of asafoetida
  • ½ cup of rice
  • ½ cup chana dal
  • Oil
  • Water
  • Salt

How to Prepare:

  • Soak the rice for 30 minutes prior to preparation.
  • The chana dal should be soaked for 4-5 hours, prior to preparation. (If time does not permit, you may soak it in hot water for about 30 minutes)
  • Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a pressure cooker and add the seasoning.
  • Add the rinsed chana dal with salt to taste and stir.
  • Add 1 cup of water and cook under pressure for 6 minutes or 2 whistles.
  • After it has cooled down, add the rice and cook for 1 or 2 whistles.

4.

Paneer Cutlet

Paneer provides a boost of protein and calcium to the common vegetable cutlet and gives a uniquely soft texture to the cutlet too.

Ingredients:

  • 2 pinches of turmeric powder
  • ¼ teaspoon red chilli powder
  • ½ teaspoon coriander powder
  • ½ teaspoon cumin powder
  • ¼ teaspoon garam masala
  • 200gms paneer
  • 150gms potato
  • 100gms carrot
  • 1/3 cups peas
  • Paste: 1 green chilli
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 1-inch slice of ginger
  • 3 tablespoons rice flour
  • 3 tablespoons rava
  • 3 tablespoons oil

How to Prepare:

  • Cut the green chilli, garlic and ginger, and grind to a paste.
  • Peel and cut the vegetables and cook for up to 4 whistles in a pressure cooker, with 2 cups of water.
  • Drain the water when cooled and transfer the cooked vegetables to a mixing bowl.
  • Mash the vegetables, add the paste and seasoning, and mix well.
  • Add the paneer (Paneer should be crumbled or grated).
  • Add 3 tablespoons of rice flour and salt to taste, and mix again.
  • Take small portions of the mixture and shape into patties.
  • Coat with rava and fry in a shallow pan until both sides are golden brown. Serve with ketchup or chutney.

5. Soya Chunks Fry

A healthy and tasty dish that is simple to make. It goes great with both chapattis and rice!

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup soya chunks
  • 2 onions, shredded
  • 2 green chillis, slit
  • 1 big piece of ginger cut into thin strips
  • 4 garlic cloves, sliced
  • 1/2 Tsp garam masala
  • 1/2 Tsp chaat masala
  • ½ tsp red chilli powder
  • 2 tomato, finely chopped
  • Coriander leaves
  • 2 tablespoons oil

How to Prepare:

  • Immerse the soya in hot water for about 20 minutes.
  • In a pan, saute the onions in oil.
  • Once the onions are golden-brown, add the garlic and ginger.
  • Add the green chillis and then the tomatoes.
  • As the mixture cooks, add the seasoning and mix well. Turn off the flame.
  • Now, drain the soya chunks (You may need to squeeze them with the help of a sieve to drain them well).
  • Add the soya chunks to the mixture and begin cooking again.
  • Add salt to taste and mix the contents of the pan thoroughly so that the soya chunks are well coated with the masala (You can also add a bit of lemon juice to this, for a hint of tanginess).
  • Cook in a pan till the soya chunks are browned.
  • Turn off the flame and garnish with plenty of finely chopped coriander leaves. Serve warm.

Feeding Tips

  • While providing healthy food for 2-year-old baby do not fixate on the amounts eaten. This will change from child to child and between different days and mealtimes.
  • A 2-year-old toddler’s food requirement does not have to include artificial supplements.
  • Indian baby food recipes for a 2-year-old can be spicy. If your child is fussy about this, you can experiment with reducing the amount of seasoning, especially red chilli powder.
  • Give your child notice before every mealtime. This gets him thinking about food and builds up an appetite.
  • Have the food ready and plated for mealtime when your child arrives.
  • Do not punish or reward your child’s eating habits, as it can create a problematic attitude towards food and harm your child’s relationship with food.
  • Don’t allow your toddler to watch T.V. during mealtime, as he needs to focus on the food. Talk to him instead and include him in conversations with all the family members.

