As a toddler's growth slows down after 12 months, they may require less food to support their development. This can result in a decreased appetite and a preference for smaller portions.

Parents of toddlers often worry about how much their child is eating. However, your child will naturally self-regulate the amount of food they eat over a day or even over a week. So, if they don’t eat much at one meal or have a “bad day”, they will usually make up for it later. The most important thing is that you give your child the right types and amounts of food at the right times; the rest is up to your child. 

See Fussy eating for more information.
 

Toddlers need three small meals and two to three snacks from the five different food groups at regular times each day. Avoid letting your child ‘graze’ or eat all day, as they will never really feel full or hungry. 

A serving size is a standardised amount of food based on the Australian Dietary Guidelines. The amount of food for one serve will vary depending on the type of food, age, and sex of your child. The Healthy Eating for Children brochure will help you find out how much your child needs . 

See Healthy Eating for Kids for more information. 
 

Toddlers like to show their independence by making their own decisions and this includes at mealtimes. Give your child some choices by asking questions that aren‘t open-ended questions to promote food independence and reduce confusion, for example:

• “Would you like pear or banana to have with your yoghurt?”
• "Would you like cheese or tuna on your sandwich?”
• "Would you like to use the red or the blue cup for your milk?". 

To encourage a healthy relationship with food, you can:

• provide a positive eating environment
• try to keep mealtimes under 30 minutes
• remove distractions such as televisions, toys or phones to prevent over or undereating
• avoid using food as a bribe or reward
• participate in healthy eating learning experiences
• role model and discuss healthy eating with your child regularly
• avoid language that results in guilt or shame, for example, “junk” or “bad” food.  

You can teach your child about healthy eating by engaging in activities such as growing, preparing or composting the food they eat. If your child has had a positive experience helping grow the vegetables or make the meal, they are more likely to eat it and enjoy it. These experiences allow children to explore and experiment with new and different foods. It can also enhance children’s literacy, familiarity and relationship with healthy food. 

Toddlers can drink full cream cow’s milk. Reduced-fat milk, not skim milk, can be given to children over two years who have a good appetite and are growing normally. Tap water is recommended as the drink of choice and is essential for hydration. Children may need to be reminded to drink water at this age as they can be distracted, easily forget and not feel thirsty . 

See the Dehydration factsheet for more information.