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Achieving Nutrient and Calorie Requirements 135
Combining the food groups These foods are very low in iron and need to be
limited to an average of three servings a day to
A balanced nutritious diet for 1–4 year olds is based ensure they do not replace iron-containing foods of
on the five food groups as discussed in Chapter 1.2. the food groups 1, 2 and 4.
However, this can be more challenging than in
older children. Even children 1–4 years old eating Bottles of milk should have been discontinued
well may not consume enough vitamin A and a around a child’s first birthday. Children who drink
supplement of vitamin A and D is recommended excess milk for comfort will be filling up on this at
for under-fives (see page 136). the expense of eating more iron-rich foods and will
be at risk of iron-deficiency anaemia. If no yogurt
Food group 1: Bread, rice, potatoes, or cheese is eaten then three cups of milk a day,
pasta and other starchy foods about 350 mL in total, is adequate.
This group provides a good source of energy. It is
also a good source of fibre, but under-fives should Full-fat cow’s milk is higher in vitamin A than
be offered a mixture of both wholegrain and low-fat milks and is given until a child is at least
refined bread and cereals (e.g. white and wholemeal 2 years old. Semi-skimmed milk can be introduced
bread and white and brown rice). Too much fibre in from this age providing the toddler eats a wide
younger children can be very filling and fibre binds variety of foods. However, full-fat milk can
with certain minerals, thereby reducing their continue to be given and will provide more vitamin
absorption. Wholegrains can be slowly increased A than semi-skimmed milk. Skimmed milk is not
for those with constipation, or decreased if they suitable as the main drink for children under
cause a tendency towards diarrhoea. 5 years of age as it contains very little vitamin A.
Food group 2: Fruit and vegetables Follow-on or toddler milks may be used for
This is the food group some young children have milk drinks in place of cow’s milk to provide extra
most trouble eating, particularly vegetables with a nutrients for toddlers who eat poorly. They provide
bitter taste. Offering them at every meal is the same range of nutrients as cow’s milk but in
important, even though they may be refused, to addition they are fortified with iron and higher
teach under-fives that fruit and vegetables are a levels of zinc and some vitamins. The disadvantage
normal part of each meal. Seeing others, is that they are more expensive than cow’s milk.
particularly their parents, eating and enjoying
them is a powerful encouragement for under-fives Food group 4: Meat, fish, eggs, nuts and
to taste and then, with time, learn to like them.
Small portions should be offered and more can be pulses
given when children request it.
This food group is the richest source of iron
Food group 3: Milk, cheese and yogurt and under-fives have high iron requirements.
This food group involves the biggest change from A significant number become anaemic from
feeding during infancy. Children from 1 year of age not having enough food from this group (see
will obtain adequate calcium from just three Chapter 5.2).
servings of these foods each day. A serving for
children 1–4 years old is: Chicken is a popular texture in this group and
darker meat from the thigh and leg provide more
●● 1 cup of milk (120 mL) iron.
●● cheese in a sandwich or sauce, or on pasta or Toddlers often reject hard, chewy red meats and
pizza prefer softer cuts and minced meat in burgers,
meatballs, meat loaf and sausages. When
●● a small pot of yogurt (about 120 g). good-quality products with a high lean meat
content are used, adequate iron will be provided.
Liver, if offered, should be limited to one small
serving per week because of the high levels of
vitamin A.
