Constantly on the go, toddlers are full of energy working out the world around them with a new frame of mind and heightened sense of independence. It’s no surprise, therefore, that busy little people need a balanced and a nutritionally dense diet of food and drink to fuel their growing bodies and service the energy they are burning.
“Toddlerhood is a time of physical, cognitive, social and emotional growth, to support this they need balanced nutrition to assist their growing bodies and developing minds,” says Dr Scott Dunlop, Consultant General Pediatrician and Founder and Director of Sydney Paediatrics.
Maintaining variety in a toddler’s diet is essential for their healthy growth and development, and good food and drinking habits established in early childhood can last a lifetime. Depending on how much they’re growing and how active they are, however, a toddler’s appetite can go up and down, and while this is all part of normal development, picky-eating habits can be a major cause of concern for parents of toddlers, who all too often find themselves in a battle of wills at the dinner table.
“Over the first three years of life subtle changes in the requirements of micronutrients occur to reflect children’s physical increase in size and increased mobility,” says Dr Dunlop. While a healthy balanced diet should service the nutritional needs of a toddler, picky eating habits may affect this. A report undertaken by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) in 2018 entitled Australia’s Health 2018 demonstrated that 80% of children aged 2-3 years old did not eat sufficient serves of vegetables.
If you find your toddler is missing out on essential nutrients, such as iron and zinc, this may affect their appetite, behaviour and energy, but the good news is there are many simple additions to their eating and drinking patterns that can help with this.
Alula S-26 Gold Toddler is a nutritious milk drink suitable for children from the age of 12 months, containing 16 key vitamins and minerals to help support toddlers’ growth and development as part of a varied diet. “One serve of Alula S-26 Gold Toddler milk drink provides 50% of the Recommended Dietary Intake (RDI) of added B vitamins and iron, additionally, two serves will provide at least 50% of the RDI of 16 age appropriate vitamins and minerals,” says Makedonka Del-Ben, Head of Marketing at Alula.
When used as part of a healthy diet, Alula S-26 Gold Toddler can help portion the nutritional intake over the course of a day, providing reassurance for parents. For example, with one 220ml serve you know that your toddler will be receiving 50% of the RDI of added B vitamins and iron. When it’s time to progress, Alula S-26 Gold is also available in a Junior milk drink for those aged 2 years plus.
“If a child is particularly fussy with food and is missing out on essential nutrients, a toddler milk drink might be utilised for short-term nutrient support, while being mindful that the child doesn’t fill up on that milk at the expense of more calorie and nutrient dense solid food,” says Dr Dunlop.
As new taste and textures are introduced through solid food, it can be difficult to ensure your toddler is receiving all the nutrients needed every day to support healthy growth and development, so finding the perfect supplement that balances missing nutrition is important.
Alula S-26 Gold Toddler milk drink can be used in a variety of ways, not only as a comforting drink but also as part of a yummy fruit smoothie or as a substitute replacement for cow’s milk when preparing cereals and baking or cooking meals such as a frittata or quiche.
“We are really proud to have played a role as a trusted partner in nutrition for Australians for more than 50 years,” continues Makedonka. “This year, S-26 Gold Toddler has changed its name to Alula, and while it’s a new name it’s the same nutritious formulation, as we continue our commitment to combining both scientifically researched ingredients and care for young children.”
Alula S-26 Gold Toddler is available from pharmacies and supermarkets nationally. For more information visit www.meandmychild.com.au
