According to Gram Research analysis, toddlers’ diet quality declines between ages 1 and 2, with vegetable intake dropping significantly while consumption of sugary foods and refined grains increases. A study of 166 toddlers found that overall diet quality scores decreased from 59.8 to 57.1 between 12 and 24 months, driven by reduced vegetable intake and increased added sugars and refined grains. These findings suggest unhealthy eating patterns emerge early in childhood, making the toddler years a critical window for establishing healthy eating habits.
A new study tracked what 166 toddlers ate at 12 months and again at 24 months to see how their eating habits changed. Researchers found that while overall diet quality didn’t drop dramatically, toddlers were eating fewer vegetables and more sugary foods and refined grains as they got older. The study shows that unhealthy eating patterns start forming very early in life, which is important because what kids eat in their first two years can affect their health for years to come. The findings suggest parents should focus on building good eating habits when children are still toddlers.
Key Statistics
A secondary analysis of 166 toddlers from the Growth and Adiposity in Newborns Study found that diet quality scores decreased from 59.8 at 12 months to 57.1 at 24 months, with vegetable intake declining significantly and added sugar consumption increasing.
Research published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in 2026 showed that between ages 1 and 2, toddlers’ adherence to healthy dietary patterns (including vegetable-rich and fruit-rich patterns) decreased, while adherence to less healthy patterns high in refined grains and sodium increased.
A 2026 cohort study of 166 toddlers found that refined grain intake increased significantly between 12 and 24 months of age, while total vegetable consumption decreased, indicating early emergence of less healthful dietary patterns.
According to a 2026 analysis of 166 toddlers, added sugar intake increased substantially from 12 to 24 months, with the effect size indicating this was one of the most notable dietary shifts observed during the second year of life.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: How toddlers’ eating habits and diet quality change between their first and second birthdays, and whether they’re eating the foods doctors recommend.
- Who participated: 166 toddlers from Kansas City, Kansas who were part of a larger health study. Researchers looked at what these children ate when they were 12 months old and again when they turned 24 months old.
- Key finding: Toddlers’ overall diet quality dropped slightly from age 1 to age 2, with a noticeable shift toward eating more sugary foods and refined grains (like white bread) while eating fewer vegetables. This change happened in most of the toddlers studied.
- What it means for you: If you’re a parent or caregiver, this research suggests that the second year of life is a critical time to encourage healthy eating. Introducing and maintaining vegetables in your toddler’s diet early on may help prevent unhealthy eating patterns from developing. However, this is one study and more research is needed to understand the best ways to support healthy eating in toddlers.
The Research Details
This was a secondary analysis, which means researchers used information that had already been collected for another study. The original study, called the Growth and Adiposity in Newborns Study (GAINS), followed children from birth onward in Kansas City. For this particular research, scientists looked at dietary information collected when children were 12 months old and again at 24 months old.
Parents or caregivers reported everything the toddlers ate and drank over a 24-hour period at each time point. Researchers then scored the diet quality using a tool called the Healthy Eating Index for Toddlers (HEI-Toddlers-2020), which measures how well a diet matches nutrition recommendations for young children. The tool looks at things like vegetable intake, fruit intake, whole grains, added sugars, and other important nutrients.
The researchers also used a statistical technique called principal component analysis to identify patterns in what toddlers were eating—for example, some children followed a pattern of eating lots of vegetables and plant-based proteins, while others followed a pattern of eating more refined grains and salty foods.
Understanding how eating habits change during toddlerhood is important because this is when children’s taste preferences are forming. Research shows that eating patterns established in early childhood tend to stick around as kids grow up. If toddlers get used to eating lots of sugary foods and refined grains, they may continue preferring these foods later in life, which increases the risk of obesity, heart disease, and other health problems. By identifying when and how unhealthy patterns emerge, researchers can help parents and healthcare providers intervene early.
This study has several strengths: it followed real children over time (rather than just looking at one point in time), it used a validated tool to measure diet quality, and it had a reasonable sample size of 166 children. However, the study also has limitations. The dietary information came from parent reports, which may not be perfectly accurate. The study only included children from one city in Kansas, so the results may not apply to all toddlers in the United States. Additionally, the study couldn’t determine why eating patterns changed—it only showed that they did change.
What the Results Show
The main finding was that toddlers’ overall diet quality scores decreased slightly from 59.8 out of 100 at 12 months to 57.1 at 24 months. While this decrease was small and not considered statistically significant after accounting for multiple comparisons, it reflected a consistent pattern of change in specific food groups.
When researchers looked at individual food categories, they found clear changes. Vegetable intake dropped significantly—toddlers were eating fewer vegetables at 24 months than at 12 months. At the same time, toddlers were eating more refined grains (like white bread and regular pasta) and more foods with added sugars (like sweetened yogurt, juice, and desserts).
The researchers also identified four different eating patterns among the toddlers. Between 12 and 24 months, three of these patterns—including one focused on vegetables and plant proteins, and another focused on fruits with low added sugars—became less common. Meanwhile, a pattern characterized by low whole grains and high refined grains and sodium became more common.
Importantly, at both 12 and 24 months, the toddlers’ average diet quality scores were below what nutrition experts recommend, suggesting that most of these toddlers weren’t eating as healthfully as they should be at either age.
The study found that the shift toward less healthy eating was fairly consistent across the group of toddlers studied. The changes in vegetable intake and added sugar consumption were particularly strong, suggesting these are areas where toddlers’ diets are changing most noticeably. The researchers also noted that the dietary patterns that decreased (like the vegetable-focused pattern) represent healthier choices, while the pattern that increased (high refined grains and sodium) represents less healthy choices.
