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Nutrition plays a key role in a child’s growth. As children grow, they take time to develop a taste and liking for different types of foods. Parents are advised to look at nutrition more carefully in toddler years and ensure child’s diet is representative of the five food groups – vegetables, fruits, protein, dairy and cereals – that provide all the micro and macro nutrients that are required for wholesome growth during the formative years.

While macro-nutrients are proteins, carbohydrates and fats that make up bulk of our diet and provide energy for daily activities, micro-nutrients are vitamins and minerals which are essential for utilization of macronutrients to maintain body functions.

“Studies have confirmed that many normal appearing, but thin or short children do have potential to grow faster, but aren’t, because of inadequate nutrition. Such children benefit enormously with at least one supplement of energy and protein dense supplement balanced with adequate micronutrients, in addition to their normal daily intake. Such children do show a spurt in weight and crucially height as well, reassuring us that their BMI stays same without risk of obesity. Similarly, height and weight benefits have been observed with picky and fussy eaters too, with just one supplement a day” Dr. Bhasker Raju adds.

Play time is as important as meal time for toddlers. Encourage children to play outdoors – Vitamin D, often called the Sunshine vitamin, is important for bone health and even supporting immune function.

Mothers’ choices
When looking at nutrition, mothers should observe the child’s behaviour and nutritional choices. Does the child have any preference to a select group of foods and avoiding certain foods? Is the child eating more when sitting at the dining table with other family members or by himself? Selective eaters are at risk for growth faltering – it’s advised that parents check the strengths of all the nutritive elements like proteins, vitamins, minerals and fibre on the label and percent daily requirement fulfilled by each serving of the health drink.

While parents are conscious about the ill effects of junk food that has high sugar and high salt, a little extra effort to ensure that your toddler gets a balanced diet, starting with a good breakfast, a wellbalanced lunch, and eating at least as a family together, can go a long way. The way to ‘right growth’ is through right nutrition and right lifestyle choices for toddlers made by parents.

Move from how much to the right kind of growth
Dr Irfan A Shaikh, Head – Scientific & Medical Affairs, Abbott’s nutrition business in India says, “The growth of a child is influenced by genetics, nutritional and environmental factors, which differs from child to child. However, excessive intake of imbalanced diet, high in fat, salt and sugar leading to imbalanced macronutrient intake and deficiency of micronutrients like iron, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin B12, etc. are rather common these days. Mothers should be alert to habits like selective eating, imbalanced diet, sugary foods, excess weight gain, little or no outdoor play activity and high screen time, which can be inhibitors to appropriate growth.”