Why is protein important?
Dietary protein is important for growing children because it helps the body's cells to grow and survive. A person's body makes many of its own proteins, which do many different things in the body. But no one, especially children, can make all of the proteins needed to be healthy.

How much protein do toddlers need?
Experts recommend that children aged 1 to 3 years consume 10-12 grams of protein per day.

What kinds of protein are best?
The ideal protein contains all essential amino acids-the building blocks that the body uses to make protein-in the right amounts).

Complete proteins contain all of the essential amino acids in the right proportions. Animal foods, such as milk, meat, and fish are complete proteins.

Why is fat important?
Dietary fat provides a concentrated energy source and essential fatty acids that the body cannot make on its own. Essential fatty acids allow the body to absorb certain vitamins and affect other body functions.

How much fat do toddlers need?
Fats should account for half of the calories consumed by children younger than 2 years of age. After age 2 years, experts recommend that fat consumption be limited to no more than 30% of total daily calories.

What kinds of fats are best?
The healthiest fats are low in saturated fat and cholesterol.

Medical studies have shown a strong connection between saturated fat and high cholesterol levels, which can eventually cause atherosclerosis, or "hardening of the arteries." After age 2 years, experts advise that saturated fat should account for only 10% of daily calories.

Low-saturated fat, low-cholesterol foods include poultry, fish and lean meat (boiled, baked or roasted; not fried), and low-fat diary products. Vegetable oils are preferable to animal oils.

Why are the fatty acids AA and DHA important?
Arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are 2 important fatty acids that are "building blocks" for the brain and eyes. Evidence is growing that AA and DHA play an important role in the mental and visual development throughout early childhood.

What are good sources of AA and DHA?
Unfortunately, most foods typically consumed by young children are not good sources of AA and DHA. A fortified growing-up milk, such as PROGRESS GOLD, can be an effective way to provide the young child with a daily source of these important fatty acids.

Why are carbohydrates important?
Carbohydrates are an important source of energy for growing, active children.

How much carbohydrate do toddlers need?
After age 1 year, it is recommended that carbohydrates supply 50% to 60% of daily calories.

What kinds of carbohydrates are best?
Complex carbohydrates such as pasta, breads, cereals, rice, and vegetables provide energy as well as nutrients. Fiber, the undigestible carbohydrate component of plant foods, is also important because it helps produce softer and more frequent stools.

Simple carbohydrates, such as sugar, honey, and candy, provide only empty calories.

Why are vitamins important?
Children's diets must supply the right amounts of vitamins to help ensure proper growth. Each vitamin plays its own important part in children's development.

Vitamin A promotes normal growth, healthy skin, and tissue repair, and helps color and night vision.

The B vitamins -B₁ (thiamine), B₂ (riboflavin), B₆, B₁₂, niacin, folic acid, and pantothenic acid-help give children energy and absorb nutrients. Vitamin B₆ helps the body fight illness and infection, while vitamin B₁₂ is used to develop red blood cells.

Children's bodies need vitamin C both to form certain chemicals and to put others to use. Vitamin C also plays a key role in helping children's bodies absorb iron.

Vitamin D is crucial for children because the body uses it to help get calcium into the bones. Sunlight helps the body to make vitamin D.

What quantity of vitamins do toddlers need?
Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) for vitamins have been developed by US and Canadian scientists for various life stage groups, including children. If vitamins are consumed at the recommended levels, nearly all children should be able to meet their nutritional needs.  Other countries may have their own system for recommendations.

How can toddlers get their vitamins?
Vitamin A comes from eggs, cheese, yellow vegetables, and liver.

Bread, whole grains, and liver are sources for B vitamins. Beans and pork provide vitamin B₁, and meat, fish, eggs, and milk provide vitamin B₁₂.

Vitamin C is found in citrus fruits and various vegetables.

In some countries, milk and some other foods are sometimes fortified with vitamin D.

Fortified growing-up milks, such as PROGRESS* GOLD , can help meet vitamin needs during early childhood. Used as a complement to solid foods, just 2 servings per day of PROGRESS GOLD provide a significant percentage of most vitamins to help prevent deficiencies.

Why are minerals important?

Minerals cannot be made by the body and must come from the diet. Iron, zinc, calcium, and phosphorus are among the most important minerals for growing children.

Iron plays a part in many processes inside the body, including carrying oxygen in the blood. Because toddlers' physical and mental development is so rapid, their need for iron is greatly increased.

Zinc is necessary for the body's hormones and enzymes to perform their functions. Zinc is also related to children's ability to grow.

Calcium and phosphorus are necessary for proper bone growth. Research shows that children need to have the right amount of calcium in their diet to lessen the risk of accidental bone fractures later in life.

What quantity of minerals do toddlers need?

Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) for vitamins have been developed by US and Canadian scientists for various life stage groups, including children.

How can toddlers get their minerals?

Iron-rich foods include lean red meats, turkey, eggs, lamb, and fish and seafood. Iron is also found in beans, broccoli, spinach, and dried fruit.

Zinc is found in meat, fish, poultry, and dairy products, as well as whole grains, dried beans, and nuts.

Calcium is found in milk and dairy foods, broccoli, and tofu (bean curd).

Phosphorus is found in dairy products, egg yolks, meat, poultry, fish, and legumes.

Fortified growing-up milks, such as PROGRESS GOLD, can help meet mineral needs during early childhood. Used as a complement to solid foods, just 2 servings per day of PROGRESS GOLD provide a significant percentage of most minerals to help prevent deficiencies.

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