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Food and Nutrition Service

United States Department of Agriculture

Mealtimes With Toddlers 

in the Child and Adult Care Food Program
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Mealtimes With Toddlers in the 

Child and Adult Care Food Program

Meals and snacks offered through the United 

States Department of Agriculture’s Child 

and Adult Care Food Program help support 

children’s growth and development. Mealtimes 

at child care can also help children:

Learn healthy habits, 

Practice feeding themselves, 

Explore new foods, and 

Strengthen their ability to use a spoon, 

fork, and cup. 

Toddlers, children 1-2 years of age, are growing 

and developing quickly. They are learning about 

themselves and the world around them, even at 

mealtimes. This booklet is designed to assist child 

care providers with questions they may have 

about mealtimes with toddlers.

Look inside for

information on how to:

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Assist children in learning 

how to feed themselves 

(Page 3)

Encourage children to try 

new foods (Page 4)

Choose the right type of 

milk to serve children in 

the CACFP (Page 5)

Offer vegetables and fruit at 

meals and snacks (Page 7)

Share toddler successes 

with families (Page 8)

LOOK 

WHAT I 

CAN DO!

I can eat with a spoon and my 

fingers, but I’m still learning how 

to eat safely. See page 7 for tips 

on reducing the risk of choking.
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Assist Children in Learning 

How to Feed Themselves

Toddlers are excited to learn new skills. You can help toddlers become more independent while still 

providing supervision and gentle support at mealtimes. You’ll be helping them to develop important 

skills they’ll use for life.

You can help toddlers learn to feed 

themselves by:

Offering foods in bite-size pieces that are 

easier to pick up with their fingers.

Allowing toddlers to practice eating with 

spoons and forks at mealtimes.

Using tables, chairs, forks, spoons, bowls, 

and plates designed for children.

Modeling how to use a spoon or fork 

at mealtimes. 

Meals with toddlers can be messy. 

Cut down on the mess by:

Putting a towel, paper, or mat under the 

children’s chairs. This will catch food and 

spills that fall to the ground. 

Teaching children to clean up the mess.

Using rubber bibs with pockets with each 

child to catch the food.

Letting children continue to practice feeding 

themselves. As they strengthen their skills, 

they will create less mess.

Bite-size pieces 

measure 1⁄2 inch 

or less.

Use forks with 

rounded tips 

that are made 

for toddlers.

actual size

Rubber bibs with 

pockets can help 

reduce messes.
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Encourage Children 

to Try New Foods

Introducing toddlers to new foods allows them to 

experience new textures. Soft, lumpy, and crunchy 

foods can help toddlers strengthen their chewing 

skills. It can also help them get used to new foods 

and textures early on in life, so they are more 

accepting of foods as they grow.

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You can encourage 1-2 year olds 

to try new foods by:

Introducing a new food outside of 

mealtimes through reading, gardening, 

and food activities.

Offering a new food with a food they like.

Talking about the taste, texture, smell, 

and color of the food at mealtime.

Teachers and toddlers can encourage 

each other at mealtime. Try this!

Plan where toddlers sit around the table. Toddlers who need more help can sit closer to you. Toddlers 

who need a bit more encouragement can sit next to children who are more adventurous eaters.

• Show by example that a new food tastes good by eating foods together with the children. 

LOOK WHAT 

I CAN DO!

I like to learn about everything, even food. I may 

not like a food the first time I try it, but please 

keep offering it to me! You may need to offer a 

food to me more than 10 times before I like it.

Go on your own taste adventure! Set a personal goal to try a few new vegetables and fruits 

at home. Or, have a taste test with the teachers at your child care site. 

Start Simple with MyPlate

Check out USDA’s “Start Simple with MyPlate” mobile app to help set your personal goals 

and stick with them! Find more information at choosemyplate.gov/startsimpleapp.
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Choose the Right Type of Milk 

to Serve Children in the CACFP

1 Year Olds

The CACFP meal pattern for 1-2 year olds allows time for children to get used to milk with different 

amounts of fat. To serve fluid milk as part of a reimbursable meal, offer:

Breastmilk and/or iron-fortified infant formula from birth to 1 year of age.

Breastmilk, iron-fortified infant formula, and/or unflavored whole milk from 12 to 13 months of age.

Breastmilk and/or unflavored whole milk from 13 months to 2 years of age. 

 

LOOK WHAT 

I CAN DO!

