Offering a healthy diet to your toddler

Food allergies
Parents with a personal history of allergies may have children who are prone to allergies. Some of the most common food allergens are cow's milk and other dairy products, wheat, egg whites, citrus fruits, nuts and nut butters, fish, seafood, chocolate, and soy products. Sometimes safe food items that come in contact with these food allergens can also cause difficulties.

A child may eat a certain food many times before the allergy is recognized. Food allergies may cause an immediate immune system reaction that can be fatal. This severe reaction, which can kill a child in minutes, is called anaphylactic shock or anaphylaxis. An allergic child may also develop swelling, wheezing, hives, vomiting, or diarrhea. If your child experiences breathing difficulties or swelling of the lips or tongue, seek immediate emergency medical help. For other allergic reactions, consult your doctor.

Some children may outgrow early allergies; other children, like those allergic to nuts and fish, seldom outgrow the allergy; indeed, it often gets worse. If your child is diagnosed with a serious allergy, ensure that everyone in your family knows where to find and how to use an EpiPen, an easy-to-administer spring-loaded syringe containing adrenaline, which could save your child's life. In most provinces, you need a prescription for EpiPen. You may also want to keep liquid antihistamines in the house to treat less severe allergic reactions. A child with a family history of allergy should avoid allergenic foods until age three. Families can contact the Allergy/Asthma Information Association (AAIA) at their website or 1-800-611-7011.

Food intolerances
Food intolerances are different from food allergies. They do not involve the immune system, and often there is no explanation for the intolerance. A child who is intolerant of a particular food may have brief but uncomfortable episodes of bloating, diarrhea, gas, or other symptoms after ingesting a specific food. In some cases, the child may lack certain enzymes such as lactase, which breaks down lactose (the white crystalline sugar found in milk) into digestible glucose and galactose and which is normally present in the intestinal wall. A child who is deficient in lactose may react to foods containing lactose. You may offer your lactose-intolerant child a milk-free substitute or milk that has the lactose removed, or give her enzymes that help break down the lactose. Consult your doctor or a dietitian.

Overweight
A chubby child will not necessarily be obese as an adult. Children may grow first either in girth or in height; many plump toddlers may grow to be bean-pole-thin preschoolers. The reverse is also true: A thin toddler may suddenly gain weight by the time she reaches school age. If you think that your child's weight gain isn't right for her height, consult your doctor who can refer to the standard growth charts.

Don't put your child on a diet. Instead, review your own and your child's lifestyle, the foods you eat and your meal patterns. Perhaps your child's diet is too high in calories. Maybe you're offering too many between-meal snacks. Or if she still has a bottle, she may be consuming too much milk.

Ensure that your child engages in lots of vigorous exercise every day. One reason more Canadian children become overweight is that they aren't physically active. Your child will learn good health routines by example. Do simple activities together; pack a healthy snack and go for a walk to a local park. Good eating and exercise habits are the recipe for health and fitness that your child will carry into adulthood.