Toddlers Nutrition: What do we know?

The nutritional needs of toddlers differ from those of adults. Compared to adults, toddlers may need up to 7.5 times more vitamins and up to 4.5 times more minerals per kg body weight to support their rapid growth and development. Toddlers and young children should be able to get all the nutrients they need from an adequate and diverse diet. Un­fortunately, this is not the case in many countries around the world. Many toddlers fail to meet their recommended daily intake of critical micronutrients including iron and vitamin D. Early childhood is an important developmental period and sets the foundation for long-term health. Food preferences and healthy eating behaviour develop and can be learned during these early years, particularly before 2 years of age, which will track into later years.