Using the colors of the rainbow, as your guide can be helpful when figuring out what to include on your toddler's plate. Serving a wide variety of colorful fruits and vegetables will not only insure that your toddler gets all the nutrients he needs throughout the day, but will also delight his tastebuds with fresh flavors.
RAINBOW FOOD GUIDE
The following rainbow guide can help you get started.
RED
Red-skinned apples, red-skinned potatoes, tomatoes, red bell peppers, strawberries, cherries, raspberries, watermelon
ORANGE
Oranges (try mandarin oranges in very light syrup!), sweet potatoes, carrots, peaches, apricots
YELLOW
Bananas, summer squash, pears, pineapple, corn
GREEN
Spinach, peas, broccoli, zucchini, avacado
BLUE
Blueberries
PURPLE
Plums, grapes, eggplant
MAKING THE RAINBOW A PART OF EACH DAY
Since most toddlers love to color, try making a "blank" rainbow drawing and make copies for each day of the week. (Older toddlers may be able to draw their own, or trace dots that you've drawn!) After your child eats each "color," have him color a stripe on the rainbow. This can help make kids excited about eating their fruits and veggies.
RAINBOW FOOD IDEAS
A few foods which make it easy to include several different-colored fruits and veggies are:
*Veggie Pizza: Throw on some red, green and yellow bell pepper strips, a few slices of red onion, some zucchini and maybe even some pineapple!
*Fruit Salad: Mix up some mandarin oranges, various berries, bananas and apples, drizzle with a bit of orange juice and sprinkle on some fresh coconut for added flavor!
*Shish Kabobs: Skewer some bell peppers, onions, summer squash and new potatoes, brush with Italian salad dressing and grill. Serve with grilled meat or tofu, or alone, over brown rice or whole wheat pasta for a super-well-balanced meal.
Read more about Jen's southern-fried life at Hey Y'all, a blog about motherhood, theatre and, naturally, food.
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Feeding by Age 
