Walang Gana Maglaro? What To Feed 3+ Toddlers To Keep Them Moving

The first years of life serve as the foundation for a child’s future growth, health, brain development, and even social skills. This is also the time when they’re said to learn quicker than any other period in life.

With that in mind, parents need to strike a healthy balance between guiding their 3+ toddlers and letting them go to play and discover things on their own every once in a while during this stage. Doing the latter might be scary for a mom or dad, but it does help them grow into more capable, well-rounded adults.

This goes hand-in-hand with proper nourishment, as the right vitamins and minerals can help prevent loss of appetite, protect them from sickness, and help keep children energized, all of which will allow them to be the TODO explorers they’re meant to be.

For example, vitamins A, C, and E, iron, and zinc are essential nutrients that play important roles in keeping the immune system healthy, among other benefits.

Read on to see which nutrient-rich foods can help a 3+ toddler become TODO protected:

Carrots and kalabasa (Vitamin A)

Vitamin A helps boost the immune system while promoting good eyesight, skin, and normal growth.

Serve these veggies as mashed (kalabasa) or in stick form (carrot) to be eaten in its purest form, or incorporate them into soups, stews, and ulam.

You can also try making a carrot cake as a snack or dessert.

Oranges and sweet potatoes (Vitamin C)

Like vitamin A, vitamin C is also good for immunity. Flu season or not, make sure to have fresh citrus fruits like oranges, lemon, and pomelo at home.

Make your own juices to pair an appetizing snack your 3+ toddler will enjoy, like roasted sweet potato wedges, which, in itself, contains vitamins A, B6, and C, and potassium and fiber.

Avocados and mangoes (Vitamin E)

Vitamin E is yet another immunonutrient, which means that it contributes to a normal function of the immune system.

Fruits like avocados and mangoes are rich in this vitamin. Most kids enjoy eating these fruits as is, but if you want to make these foods even more delectable in their eyes, turn them into fresh smoothies served in a glass with a colorful zig zag straw!

But remember that the lesser amount of sugar, the better, since table sugar may hinder nutrient absorption and may also affect bone health among growing 3+ toddlers.

Beef and broccoli (Iron)

Extreme fatigue and lightheadedness are two of the most common symptoms of iron-deficiency. So, to help curb the loss of appetite and tiredness, fill your child's plate with iron-rich food like beef and broccoli, incorporated into ulam or as snacks like cheesy pizza with beef or broccoli.

Crab and dry-roasted cashews (Zinc)

Zinc is an essential nutrient needed for growth and development during the 3+ toddler years.

Crab and dry-roasted cashews, both good sources of zinc, can help give kids the TODO energy and resistance they need to play, learn, and solve problems for the day.

Aside from serving these foods to your 3+ toddler, give them at least two glasses of age-appropriate milk like NIDO® 3+ and 5+, which contain ALL the nutrients mentioned above, to help them get the maximum nutrients they need.

So, check the label to make sure your child's milk contains these nutrients and more to help meet their required nutrient intake per day, boost their immune system, fuel their mind and body, and boost overall body development.

Here are the nutrients your 3+ toddler can get every time they drink one glass of NIDO® 3+:

NIDO® 3+ and 5+ contain 50% more immunonutrients like vitamins A, C, E (versus previous formulation), DHA for the brain, PREBIO® 3, iron, zinc, and other essential vitamins and minerals. That's why 9 out of 10 moms in Metro Manila are likely to recommend NIDO® 3+.

On top of having the important nutrients for 3+ toddlers, NIDO® 3+ and 5+ are now improved and formulated with NUTRITODS®, a scientific program designed by experts to address the growing up needs of Filipino children above 3 years old, to aid parents in raising their kids in the new normal and beyond.

NIDO 3+ also has no added table sugar! So you get all the benefits and nutrients of milk without the negative effects of sugar.

NIDO® 3+ and 5+ are the only growing-up milk with LACTOBACILLUS PROTECTUS®, which, together with a balanced diet and an active lifestyle, is scientifically proven to help support children's respiratory defenses and may help protect them against frequent coughs and colds.