Disclaimer:

  • Look out for allergies. Your child could be allergic to certain nuts, grains or dairy products. Make sure you avoid these food items and consult your doctor about the allergies.
  • When introducing your toddler to new foods, you should ensure that you introduce new food one at a time as this will make it easier for you to check for allergies and help you understand your child’s preferences.
  • If your child is suffering from diarrhoea, don’t stop feeding him. Consult a doctor and feed him foods that are nutritious and can control the diarrhoea.
  • Don’t force-feed your toddler. Toddlers can be fussy with food, be patient and know when he has eaten enough.

Eating nutritious food that is fresh and doesn’t contain preservatives is seen by many as something that takes too much effort, but with the right motivation, it can be a habit and not a chore! Include different fresh fruits in your child’s diets, so his tastes vary and he is less likely to become fussy over time.

Previous Year: 1 Year Old Baby Food Chart

2 year old child's menu with recipes

Menu author: Natalia Dik — pediatrician. She graduated from the Chelyabinsk Medical Academy, clinical internship and residency, specialty pediatrics. She has been working in her specialty since 2007, from 2005-2008 she has been the head of the Allergy Department of the City Clinical Hospital No. 1 of Chelyabinsk, since 2008 she has been a specialist in clinical trials of drugs. She enjoys cooking and practices the Menu of the Week system in her daily life.

By the age of two, most babies are able to eat many foods and dishes on their own, there is no need to grind food in a blender or knead with a fork. Rejoicing at such changes, some parents want to give the baby to try more new dishes. Some, on the contrary, are afraid to introduce something new, and they are in no hurry to transfer it to the general table. There is some common sense in both approaches. Although the digestive system of a two-year-old baby is already much more mature compared to a one-year-old, nevertheless, it is not yet strong enough. Therefore transition to adult food should be gradual .

The sample menu for week below is suitable not only for feeding a two-year-old child, but also for the whole family.

Do not worry if one of the days the child has not eaten all the dishes you have prepared. Our ideas about how much a two-year-old baby should eat often differ from reality in the direction of overestimation. In addition, children may have their own characteristics and preferences. Everything new is best offered in small portions. Often, babies carefully try unfamiliar or otherwise prepared foods, but if they are offered the same dish next time, they can eat it with pleasure.

MONDAY

Breakfast: Porridge made of oatmeal with caramel apples
Lunch: Pumpkin puree soup with chicken+salad “Sunny”
SUPPORT: Smoothies with sheepskin coat
Dinner: stewed vegetables with freaksheels

Pediatrician's comment:

As with all ages, it is very important to diversify the diet of children, including different types of foods . At the same time, vegetables (fresh and cooked), fruits, cereals, milk and dairy products, vegetable and butter should be on the children's menu daily.

Recommended norm of milk and dairy products - up to 600 ml (of which at least 200 ml are fermented milk products), vegetables 300-400g (of which potatoes - no more than 150g), fruits - 130g, meat (red or poultry) - up to 90g per day , bread - up to 90g (of which black - no more than 30g).

It is advisable to eat fish 2-3 times a week (weekly norm 175g), eggs - no more than 3 times a week.

TUESDAY

Breakfast: Kindergarten-style scrambled eggs
Lunch: Borsch-mashed potatoes + Potato casserole with vegetables
Snack: Baked apples with cottage cheese
Dinner:

Stewed vegetables

Pediatrician's comment:

Make sure your child drinks enough liquids. The norm is 35 ml/kg of water per day ie with a weight of 12 kg your baby should drink 420 ml. It is desirable that it be clean water. If the child refuses it, you can try to give unsweetened compote, herbal tea, but not store-bought juices.

MEDIUM

Breakfast: Millet porridge with pumpkin in a slow cooker
Lunch: Borscht puree + White cabbage salad with apple
Afternoon snack: Banana smoothie with cookies and nuts
Dinner: Buckwheat porridge + Braised liver

Pediatrician's comment:

In the diet of two-year-old children, there should be no such things as fast food (in addition to hamburgers and french fries, these are various chips and store-bought crackers), smoked meats, semi-finished products (sausages, sausages), canned and pickled foods, mushrooms and seafood.

THURSDAY

Breakfast: Cottage cheese casserole with apples
Lunch: Soup with fish meatballs + Carrots and dried apricots
SUPPLE: yogurt+milk cake
Dinner: Buckwheat

Pediatrician's comment:

Of course, it is best to prepare baby food from natural products. If, nevertheless, there is a need to purchase finished products (yogurts, curds, etc.) - , be sure to read the information on the composition of on the labels, since at present, even in products intended for baby food, you can often find various flavors, thickeners and preservatives.

