Festive Menu For toddlers

Christmas Day is a time to eat, drink and be merry, when families can come together to celebrate. You can use the suggestions in this menu in a way that suits your festive routine to give little ones a healthy balance, while still enjoying some treats.

For those with young children, preparation is key. Plan the day so your toddler is having a meal or snack every 2-3 hours – an over hungry child may suddenly become grumpy or disruptive.

Breakfast It may be an early start, so after stockings or the first round of presents, offer your toddler breakfast for an energy boost to set them up for what

will be a very busy, exciting day. Your toddler may be happiest with their usual breakfast, or if they are a little more adventurous try:

Pancakes or a muffin with a small cup of hot chocolate

Toasted bagels or bread with cream cheese or scrambled eggs - with or without some smoked salmon.

Snack Cheese and oatcakes with some grapes

Satsuma, clementine or tangerine with a festive shaped biscuit like a reindeer,star or Christmas tree.

Christmas LunchTraditional turkey and trimmings

Most toddlers will enjoy the meat and sausages but some may prefer them dry rather than smothered in sauces. Ask their preference before adding any extras like gravy, cranberry sauce, bread sauce or stuffing

Roast potatoes are likely to be popular

Keep vegetables to very small servings and only put those that your toddler is happy to eat on their plate.

Pudding

If traditional Christmas pudding is only served once a year, your toddler may refuse it. A nice alternative is plain cake, ice cream or custard that they can decorate with sweets or chocolates from their stocking

Fresh or dried fruit with festive biscuits.

SnackMini mince pies or a small piece of Christmas cake

A small plain pancake

Slices of a crisp apple

A cup cake that toddlers can decorate with some of their Christmas sweets or chocolates.

Evening Meal A toddler who is tired out with excitement and emotion may not eat well at

the end of such a momentous day; a glass of milk and a sandwich may suffice. If they do have an appetite, make it a simple meal of finger foods:

Cold ham or other Christmas meats

Bread sticks or crackers

Raw vegetable sticks.

Pudding

Yogurt

Jelly and/or ice cream.They may like a couple more sweets, before a thorough clean of their teeth and off to bed.

Drinks Stick to water or milk throughout the day as there is plenty of sugary food around without offering sweet drinks such as squashes, fizzy drinks or fruit juices as well. If you do want something extra special, try melting some of their chocolate hoard into hot milk.

Handy hints for managing food allergies on Christmas DayFor families with children suffering from food allergies, Christmas time can be a particularly challenging time. But with careful planning, Christmas can just be as enjoyable for them. See our handy hints below:

• Have a good management plan. Be clear on which foodsyour toddler should avoid and to what extent.

• Discuss ‘safe foods’ with your toddler but don’t overdo it- let them enjoy Christmas within a safe environment.

• Invest in a good recipe book or ask the help of adietitian; the foods in this menu can be preparedwithout milk, egg, nuts or wheat.

• A wide range of ‘free from’ products are available tomake Christmas more enjoyable - even advent calendarsare available for those with allergies to milk and/or nuts.

• Don’t assume that foods contain only traditionalingredients – always check the label.

• Make people aware of cross-contamination risks,especially when serving with the same utensil frommultiple dishes and at buffet-style meals; ask to serveyour child first.

• If anyone has eaten foods containing allergens thatcould cause severe reactions - such as nuts - ask themto wash their hands before hugging or kissing yourtoddler goodbye.

Spending Christmas Day at someone else’s house:

• Inform anyone that may cook for or share mealswith your child of their allergies.

• Discuss the menu beforehand, suggest alternativerecipes or take your own dish.

• Reassure your host that just usual good cleaningpractices in the kitchen will sufficiently removeany allergens.

• Make sure that you carry your child’s usualmedication such as antihistamines or adrenaline.

For advice on Portion sizes for Toddlers (1-4 years) see the Infant & Toddler Forum’s expert guidance on www.infantandtoddlerforum.org

Supported by an educational grant from Danone UK

Top Tips for Toddler Christmas

• Remember that your toddler may not be as keenon Christmassy foods as you are – children of thisage are wary of eating foods they are not familiarwith and often refuse unfamiliar foods on sight.

• Toddlers prefer the sweeter taste of roast or stirfried vegetables to boiled or steamed vegetableswhich have a slightly more bitter taste.

• Give any sweets or chocolate at the end of a meal to protect teeth and limit them to 2 or 3 at a time.

• Avoid offering salty foods such as crisps and otherpacket snacks as your toddler does not need extrasalt on top of the small, adequate amounts in thetraditional Christmas foods.

• Make sure toddlers are sitting down and aresupervised when eating or drinking to avoid therisk of choking. Also, don’t leave food and drinkthat is not appropriate for toddlers lying around,such as whole nuts and alcohol.

• Include some physical activity in your day. Take atrip to the local park or go for a family walk – thisis a great time for toddlers to run around and foradults to stretch their legs. Dance around togetherto your favourite Christmas songs. Pretend to berunning reindeers or spinning snowflakes. Youmight even be able to build a snowman!

• Make preparing and serving the food fun, andencourage your toddler to be involved so thatthey enjoy this part of Christmas Day as well astheir new toys.