How Nutritional Shakes Can Support Your Picky Eater

Read time: 3 minutes

Toddlers can be pretty finicky when it comes to food. They go from eating everything, to suddenly loving certain foods, while avoiding others all together. And some days it seems like they aren’t eating enough at all!

Some parents find that an easy and quick solution is to add a nutritional shake to their toddler’s diet, something that can help support their nutrient intake needs. But are these shakes a nutritious choice for our toddlers?

In this article, learn what to look for when it comes to a quality kids’ nutritional shake and when this option might be helpful for your little one.

What are kids nutritional shakes?

Kids nutritional shakes are formulated to help provide calories, vitamins, and minerals for children. They are often in ready-to-drink, shelf-stable packaging to better meet a child’s needs while on-the-go, and usually are flavored to help make them more appetizing.

At what age can kids start drinking nutritional shakes?

Children under 1 year old should not be drinking nutritional shakes. At this age, most of their calories and nutrition should be coming from breastmilk or formula, as well as whole foods (in the appropriate texture) if they are over 6 months old.

If your child is over 2 years, adding in a nutritional drink may be an option to consider. However, know that most kids’ nutritional shakes on the market today are developed using the calorie recommendations for children 4 years and up, which is 1,200 calories per day.¹

This means that children who are under 4 years may be getting too much from these options. The good news is there are a few nutritional shakes specifically formulated for toddlers, whose calorie needs are lower.¹

For this reason, be sure to check the label to ensure that the product is the right fit for your little one’s specific needs.

If you are considering offering your little one a nutritional shake, chat with your child’s pediatrician first.

Have questions about your toddler’s diet? Reach out to our team of registered dietitian nutritionists and lactation consultants for free! They’re here to help on our free live chat from Monday – Friday 8am - 6pm (ET). Chat Now!

Does my child need a nutritional shake?

Not every child will need a nutritional shake. If your little one is doing well on their growth curve and you are working on keeping their diet balanced and varied, you may not need to introduce one.

With that said, sometimes you may choose to consider a nutritional drink to support their nutrient needs. For example, a selective eater may cut out so many foods that you’re worried they’re not getting enough calories or nutrients. In this case, it may be helpful to add in nutritional shake to help support their nutrition.

If your little one a picky eater, it’s always important to use several strategies to help make sure they grow into adventurous eaters who enjoy foods from all categories. A nutritional shake may help provide more calories and nutrients, but using this strategy alone may create a fussier eating in the future. Always be sure you’re implementing several approaches to help your little eater.

Read more:

The Division of Responsibility: Helping Avoid Picky Eating

Helping Avoid Picky Eating in Babies and Toddlers

Picky Eating Guide

How many nutritional shakes can my child have per day?

Only one nutritional shake per day is recommended.

This is because the shakes can be quite filling and may leave less room for the variety of whole foods that are so important for your child’s health. Even if your little one is struggling with selective eating, feeling full from a nutritional shake at a meal or snack means they’ll be less likely to try new (or retry disliked) foods.

These shakes are meant to help support your little one’s nutrient intake but are not meant as a replacement for nutrient-dense meals and snacks.

Bottom line

Providing a nutritional shake to your little one can help support their nutrient intakes, and can be used as one of a handful of strategies to help them be successful in their feeding journey.

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Our Happy Experts are a team of lactation consultants and registered dietitian nutritionists certified in infant and maternal nutrition – and they’re all moms, too! They’re here to offer personalized support on our free, one-on-one, live chat platform Monday - Friday 8am-6pm (ET). No appointment needed, no email or sign-up required. Chat Now!

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For more on this topic, check out the following articles:

Fun Food Activities to do With Toddlers

Picky Eater Meal Plan: Recipe and Snack Ideas

Is My Toddler Eating Enough?

Family Dinner Ideas: Fun and Easy Interactive Meals to Make with Your Child

Family Meals: Developing Healthy Eating Patterns