Meal plans and snack ideas for toddlers

Offer solids two to three times a day before or after breastfeeding

Mashed or finely-minced texture

Start with high-iron foods

• well-cooked, finely-minced meat, poultry, or fish (moistened with breast milk or cooking water)

• single-grain, iron-fortified baby cereal

• mashed cooked egg

• mashed legumes such as beans, lentils, or tofu

Once baby is eating high-iron foods, offer:

• mashed cooked vegetables

• mashed skinless fruit

• nut butters mixed with baby cereal

Offer solids two to three times a day before or after breastfeeding

Mashed and soft finger foods from the family meal

Offer high-iron foods like meat, poultry, fish, eggs, legumes or baby cereal two or more times per day. 

• finely chopped chicken, fish, meat, or egg

• mashed, cooked legumes such as beans, lentils, or tofu

• nut butters mixed with baby cereal

• yogurt, cottage cheese

• small pieces of hard cheese

• vegetables and Fruit

• mashed or chopped pieces of soft vegetables

• hard vegetables that are cooked until soft

• mashed or chopped pieces of soft fruit, remove tough skins and pits 

• baby cereal (iron-fortified)

• oat ring cereal

• small pieces of toast, crackers, or pasta

• cooked grains such as rice or quinoa

Offer solids three to four times a day before or after breastfeeding

Soft, lumpy, cut-up pieces of food from the family meal

As your toddler eats more solid foods, they will gradually drink less breast milk.
 

• small pieces of egg, tender meat, poultry, or fish

• legumes such as beans, lentils, or tofu

• nut butters (spread thinly)

• yogurt, cottage cheese

• small pieces of hard cheese

• babies can start to try 3.25% M.F. milk at nine to 12 months old if they are eating a variety of iron-rich foods

• Vegetables and Fruit

• small soft pieces of vegetables

• small soft pieces of fruit

• baby cereal (iron-fortified)

• oat ring cereal

• small pieces of toast, crackers, or pasta

• cooked grains such as rice or quinoa

Offer the same foods as the rest of the family on the same established schedule for meals and snacks.

Continue to offer breast milk if possible.

Continue to offer a variety of foods using suggestions from Canada’s Food Guide as it is meant for ages two and older. Offer amounts based on toddler's cues of hunger and fullness.

Avoid foods that are choking hazards