Right now, you're laying the foundation for your child's lifelong eating habits. No pressure. But it really is that important. Because your toddler wants to be just like you, modeling nutritious eating and snacking is probably the best thing that you can do. For example, if your toddler sees you eating yogurt, he's more likely to try it, too. And of course, you reap the health benefits of all of that healthy eating, too, while you're at it.

By offering your toddler nutritious meals and snacks that are filled with fruits, vegetables, protein and whole grains, you're likely meeting all of his nutritional needs. The following are a few facts to consider talking with your child's doctor about.

— Toddlers need cholesterol and other fats for growth and development, so don't restrict these. Offer regular dairy products, not reduced-fat varieties, to your toddler.

— As many as 15% of U.S. children younger than age 3 aren't getting enough iron. Offer your toddler iron-rich foods, such as green beans, peas and sweet potatoes.

— Almost 1 in 5 children ages 1 to 11 might have low blood levels of vitamin D. Good sources of vitamin D are milk and eggs.

— Nine out of 10 U.S. children don't get enough fiber. Fruits, vegetables and whole grains are good sources of fiber.

Here's what our Mommy M.D.s — doctors who are also mothers — do to encourage healthy eating habits in their own children.

"My healthy eating strategy is buying the right foods," says Heather Orman-Lubell, M.D., a mom of two sons and a pediatrician in private practice at Yardley Pediatrics of St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia. "This is especially important if you have a babysitter or nanny because she's going to feed your kids whatever you have in the house!"

"When babies become toddlers, it's harder to control their eating habits," says Dina Strachan, M.D., a mom of one daughter, a dermatologist, director of Aglow Dermatology and an assistant clinical professor in the department of dermatology at New York University. "You're battling the sugar monster. The key is to control the access."

"Encouraging healthy choices is definitely a challenge," says Sigrid Payne DaVeiga, M.D., a mom of three children and a pediatric allergist with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "I try to make sure my kids eat a fruit or vegetable with every meal — even breakfast. While we limit sweets and fatty foods, we definitely enjoy them from time to time. I count it as a major personal victory every time I succeed in making a wholesome meal that my son says he likes. The best reward is when my son asks, 'Can we eat this every night?'"

"It's important that toddlers eat nutritious, healthful foods," says Eva Ritvo, M.D., a mom of two, psychiatrist in Miami Beach, Florida, and author of "Bekindr: The Transformative Power of Kindness." She added: "Their brains are developing so rapidly that proper nutrition is important for them to get the best start in life. The toddler years are a wonderful window of time when you truly can influence what your child eats. I handled this with my daughters much like I handled family values. I told my girls: 'Our family tries our best to eat nutritious, healthful foods. We love our bodies and treat them well.' Conversations like this, and modeling healthy behaviors is impactful with toddlers, and it sets the stage for more in-depth conversations and better compliance when they are teenagers."

"One delicious, fun way to get a lot of fruits and vegetables into my daughter's diet is to make smoothies," says Christy Valentine, M.D., a mom of one daughter, a specialist in pediatrics and internal medicine, and the founder of the Valentine Medical Center in Gretna, Louisiana. "She's loved them since she was a toddler. I toss fruits, vegetables, juice, and ice cubes into the blender and mix them all up. Even as an elementary schooler, my daughter could help make smoothies, too, and she loved that."

Jennifer Bright is a mom of four sons, co-founder and CEO of family- and veteran- owned custom publisher Momosa Publishing, co-founder of the Mommy MD Guides team of 150+ mommy M.D.s, and co-author of "The Mommy MD Guide to the Toddler Years." She lives in Hellertown, Pennsylvania. To find out more about Jennifer Bright and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: Engin_Akyurt at Pixabay