Manufacturers use many tricks to confuse customers (for example, they write "No preservatives" even if the composition contains citric acid, a powerful preservative).

FRIDAY

breakfast: Sweet pilaf with dried fruits and nuts
lunch: Soup with fish meatballs + Salad “Vitamin”
SUPPORT: yogurt+milk cake
Dinner: Potato cutlets with turkey and raw

Pediatrician's comment:

At the age of two, it is already allowed to introduce a small amount of fried , however, try not to abuse this cooking method, preferring boiling, stewing or baking to it.

SATURDAY

Breakfast: Cottage cheese casserole with pumpkin in a multicooker
Lunch: Ratatui soup in a multicooker+beetroot salad with prunes and feta
Half -after -day: Kisel from cherry
Dinner: Potato cutlets with turkey and raw

Pediatrician's comment:

The diet of children at the age of two remains 5 times a day: three main meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and two intermediate ones. If the break between the main meals is short, then in between it is enough to give an unsweetened fruit (apple, pear) or a vegetable salad (for example, apple + carrot). If the break is long, you can offer the baby a fermented milk product (yogurt, cottage cheese) with bread or cookies.

SUNDAY

Breakfast: Pancakes with carrots
Lunch: Ratatouille soup in a slow cooker + Beetroot salad with prunes and feta
Afternoon snack: Cherry jelly
Fish casserole 10019 Fish casserole1 9000

Pediatrician's comment:

Some experts do not recommend introducing sugar and confectionery into the diet until the age of three , or even for life. If you are already giving your child sweets, remember that the daily intake of sugar for a two-year-old child is up to 50g per day, and the less, the better. Chocolate and chocolates should be avoided as they stimulate the nervous system of children, often cause allergies and can cause constipation.

Health to you and your children!

Do you like these recipes?

Author: Anastasija

Union of Pediatricians of Russia

0017

Nutrition for children aged 1 to 3 years

The period from 1 to 3 years of life is a crucial stage in the transition to an adult type of nutrition, which has certain features. In order to ensure that all the necessary nutrients enter the child's body and at the same time prevent an excess of individual nutrients, nutrition should be balanced and varied.

The daily amount of food for children aged 1 to 1.5 years should be 1000-1200 g, from 1.5 to 3 years - 1200-1500, the amount of food in one feeding should not exceed 300-350 ml. The diet consists of three main meals per day and two snacks. It is considered optimal when breakfast is 25% of the total energy density of the diet, lunch is 30–35%, dinner is 20%, and additional meals are about 10%. In general, the child can eat the same food as the rest of the family.

In the diet of a child 1–3 years of age , must be present daily: animal or poultry meat, dairy and sour-milk products, vegetables, fruits, bread, cereals, vegetable and butter; fish and eggs are included in the diet 2-3 times a week.

Cereal products: bread - 2-3 servings per day, cereals and side dishes - 1 time per day
Fruit and/or vegetables: at least 5 times a day
Dairy products: at least 3 servings per day (including those used to make cereals, yoghurts, fermented milk drinks, cottage cheese, infant formula or breast milk).

Domestic pediatricians recommend, when compiling a diet for children aged 1–3 years, preference should be given to specialized children's dairy products of industrial production that meet high quality requirements and safety indicators for this age. Most children's dairy products are additionally enriched with vitamins and/or minerals and other biologically active components, taking into account the physiological needs of children of this age. At the same time, in foreign recommendations, children over 1 year old are offered the gradual introduction of whole cow's milk, which is rich in fats necessary for proper growth and development, the absorption of vitamins A and D, the development of the child's brain and nervous system.

Meat dishes: 2-3 times a day
Fish dishes: 2-3 servings per week
Eggs: 2-3 per week
Dietary fats: 3-4 teaspoons of butter and/or vegetable oils per day

When cooking, use the minimum amount of salt and sugar, and do not add them to industrial products.

Offer your child a variety of foods and let them choose for themselves. Children love to eat on their own, so if possible, offer food that the child can eat with their hands.

It is important to remember that a baby can choke on pieces of food, so whatever you give your baby should be crushed or cut into small pieces that can be easily chewed.

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