Child Nutrition
Toddler Nutrition
What 1 to 4 year olds need, in plain steps: portion sizes, meals and snacks, milk, vitamin D and a food variety tracker.
$19.99Buy
Child nutrition courses for real family mealtimes
Practical help with toddler portions, picky eaters, packed lunches, family meal plans and keeping a child with a food allergy safe.
- 5 courses
- Tools in every course
- Certificate included
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030 are clear about children and sugar: added sugars are not recommended for babies and young children, and for children aged 5 to 10 no amount of added sugars is recommended. The same guidelines describe full-fat dairy as important for children, advise avoiding caffeinated drinks, and set lower sodium limits by age: under 1,200 mg a day for ages 1 to 3, under 1,500 mg for ages 4 to 8 and under 1,800 mg for ages 9 to 13.
Knowing the advice is one thing; getting a three-year-old to eat dinner is another. These courses focus on that second part: realistic toddler portions, a step-by-step plan for picky eating, lunchboxes children actually finish, and one family menu that works for everyone at the table. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans add that children aged 6 to 17 need at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity a day, and preschoolers should be active throughout the day.
The courses are general education for parents and caregivers. If your child has a medical condition, a diagnosed allergy or concerns about growth, follow the advice of your pediatrician and their care team.
All child nutrition courses
Child Nutrition
Healthy Lunchbox Planning
School lunches sorted four weeks at a time, with a mix-and-match lunchbox builder, a shopping list and a check against school food rules.
$16.99Buy
Child Nutrition
Picky Eating Strategies
No-pressure ways to widen what your child eats, with a new-food ladder, mealtime rules cards and a 7-day plan to get started.
$19.99Buy
Child Nutrition
Food Allergy Awareness for Parents
Calm, practical allergy know-how for families: label checking, eating out, daycare and school forms and an emergency information sheet.
$19.99Buy
Child Nutrition
Family Meal Planning
One week of family meals planned, shopped and batch-cooked, with one-meal-for-all tweaks for kids of different ages.
$19.99Buy
Choosing a child nutrition course
- Ages 1 to 4: Toddler Nutrition covers portions, milk, snacks, iron and a daily meals and snacks planner.
- Short list of safe foods? Picky Eating Strategies uses a new-food ladder and an exposure tracker to help your child try more foods without battles at the table.
- School days: Healthy Lunchbox Planning plans four weeks of balanced lunches and explains how school meal standards work.
- Whole family: Family Meal Planning helps you cook one meal and adapt it for babies, children and adults.
- Food allergy: Food Allergy Awareness for Parents covers the 9 major US food allergens, label checks and an emergency information sheet.
What the child nutrition tools do
- Toddler portion guide and meals planner: realistic amounts for small stomachs, spread across meals and snacks.
- Food exposure tracker and new-food ladder: small steps toward trying something new, recorded over weeks.
- Mix-and-match lunchbox builder: pick a protein, a whole grain, a vegetable, a fruit and a drink.
- Family meal planner and food budget tracker: one menu and one grocery list for the week.
- Allergy label card and school information template: share the right details with teachers, daycare and caregivers.
The FDA and EPA suggest two servings of lower-mercury fish a week for children aged 1 to 11, with smaller servings for younger children: about 1 ounce at ages 1 to 3, 2 ounces at 4 to 7, 3 ounces at 8 to 10 and 4 ounces at 11.
When to talk to your pediatrician
Make an appointment with your pediatrician if your child:
- is losing weight, has stopped growing as expected or seems tired all the time
- eats a very small number of foods and the list is getting shorter
- gags, chokes or vomits often at meals, or finds swallowing hard
- has a rash, swelling or stomach upset after particular foods
Call 911 if a child has swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, trouble breathing, or becomes pale and floppy after eating. If your child has an epinephrine auto-injector, use it as their allergy action plan says and then call 911.
Child nutrition courses: your questions
How much added sugar can kids have?
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030 say added sugars are not recommended in infancy and early childhood, and no amount is recommended for children aged 5 to 10. The courses show simple swaps for drinks, snacks and breakfast cereals.
Should my toddler drink whole milk?
The Dietary Guidelines say to switch from infant formula to whole milk at 12 months, and they describe full-fat dairy as important for children. Toddler Nutrition explains how much milk fits into a day alongside food.
How much juice can a toddler have?
The AAP advises no more than 4 ounces of 100% juice a day for children aged 1 to 3, served in a cup. Water and milk are the main drinks.
What are the 9 major food allergens in the US?
Milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans and sesame. Sesame was added on January 1, 2023, and US labels must declare all nine.
What can I do about a picky eater?
Picky eating is common in young children. Picky Eating Strategies uses repeated, low-pressure exposure, shared family meals and a new-food ladder. If you are worried about growth or a very limited diet, talk to your pediatrician.
What are the rules for school lunches?
USDA sets nutrition standards for school meals. From July 1, 2025, there are limits on added sugars in breakfast cereals, yogurt and flavored milk, and further limits on added sugars and sodium are due from July 1, 2027.
Official sources
- Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030 (full text)
- CDC: Foods and drinks to avoid or limit for infants and toddlers
- FDA: Advice about eating fish
- USDA: School nutrition standards updates
- FDA: Food allergies
- AAP HealthyChildren.org: Choking prevention
- ODPHP: Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, top 10 things to know
Plan next week's lunches tonight
Open Healthy Lunchbox Planning and fill in the first week with the mix-and-match builder.