What is a Toddler Serving Size of Grains?

Question: What is a Toddler Serving Size of Grains?

Grains are an important source of vitamins and minerals. Even grains where most of the nutrients are milled out have the most important nutrients added back in. Today's toddler is served mostly refined grains. This together with fruit being offered mostly in juice form and a lack of vegetables leaves the toddler's diet lacking in fiber. You may know that fiber offers protection against heart disease, certain cancers and diabetes in adults, but the greatest benefit for toddlers is ... Well, it's poop! And toddlers need lots of regularly occurring, easy-to-pass poop during potty training.

Answer: Your toddler needs:

3 Ounces of Grains

1 ounce of grains can come in the form of:

• 1 whole grain mini bagel
• 1 2-inch refined grain biscuit
• 1 slice whole grain bread
• 5 whole wheat crackers
• 7 refined grain crackers
• 1/2 English Muffin
• 1/2 cup cooked oatmeal
• 1 packet instant oatmeal
• 1 4-inch whole grain pancake
• 2 3-inch refined grain pancakes
• 1 cup whole grain cereal flakes or Os
• 1/2 cup cooked brown or wild rice
• 1 ounce uncooked white rice
• 1/2 cup cooked whole grain pasta
• 1 ounce uncooked refined grain pasta
• 1 6-inch whole grain tortilla

This is one area where toddlers are typically served too many servings. If, for example, your toddler has eaten 1/2 cup of brown rice, some crackers or a tortilla and a piece of toast, he's met the requirements for the day. Toddler who are served large portions of macaroni and cheese, pizza and breaded chicken nuggets will max out their grain requirement quickly and possibly exceed it.

In addition, chances are those grains will be refined and less nutritious. At least half of these grains should be whole grains like oatmeal and brown rice. By substituting whole grain pasta for the refined grain pasta in macaroni and cheese, you get the benefits of more vitamins, minerals and especially fiber. And, you get it in a smaller portion so there's more room in your child's tummy for other food and thus more nutrients.

Personally, I love the taste and texture of whole wheat pasta -- even 100 percent buckwheat noodles. If I give my son a choice between whole or refined grain, though, he will easily eat two or three times more of the refined grain pasta. So, one way I've found to ensure at least half of the pasta my son eats are whole grains he'll still eat is by compromising a bit. I can get Barilla whole wheat pasta in my area and it is made with 51 percent whole grains. It doesn't take much longer to cook, either. Just a few minutes. Eden Foods also makes a line of whole wheat pasta that uses 60 percent whole grains and tastes great. Check your local stores and experiment. You might be surprised by what your child will like.

_Sources:

United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition

USA Rice Federation: Preparation