I can drink from a cup. When I turn one, start 

adding whole milk to my cup of iron-fortified 

infant formula. Slowly increase the amount of 

whole milk offered over the next few weeks. 
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2 Year Olds

At this age, you can offer:

• Breastmilk, unflavored whole, unflavored reduced-fat 

(2%), unflavored low-fat (1%), and unflavored fat-free 

(skim) milk from 24 to 25 months of age.

• Breastmilk, unflavored low-fat (1%), and unflavored 

fat-free (skim) milk from 2 through 5 years of age.

What about formula 

made for toddlers?

Most children do not need 

formula once they turn 

one. Formulas made for 

toddlers are sometimes 

called “transition formulas,” 

“toddler formulas,” or 

“toddler milks.” Children 

usually do not need them 

unless it’s for a medical 

reason. A signed medical 

statement is needed 

before serving the “toddler 

formula” as part of a 

reimbursable meal or snack.

Questions 

about milk?

Contact your State 

agency or sponsoring 

organization if you have 

any questions about 

milk requirements in 

the CACFP.

How can 2 year olds get used to milk with less fat?

Help children get used to low-fat (1%) or fat-free (skim) milk 

when they turn 2 years old by adding some low-fat or fat-free 

milk to their cup of whole milk. Gradually increase the amount of 

low-fat or fat-free milk offered over the course of a few weeks. 

Example:

Week 1 Week 2

low-fat milk 

or fat-free milk

whole milk

low-fat milk 

or fat-free milk

whole milk

Week 3

low-fat milk 

or fat-free milk

whole milk

Week 4

low-fat milk 

or fat-free milk

Instead of milk, you may serve unflavored milk substitutes 

that are nutritionally equivalent to cow’s milk without a medical 

statement. There are no fat requirements for milk substitutes.
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Offer a Variety of Vegetables 

and Fruit at Meals and Snacks

Toddlers are eager to learn, especially at mealtimes. Let them 

try different foods by offering a variety of vegetables, fruit, and 

other items on the menu.

Check Out This One-Day Sample Menu for Ideas!

−BREAKFAST−

f 

1⁄2 cup (1⁄2 oz eq) toasted o’s cereal

1-year-olds:

1⁄2 cup (4 fl oz) unflavored 

whole milk

1⁄4 cup diced strawberries

2-year-olds:

1⁄2 cup (4fl oz) unflavored low-fat 

(1%) or fat-free (skim) milk

−LUNCH/SUPPER−

Chicken, vegetable, and rice bowls made with: 

1 oz (1 oz eq) 

shredded chicken

1⁄4 cup (1⁄2 oz eq) 

cooked brown rice

1⁄8 cup steamed bite-size 

broccoli florets

1⁄8 cup cooked, 

diced carrots

1-year-olds:

1⁄2 cup (4 fl oz) unflavored 

whole milk

2-year-olds:

1⁄2 cup (4 fl oz) unflavored 

low-fat (1%) or fat-free (skim) milk

−SNACK−

1⁄2 cup baked apple sticks 1⁄2 cup baked sweet potato sticks

Offer and make water available all day.

fl oz = fluid ounces oz = ounces oz eq = ounce equivalent

How can I prepare 

vegetables and fruit 

to lower the risk 

of choking?

Cherry tomatoes, grapes, 

carrots, apples, and other 

vegetables and fruit can 

increase a toddler’s risk of 

choking. To prepare foods to 

lower the risk of choking you 

can:

Cut cherry tomatoes and 

grapes lengthwise, then 

cut into smaller pieces no 

larger than 1⁄2 inch.

Remove large seeds and pits 

and cut into smaller pieces 

no larger than 1⁄2 inch. 

Cook hard vegetables 

until they are soft.

Cut raw vegetables and fruit, 

like cucumber and apples, 

into small thin strips or slices.
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Sharing Toddler Successes With Families 

It can be hard to talk with parents/caregivers at pick up time about everything their toddler 

did that day. Try starting the conversation by sending toddlers home with “badges” about their 

mealtime accomplishments.

__________________________. __________________________.

I tried a new vegetable today!

The name of the vegetable is:

We talked about the shape, color, 

and texture and then I tried it.

I tried a new fruit today!

The name of the fruit is:

We talked about the shape, color, 

and texture and then I tried it.

I used a cup today!

 

We practiced holding and tipping the 

cup slowly to our mouths.

I used a spoon today!

I was able to feed myself. Some food 

dropped on the floor, but that’s okay! 

My teacher had a mat on the floor to 

catch the mess. 

Looking for another way to share information with families?

Download our “Mealtimes With Toddlers Family Handout” at: TeamNutrition.USDA.gov

 FNS-878 September 2020 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

TeamNutrition.USDA.gov