As a new mum, you naturally have a ‘plan’ for how you will raise your child and have a picture of the kind of person you would like them to become. When your child turns one, you’ll start to see what their personality will be like and how much of ‘you’ they have inherited, especially when they interact with others. And of course, you have the basics all mapped out – what they will eat, their sleep patterns and the types and frequency of their physical activity, among other things.

But then the truth emerges! As your little one enters the toddler years, you begin to realise that the ‘best laid plans’ often don’t turn out as you expect! In many instances this is because your baby is now a little person; as they strive for independence and become more aware of the world around them, they also begin to form their own opinions.

A healthy and nutritious diet is top of mind as your toddler starts to eat family foods and to feed themselves. Your toddler won’t understand healthy nutrition, and will usually prefer foods they know and like. This often includes rich-tasting, high sugar or high salt foods, much to your frustration.

This can also be the age when your child is no longer with you 24 hours a day as you head back to work. As day care, grandparents and people in your wider support network start to play a role in your toddler’s day to day dietary intake, it can be hard to maintain a balanced eating plan.

As a mum, you know there are more questions than answers when it comes to toddler nutrition - how much should you feed your toddler? What portion sizes are appropriate? What is the correct mix of foods to ensure they get the right balance throughout the day? Are fruit juices OK? And then there’s the fussy eater - is it OK to give snacks? How do you ensure your toddler gets the nutrition they need?

To make your job even more challenging, it is sometimes hard to work out ‘truth’ from ‘tale’. Do toddlers really refuse to eat orange or green foods? Is snacking between meals really bad for toddlers?

Market research shows that Australian healthcare professionals believe early nutrition has an impact on our health later in life*. This is why it is so important to provide the right nutritional start for your toddler, to set them up for a healthier future.

Accredited practicing dietitian and infant nutritionist, Kate Di Prima says parents need to recognise that more is not always better when it comes to children’s nutrition.

“Toddlers need a careful balance of nutrients in their diet to optimise healthy growth and development. It’s not just about the right amount of vitamins and minerals, it’s also important to get the energy intake in their diet right. It is possible for children to over-consume certain nutrients, such as energy provided by excess protein, carbohydrate and fat, which can increase a child’s risk of being overweight.”

S-26 GOLD Toddler is a nutritious milk drink formulated with a more appropriate energy level to help support a healthy lifestyle for growing, active toddlers. The energy per serve in S-26 GOLD Toddler has been reduced by 15 percent, which is no more than what you find in cow’s milk. S-26 GOLD Toddler is for when your toddler is not getting the nutrition they need.

S-26 GOLD Toddler is also very versatile. It can be added to smoothies, yoghurts and custards. It can also be used when cooking; enrich pikelets, scrolls, pancakes, scones and muffins, just by adding S-26 GOLD Toddler powder into the mixture.

To find out more, visit www.meandmychild.com.au

• 2011, NOURISH (KNOwledge, UndeRstanding & InsightS into CHild Nutrition), a global survey funded by Pfizer Nutrition