Healthy Food and Eating

Thirst Quenchers for Toddlers

There's a lot of information out there on first foods and picky eaters, but what about drinks? It's important for your child to stay hydrated, and water is the top choice for this task. Water helps his body carry oxygen to all his cells, digest food, remove waste, and maintain the proper body temperature. While the next best drink option is milk, keep in mind that he shouldn't have more than three cups a day, to save room for nutrients from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. And as you probably already know, sweetened drinks should be avoided, including fruit juice. If you'd like to give your child juice, consider limiting it to 1/2 cup per day that's also been diluted with water or offering him whole fruits instead.

Has your child achieved the following Healthy Food and Eating developmental milestones yet? If yes, check off all the skill(s) he has already mastered to date!