For parents of children who just started eating real food.
Ages 1 to 3 are when nutrition gets harder and the stakes get higher. Iron stores from infancy run out. Cow's milk arrives. Choking risk peaks. The first food jags start. Miriel is built specifically for this window.
The problem nobody else solves
Adult nutrition apps treat toddlers as small children. Children at this age are not small children — they are at a unique stage with their own requirements: high fat for brain development, careful iron-and-calcium balance, age-specific choking-hazard rules, the start of texture variety.
Miriel treats the under-three window as a distinct stage. The AAP-aligned defaults — no added sugar before age 2, no fat restriction before age 2, specific iron screening, vitamin D supplementation from infancy — are built in.
How Miriel helps
Iron-aware meal planning
Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in toddlers. Miriel watches iron intake against age-specific targets and prioritises iron-rich foods paired with vitamin C for absorption.
Choking-hazard logic by age
Whole grapes, whole nuts, hot-dog rounds — the foods most associated with pediatric choking deaths. Miriel modifies the shape automatically for under-4s without parents needing to remember the list.
Texture progression for new eaters
From thin puree at six months to thicker textures to soft pieces — Miriel paces texture progression by age and acceptance, not on a fixed calendar.
Fat-restriction reversal
Before age 2, fat restriction is harmful. Full-fat dairy and fat-rich foods are essential for brain development. Miriel respects this and does not carry over adult fat limits to the under-twos.
What toddler parents ask
When should I start solid foods?
Most infants are ready between 4 and 6 months. The AAP recommends starting around 6 months for most babies, with earlier introduction acceptable when readiness signs (head control, loss of tongue-thrust reflex, interest in food) are present.
How much milk is too much for a toddler?
More than ~24 oz (700 ml) per day of cow's milk in a toddler is itself a risk factor for iron deficiency. Cow's milk is low in iron and reduces absorption of iron from other foods. The AAP recommendation is typically under 24 oz/day.
Does Miriel handle the iron-deficiency window?
Yes. The 12-month well-child visit window when iron deficiency most often appears is a built-in monitoring stage. Iron intake is tracked specifically rather than averaged into a generic balance score.
AAP iron-deficiency screening recommendations, AAP under-2 fat-handling guidance, AAP choking-hazard guidelines, and ESPGHAN complementary feeding consensus are the four pillars for this stage. Full citations on the research page.
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