At this stage, your child becomes able to eat with the family, and daily caloric needs range between 1000–1400 calories depending on growth and activity level.
A balanced diet should include foods from the main groups, with a variety of textures and distributed over 3 main meals and 2–3 snacks (healthy snacks), such as:
- 2 cups of milk and dairy products or their fortified alternatives with calcium and vitamin D.
- 2–3 slices of bread or 2–3 servings of rice or pasta (half a cup per serving).
- 1 cup of fruits and 1 cup of vegetables.
- 42–56 grams of protein (meat, eggs, or legumes).
- 3 teaspoons of healthy fats (such as olive oil or avocado).