Healthy eating for 1-3 year-olds: A food-based guide

Abstract

The UK's eatwell plate is a visual representation of the types and proportions of foods needed for a healthy, balanced diet. The Department of Health states that it can be gradually applied from the age of 2 years and applied in full from 5 years. However, there are currently no widely available specific food-based models for 1-3 year-olds (toddlers). The British Nutrition Foundation, with advice from an expert group, reviewed current dietary guidelines in the UK for 1-3 year-olds in order to develop a visual food-based resource depicting the main messages around healthy eating for toddlers. This article provides a summary of the development of this resource, which was produced to help parents, carers, health professionals and early years providers to understand and communicate the basics of healthy eating for this age group and consider other issues such as suitable snacking, healthy hydration, suitable portion sizes and advice regarding supplementation. It is hoped that this resource will help toddlers to establish good dietary habits that will persist into later life.