What should a 2 year old be eating daily. Based on the age, nutritional needs, and digestive characteristics of each individual child, parents can add the nutrients needed for their children.
Child nutritionists divide nutrition for children by age into three groups: the 0-12 month age group, the 1, 2, and 3 year age group, and the 3-6 year age group.
- Protein
Giving protein foods to children aged 2 years every day is very important. Children are growing, their protein needs are higher. Foods rich in protein are milk, eggs, lean meats, liver, soy, and soy products.
These foodstuffs must be processed first so that the texture can be digested by a child of 2 years. Depending on the economic condition of the parents who can choose the right food to provide protein for their children.
Read also: Eating Only Vegetables and Protein to Lose Weight
- Vitamin C and essential minerals
Vitamin C is found in vegetables. Nutrition experts suggest children age around 2 years are given dark vegetables such as carrots, bell peppers, eggplant, spinach. This vegetable supplies vitamin A in sufficient quantities in the body.
In vegetables such as radishes, cauliflower contains a certain amount of vitamin C that the body needs. In addition to the vegetables above, apples, oranges, tangerines, grapefruit are also sources of important minerals that help the development of a child’s body more fully.
Experts say that the color and taste of fruits stimulate the appetite. When feeding a 2 year old child every day, parents should pay attention to adding more suitable vegetables and fruits to the child’s menu.
But you must remember that when adding vegetables to a child’s diet, you should avoid the stereotypical mistake of adding only a few familiar vegetables. Instead, you add a variety of vegetables so that children do not feel bored.
- Cereal, fat, and sugar
Fat, sugar, and cereals are three types of substances need to provide energy for the body. In children, whole grains can provide 50-60% of the energy the body needs.
Whole grains provide the energy (glucose sugar) needed for brain function. In addition, the fiber contained in whole grains will help regulate glucose sugar in the body.
Apart from that, whole grains also contain high levels of B vitamins which help foster a healthy nervous system. Therefore, do not forget to add whole grains to the child’s diet.
Sugar is important for children’s health, but parents should not give too much sugar to children because this will make children susceptible to tooth decay or obesity.
Read also: How To Reduce Carbs In Rice
- Herbs and spices
Spices include salt, soy sauce, fish sauce, vinegar. When cooking daily meals for children, parents should pay attention to the addition of appropriate spices to increase the child’s appetite.