Need Food Ideas for 18 Month-old PLEASE!!!! :-)

Have you tried fish sticks? If you bake them in the oven on a stone they will be crispy. For some things, such as chicken or beef my child will only eat if it's got ketchup or some other sauce. If we make tacos or fajitas we always share that with her also. Both are fairly easy to make and I think she likes the flavoring that's spicy but not that bad. We also do the basics, grill cheese sandwich or mac and cheese. Sometimes we'll add hamburger meet to the mac and cheese or add turkey or ham to the grill cheese. Of course the Gerber Graduates meals are always on standby.

It sounds like though your daughter is doing just fine. She'll let you know when she's hungry. Mine takes us to the pantry when she's ready to eat. Happy Eating!

I know typically we want to stick with plain foods at this age, but my son loves some mild spice. Try some chicken tenders with some seasoning (you can buy the bags of frozen ones so it's easy to cook up just a piece for her.) I also buy my son bags on fajita chicken and give some to him when we aren't eating something he can have. A great bonus here is that it is already cut up ready to feed. My son also loves spaghetti in marinara or meat sauce or meat or cheese ravioli in pasta sauce. It doesn't have to be plain. And if you still need more variety, try Gerber Graduates dinners. We always keep a few on hand in case we need a fast decent meal for our little one.

I have the same problem! Except my son will love something one day, and not touch it the next. If you need to get more veggies in her diet, try buying frozen ones. You can cook em up a little bit at a time, and I mix them in with whatever pasta he's having. So he gets what he wants... and still gets some veggies too. The frozen veggies are easy to do because you can have a wide variety of things that aren't going to go bad!

Hope that helps.

-A.

I wouldn't worry about your daughter starving. I think that she would let you know about it if she was. My daughter (since she was about 18 mo.) clings to the refrig door to let me know. It sounds like she is getting the nutrition that she needs. My daughter will get stuck on one food for weeks on end and then one day she won't touch it (after I have stock piled it). I do know what you mean by variety. You think they would get tired of the same thing! It doesn't seem to bother her. I make my dinner and share it with her. She will sometimes surprise me and take a couple of bites. I know that eventually she will take on to more foods (after pure boredom of the same stuff!). I think that your daughter does what every kid does at this age. I am sure you will get some good tips for entrees from other mamas.

I know it's tough to make a good meal when you're a working mom! You can buy frozen (non-breaded) fishes like tilapia in the seafood section (may be next to the frozen fish). It takes about 10-15 minutes to cook, and if you put a little olive oil, lemon pepper, and garlic salt on there, it'll taste wonderful. My son is 13 months, and he loves it! Plus, it'll be a good, healthy meal for you and your husband. (Just make sure that any pieces you give to your daughter have been well-inspected for bones. Even if the package says it's boneless, I've found an occasional bone.)

I agree with the mom who said to buy the frozen veggies. I keep a variety on-hand and pop them in the microwave, spritzed with a little "I can't believe it's not butter" spray. There are also some preseasoned varieties, but they can sometimes be rather peppery.

One recipe my family loves that's sooo quick and easy is a casserole with boxed mac and cheese. Make up the mac and cheese according to directions. Then, stir in a small can of peas and a can of tuna (both drained). Pour the mixture into a casserole dish and cook at 350 for about 15 minutes. If you make the "low fat" version of the mac and cheese, it's not a bad dinner for everyone.

Also, have you tried avacados? I know they can be expensive, but they're a good way to get some heart-healthy fats to your little one. You can mash 'em up and spead them on toast or just cut them into pieces. They're good for you too! =)

My kids also love baked chicken and pork chops. For my son, I cut them into very small pieces, and he's able to eat them just fine.

For my kids, it's all about spice/taste. I use a little garlic salt or seasoned salt on just about all my meats, and my kids will gobble them up. I feel like any "negatives" from eating a little sodium are outweighed by the benefits they get with the proteins from the meats and the omegas from the fish.