Previous research has shown that diet quality generally declines as children move from early childhood into the school years and adolescence. This study adds to that knowledge by showing that the decline may actually begin during toddlerhood, between ages 1 and 2. The findings align with other research showing that taste preferences and eating habits formed early in life tend to persist. However, this study is one of the first to carefully track these changes specifically during the toddler years using a validated measurement tool.
The study has several important limitations to keep in mind. First, the dietary information came from parents’ reports of what their children ate, which may not be completely accurate—parents might forget items or estimate portion sizes incorrectly. Second, the study only included children from Kansas City, so the results may not apply to toddlers in other parts of the country or with different cultural backgrounds. Third, the study couldn’t explain why these changes happened—it only showed that they did. Fourth, 88 children were excluded from the analysis because their dietary data was incomplete, which means the final group of 166 may not be fully representative of the original 254 children enrolled. Finally, the study is observational, meaning researchers couldn’t control other factors that might influence diet quality, such as family income, education level, or access to healthy foods.
The Bottom Line
Based on this research, nutrition experts should consider focusing on dietary interventions during the toddler years, particularly between 12 and 24 months. Parents and caregivers should aim to introduce and maintain a variety of vegetables in toddlers’ diets, limit foods with added sugars, and choose whole grains over refined grains when possible. However, these recommendations should be implemented with understanding that toddlers have developmental needs and may be picky eaters. Consulting with a pediatrician or registered dietitian for personalized guidance is recommended. The confidence level for these recommendations is moderate, as this is one study and more research is needed.
Parents and caregivers of toddlers aged 12-24 months should pay attention to these findings, as this is the critical age when eating patterns are forming. Pediatricians and registered dietitians who work with young children should also be aware of these findings to help guide families. Public health officials and policymakers interested in childhood obesity prevention may find this research relevant. People without young children or those whose children are already past the toddler stage may find this less immediately applicable, though the findings could inform how they approach feeding practices with younger siblings or grandchildren.
Changes in eating habits don’t happen overnight. If parents start introducing healthier foods and reducing sugary options now, they may see toddlers gradually accepting these foods over weeks to months. However, establishing truly healthy eating patterns is a long-term process. Research suggests that consistent exposure to healthy foods during the toddler years can help shape preferences that last into childhood and beyond, but this takes patience and repeated exposure. Most experts recommend offering new foods 10-15 times before expecting a child to accept them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it normal for toddlers to eat less healthy as they get older?
This study found that diet quality does tend to decline between ages 1 and 2, with toddlers eating fewer vegetables and more sugary foods. While some changes in eating are normal as toddlers develop independence, this research suggests the shift toward less healthy foods happens earlier than previously thought, making early intervention important.
What foods should I be giving my 12 to 24 month old?
Nutrition experts recommend toddlers eat a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, proteins, and dairy products with minimal added sugars. This study found toddlers weren’t meeting these recommendations at either 12 or 24 months. Consult your pediatrician or a registered dietitian for personalized guidance based on your child’s individual needs and any allergies.
How many vegetables should a toddler eat per day?
Current recommendations suggest toddlers aged 1-3 years should eat about 1 cup of vegetables daily, though individual needs vary. This study found that vegetable intake actually decreased between 12 and 24 months in most toddlers, highlighting that many children aren’t meeting even these modest recommendations.
Can eating habits formed in toddlerhood affect health later?
Research shows that taste preferences and eating patterns established in early childhood tend to persist into later childhood and adulthood. This study suggests unhealthy patterns may emerge as early as the second year of life, which is why establishing good eating habits during toddlerhood is considered important for long-term health.
What’s the best way to get my toddler to eat more vegetables?
Experts recommend offering vegetables repeatedly (10-15 times or more), including them at every meal, and modeling healthy eating yourself. This study didn’t test specific strategies, but it highlights that vegetable intake is declining in toddlers, making consistent exposure and encouragement particularly important during this developmental stage.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track daily vegetable servings and added sugar intake for your toddler. Set a goal of at least 3 different vegetables per day and monitor added sugar sources (juice, sweetened yogurt, desserts). Record what your toddler ate at 12 months and again at 24 months to see if patterns are shifting toward less healthy options.
- Use the app to log meals and snacks daily, then review weekly to identify patterns. If you notice increased refined grains or added sugars, use the app’s suggestions to swap in whole grain options and naturally sweet foods like fresh fruit. Set reminders to offer vegetables at each meal, even if your toddler doesn’t eat them yet—repeated exposure helps build acceptance.
- Check your toddler’s diet quality monthly by reviewing the foods logged in the app. Compare intake of vegetables, whole grains, and added sugars month-to-month. If you see a decline in vegetable intake or increase in sugary foods, adjust meal planning accordingly. Share this data with your pediatrician at well-child visits to discuss whether your toddler’s diet is on a healthy trajectory.
This research provides important insights into toddler eating patterns but should not replace personalized medical advice. Every child is unique, and dietary needs vary based on age, activity level, allergies, and individual health conditions. Parents and caregivers should consult with their pediatrician or a registered dietitian nutritionist before making significant changes to their toddler’s diet. This study is observational and cannot prove that changes in diet quality directly cause health problems, only that patterns shift during this age period. If you have concerns about your toddler’s nutrition or growth, speak with your healthcare provider.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.