Just like adults, young children need energy (calories) from food and nutrients such as protein, fat, carbohydrate, vitamins and minerals, to make sure their bodies work properly and can repair themselves.

Toddlers grow very quickly and are usually very active, so they need plenty of calories and nutrients. A healthy and varied diet should provide all the nutrients your toddler needs.

Remember to include these sorts of foods every day:

a.. Milk and dairy foods - these provide calories, protein, vitamins and minerals.

b.. Meat, fish, eggs, beans, peas and lentils - these are rich in nutrients such as protein, vitamins and minerals. You can give boys up to four portions of oily fish a week, such as mackerel, salmon and sardines, but it's best to give girls no more than two portions of oily fish a week.

c.. Bread, and other cereals such as rice, pasta and breakfast cereals, and potatoes, yams and sweet potatoes - these starchy foods provide calories, vitamins, minerals and fibre.

d.. Fruit and vegetables - these contain vitamin C, and other protective vitamins and minerals, as well as fibre.

Although toddlers can eat the same food as adults, before they're two years old children can't eat large amounts of food at one sitting. So, until then, give your child meals and snacks packed with calories and nutrients (nutrient dense foods) such as:

a.. full-fat milk and dairy foods

b.. meat

c.. eggs

Don't forget to give them fruit and vegetables and starchy foods as well.

But if you tend to eat high fibre foods, remember that young children's stomachs can't cope with foods such as wholemeal pasta and brown rice. Also, too much fibre can sometimes reduce the amount of minerals they can absorb, such as calcium and iron.

There are many food related products available to help with the different stages that your child will go through. Please follow this link to ParentsRoom.co.uk where you will find a great selection of these products.