How much should your toddler eat?

I picked this up while trying to come up for a diet for my baby.

1. use 40calories for every inch of height

     or

2. 1 tablespoon per year of life for each food group. example 1yr get 4 tablespoons-1 of each fruit, vegtable, grain, meat.  and about 4 oz of juice or milk.

for #1 take the total amount of calories then divide it up by 4-6 times a day. 

for #2 this is per meal, again make meals 4-6 times per day.

I like the later because it lets me make sure that my little one is getting enough of her fruits and vegtables.  Also, I divide up her milk to have with only  the meals.  To much milk will add unwanted weight.  But wait until they are over 2 before you switch to lowfat or non-fat milk.  They need the amino acids in the whole milk for proper growth.  Also, listen to your little one, if they rather play then eat, most likely they are not hungery.  Yes, their stomachs are the size of their fists, don't give them more then that amount at any given time.  You don't want to stuff them full.  Also, don't worry if they don't eat the same amout of servings everyday.  Just make sure they are getting the requirements over 2 weeks. 

Something that I have learned with my daughter.  If she does not ask, I don't offer.  I don't want her to learn to eat, just because.  I want her to listen to her body and eat when she is hungry, this also goes with when she is full.  They say this is the only time they know when they are hungry and full as they don't know to eat when stressed, sad, or bored.