snack bars

It’s worth mentioning that portion sizes are tricker with babies under 1. There are lots of things to take into account – babies have different metabolic rates, making their appetites difficult to pin down. Teething and illness will also affect a baby’s appetite. When you start to wean, don’t be surprised if your baby’s appetite seems unpredictable – from day to day and week to week.

If you find yourself wondering if you are feeding your little one the correct portion size, here’s some helpful guides showing the average portion size for a 1 to 4 year old (depending on their appetite on that day):

Remember these portion sizes are average amounts: some children will want to eat more and some less. You can be reassured that if your little one is eating within the range of portion sizes of a particular food, then he/she is eating enough of that food. Plus, children aged 1-4 years don’t eat set portion sizes like many adults do. In general, if your 1–4-year-old is taller or more active he/she will eat larger portions of some foods than if he/she is smaller or less active.

* Information is based on UK advice. If you visit the website from a country outside UK the advice may vary. Please check with your local  health authorities regarding advice on eating well for babies.

 

 

Please note: that above, one plate does not equal one meal. The plates show example portion sizes of various elements to your little one’s meals.

A toddler’s tummy is a third of the size of an adult’s.

Therefore, they should not go more than 3 hours without eating. Our snacks are the ideal top-up, plus they’re perfect to pop in your bag when you’re out and about.

Little ones cannot obtain all their energy needs at mealtimes alone.

As their tummies are so small, snacks play an important part in a little one’s daily routine.

Snacks play a key role in the diet as it’s hard for little ones to get all the nutrients they need just from main meals.

3 meals a day + 2 snacks is a useful pattern to follow, but do be led by your little one and never force them to eat – be guided by their appetite.

Being physically active every day is vital for the healthy growth and development of babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers. By encouraging children to make nutritious food choices when snacking they will be well fueled to keep them going until their next meal.

Top tips

Encourage at least 5 different fruits and vegetables each day. Snack time is a good opportunity to have them eat a portion (one portion = 40g), to make reaching that goal easier.
Starchy carbohydrate foods (e.g., bread, rice, oats) make a good snack, especially wholegrain varieties as they provide energy and fibre. Kiddylicious Crispy Rice Sticks contain wholegrain rice and the Juicy Fruit Bars contain wholegrain oats.
Consider the time you offer a snack to your little one. Don’t offer it too close to a mealtime – so they are hungry enough to eat their next meal. Also be mindful of portion size; the nutrition information on Kiddylicious snacks represents the amount in the pack which can be consumed in one sitting, so you don’t need to worry about your little one having multiple servings by mistake.
Carry ambient food and snacks that won’t deteriorate in the heat. Then you won’t be caught short if you’re out in hot weather (unless you’ve got a cool bag!). All Kiddylicious snacks are ambient.
We have a range of delicious tasting snacks suitable for little ones from 6 months to 3 years and beyond They are packed with developmental benefits such as helping little ones develop their pincer grip and learn to self-feed.

In line with the latest Public Health England (PHE) Change4Life campaign which encourages parents to select ‘100 calorie snacks, 2 a day max’, all Kiddylicious snacks are developed to be less than 100 calories per serving.

If you have any concerns regarding your little ones diet, we recommend you consult your doctor or healthcare professional.