What Is the Best Toddler Meal Replacement?

Are you looking for the best toddler meal replacement? Discover how to safely supplement your toddler’s diet.

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Meal Replacement for Toddlers

Are Meal Replacements Good for Toddlers?

Feeding toddlers (children between the ages of 1 and 3) can be challenging because they experience several developmental changes at the same time.

For starters, human growth rate slows considerably after the first year of life.

While babies typically double in weight by the time they are 6 months old, toddlers gain only 5 pounds per year on average.

And this slower growth rate is usually paired with a smaller appetite. 

Toddlers are also striving for independence and control, especially when it comes to food.

It is between the ages of 1 and 3 that many children become picky eaters, which can make mealtime difficult.

As a result, some children do not get enough calories and nutrients.

Toddlers need to eat between 1,000 and 1,400 calories per day depending on their age, size, and physical activity level (most are considered active).

Here is a breakdown of the recommended daily calorie intake for toddlers based on their age:

• 1-year-old: 900-1,000 calories per day
• 2-year-old: 1,000-1,200 calories per day
• 3-year-old: 1,100-1,400 calories per day

It is important to note that these are just general guidelines and individual toddlers may need more or less calories depending on their unique needs.

It therefore always a good idea to consult with a pediatrician or registered dietitian to determine the appropriate calorie intake for your toddler.

It is important to keep in mind that meal replacements should not replace other forms of nutrition.

That is, you should feed your toddler balanced, nutritious meals whenever possible.

For most toddlers, this should be more than enough to cover their nutritional needs.

Some toddlers, especially picky eaters or those with dietary restrictions, might need a little help, however.

This is where a meal replacement can be a lifesaver.

That said, not all meal replacements are created equal.

What is the best meal replacement for toddlers?

Many meal replacements contain ingredients that might cause long-term health problems for toddlers.

Among these potentially problematic ingredients are food additives and protein concentrates/isolates.

Avoid Food Additives

Regularly eating emulsifiers, thickeners, artificial sweeteners and other ultra-processed additives can not only upset your toddler’s stomach, but also alter the composition of his or her gut microbiome.

Over time, this can lead to gut dysbiosis, which contributes to the development of several chronic diseases, including allergies, asthma, and obesity.

If you are wondering why this link exists, keep in mind that the gut microbiome affects many physiological processes, including immune function and inflammation.

Here is a list of the most common food additives in meal replacements:

• acacia fiber
• acacia gum
• acesulfame potassium
• artificial flavors
• ascorbic acid
• aspartame
• calcium carbonate
• carrageenan
• cellulose gum
• dextrin
• dicalcium phosphate
• dipotassium phosphate
• erythritol
• gellan gum
• guar gum
• gum arabic
• inulin
• locust bean gum
• maltitol
• maltodextrin
• mono- and diglycerides
• ‘natural’ flavors
• rice bran extract
• rice dextrin
• rice hulls
• rosemary extract
• silica
• silicon dioxide
• sodium alginate
• soluble corn fiber
• sorbitol
• soy lecithin
• sucralose
• sunflower lecithin
• tocopherols
• tricalcium phosphate
• xanthan gum
• xylitol
• zinc oxide

As a rule of thumb, if you could not find an ingredient in nature or make it at home, it should not be in your meal replacement.

Avoid Protein Concentrates and Isolates

You should also consider avoiding protein concentrates and isolates.

Most meal replacements are made from one or both of these protein sources, which have been mechanically and/or chemically stripped of everything but the protein.

This includes the enzymes, fiber, and other natural digestive aids that help you break them down.

You therefore do not digest them in the same way that you do whole foods, which can affect your gut health.

In fact, studies show that regularly eating protein concentrates and isolates can disrupt your gut microbiome and cause the formation of toxic byproducts in your gut.

Sticking to whole food protein sources is thus a good idea​, especially when it comes to feeding toddlers.

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Drink Wholesome Is the Best Toddler Meal Replacement

Finding a meal replacement free from food additives and protein concentrates and isolates is hard.

In fact, 99% of meal replacements contain one or more of these problematic ingredients, which is why we created Drink Wholesome.

We make the best meal replacement for toddlers because we use a short list of simple ingredients.

Our Ingredients

egg whites

coconut

vanilla

monk fruit

NOT Our Ingredients

• acacia gum

• acesulfame potassium

• artificial flavors

• carrageenan

• erythritol

• guar gum

• inulin

• maltodextrin

• 'natural' flavors

• silica

• soy lecithin

• sucralose

• xanthan gum

• xylitol

Note that instead of using protein concentrates or isolates, we use whole food protein sources like egg whites and almonds, which are easier to digest and absorb.

It follows that toddlers experience fewer digestive issues with our Meal Replacement Powder than with any other type of meal replacement.

Order Samples to see for yourself.