by Sue Gilbert, M.S., Nutritionist


Daily requirements for a one-to-three-year-old:

  1. Protein: Minimum of 16 grams. Try 16 ounces of milk plus one ounce of meat.
  2. Fat: Toddlers should get at least 30 percent of their calories from fat for energy and growth needs.
  3. Calories: 40 calories/day/inch of height (1000 to 1300 calories/day). Calorie distribution should look something like this:
    • 16 g protein = 64 calories
    • 44 g fat = 396 calories
    • 210 g carbohydrate = 840 calories
    Total = 1300 calories
  4. Sodium: 325 to 1000 mg.
  5. Vitamin C: 40 mg.
  6. Vitamin A: 400 ug (micrograms).
  7. Calcium: 800 mg. Even with two cups of milk a day, toddlers still need another 200 mg. Offer yogurt, cheese, tofu, and leafy greens.
  8. Iron: 10 mg.
  9. Zinc: 10 mg. A mild zinc deficiency in toddlers is common. Symptoms include poor appetite, sub-optimal growth and a reduced sense of taste and smell. The best sources of zinc are meat, eggs and seafood.
  10. Folate: 50 ug.

The last four are the ones most often deficient in toddlers.

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