The amount of fats that toddlers need is very small. Don't take this to mean that fats are bad and try to avoid fat altogether. Toddlers still need some fat in their diet to promote growth, provide energy and to help metabolize fat soluble vitamins.
3 Teaspoons of Fats and Oils
1 teaspoon of fats and oils can come in the form of:
Most of the fat will come from sources like meat and milk. If you add butter to toast or rice or cook meat in a little oil, this requirement will be met very quickly. On the other hand, if you add small fries from McDonald's, you will be giving your child 100 calories from fat, which eats up nearly all the fat allowance for the day and your toddler could be getting too much fat. Be sure to avoid trans fats.
When it comes to meats, beans and vegetables, you are not supposed to count something twice that you've only eaten once. For example, peas can count toward meats and beans or they can count toward vegetables for the day. But you should choose one category and continue to work toward fulfilling the other instead of saying that the cup of peas fulfills both requirements. When it comes to fats and oils that's not the case. If your child eats a peanut butter sandwich, that peanut butter should count toward both the meats and beans requirement and should also count toward the necessary oils for the day.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition
