From one and a half to three years old, our child’s brain will gain 2 grams a day! He therefore needs to good growth that his nutritional intake is complete. We take stock.
Between 18 and 36 months: how many calories per day for my child?
Between half of his first year and his third year, our child grows on average by20%,grows by 40% and his brain takes 2 grams a day ! Consequently, he needs the “right” amount of energy, around 1,200 calories per day, provided in four meals, and an appropriate distribution of three food families :
- 20 to 35 g per day of protein (meat, fish, egg) or 6 teaspoons or half an egg
- 30 to 40 g of lipids or fats, i.e. 3 teaspoons of fat (butter, oil, or more rarely, cream)
- 130 to 165 g of carbohydrates (sugars, starches, fibres), i.e. 3 tablespoons at all meals or 1/3 of the amount of vegetables
- 500 to 800 ml of growing-up milk and other dairy products (cheeses, dairy products)
- And always, full of vitamins and minerals with 5 servings of 80 g of vegetables and fruit per dayspread over the 4 meals.
These recommendations vary according to your child’s growth and appetite and are to be taken as averages. You can also offer baby water with a low mineral content between meals and during meals.
What fruits and vegetables for children from 18 months?
From now on, all vegetables are allowed, even those that tend to ferment (particularly from the cabbage, artichoke and salsify family). At the level of portions to give him, count: 5-6 tablespoons at 2 years and 8-9 at 3 years.
Crudités, less digestible than cooked vegetables, are systematically part of one of his meals, in larger quantities than before: approximately 2 tablespoons. Even those of cabbage, celery (except allergy), mushrooms and tender green salads (oak leaves, lettuce, lamb’s lettuce), still cut into strips, can be added to his diet.
On the fruit side: currants, blackcurrants, blueberries, blackberries will be the newcomers (portion: 2 to 3 tablespoons or half a fresh fruit, two or three times a day) as soon as they are in season! Do not hesitate to offer him to nibble, from time to time, dried fruits (dates, figs, prunes) and oilseedscrushed then crushed (walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds), provided that baby is of course not allergic.
From 2 years old, starchy foods in all forms on baby’s plate
After 2 years, your child can enjoy different breads if it digests them well (whole or with seeds but not with bran). He still eats infant cereals (in “flour” but also in petals and flakes). As for servings, give him an 1/8th of a baguette or 1 slice of bread or 4 to 5 tablespoons of infant cereal.
The “musts”: pasta, rice and potatoes are part of the meals, but we also think with wheat, bulgur, corn, quinoa and other cereals as a “garnish” once or twice a day, often in combination with vegetables. As soon as he eats real little pieces,the rice no longer needs to be as cooked as before, nor the pasta so thin. Shells are welcome.
Pulses are an integral part of our child’s diet, but it is recommended to reduce them further to puree.
Dairy products for children between 18 and 36 months
Between 18 and 36 months, a child needs at least 500ml of growth milkper day. These are adapted to his needs (in calcium, iron, essential fatty acids), even if, after 2 years, our baby can also taste “homemade” or “classic” dairy desserts. In addition, we can offer him some dairy products (cottage cheese, yoghurt, petit-suisse, etc.) or cheeses (all but hard, richer in calcium).
Meat, fish, eggs: wide range for babies from 18 months
Animal proteins complete baby’s diet, always only once a day at a rate of 20/30 g, around 18-24 monthsand 30/35 g around 24-36 months. Are now allowed Pisces and more “tasty” and fatty meats (duck, lamb, mutton, tuna, mackerel, salmon), but preferably cooked without fat (en papillote or poached) and served in small pieces. However, consumption is limited breaded and fried meat and fish. The egg, twice a week, can be used in all its recipes: fried, scrambled, in an omelet, poached… but always in quantities adapted to its age.
Fat: rightly on baby’s plate after 18 months
The fatare always essentially fresh butter, a little cream or a drizzle of oil. You can start introducing fried foods (once a week at most), gratins from time to time, or fattier meats and fish. Beware of hidden, unnecessary fats (biscuits, cakes, pizzas, sauces, etc.) and portions that are too generous for this age: we cut our child 1/16th of camembert rather than 1/8th, we offer him a mini-burger and a mini cone of fries, but not the “medium” size and even less maxi…