Need Ideas!!

I found the perfect solution for little ones learning to eat on their own. Buy diced fruit cups and individual veggie cups right in the canned veggie section. They come in 4 packs and are perfect finger foods. My daughter loves these. You can get peas, carrots, green beans, corn, peaches, pineapple, pears, and mixed fruit and mixed veggies. All great for growing babies!

Hi C.
At almost one they can eat pretty much anything, but finger foods are more fun ..lol
I made mashed sweet potatoes,broccli,carrots,fried oatmeal ( make oatmeat spread in a pan put in frig. to cool cut it in small squares and fry in sm. amount of butter till brown on both sides you can put syrup on it or alone kids like it and it is healthy.chicken salad with grapes,apples,.chop the chicken,fruit fine add a little mayo....ok their are a fewideas..i am a mom of five and 10 grandkids..Sue

What do you eat? Feed him that.

Toddlers should be eating what (with a few exceptions for chokeing hazards) and when the family eats. Just cut everything small enough for his little fingers. You'll find it a lot easier than making seperate food and he will learn to be more adventerous.

As long as he can chew he can eat anything you do as long as it does not pose a choking hazard.
Things like hard carrots and whole grapes would be out. Small pieces of meat, fruits and veggies, noodles, french toast, pancakes, cereals, soft cheeses, yogurt, pudding, etc are all fine for hime to have. Just experiment and see what they like. My little one likes jelled cranberries of all things. Thay could like things you do not expect them to.

Like most of the other posts said, it will depend on what he can chew or gum! He should be able to start having whatever you are having as long as you can make it so he can eat it witout choking. But my only advice for you would be to start now with a WIDE variety of foods, and remember that it can take up to ten times before a child can really determine whether or not they will eat or like something, so please, please keep trying foods in all varieties and different ways of serving them. I have seen so many times where parents start to cater to their children at such a young age and it is the biggest cause of picky eating! Have fun on your eating adventures! Oh and remember that children's sservings are very small so don't be tempted to make him eat large amounts!!

Don't cook specifically for him - give him a little of whatever you have on your plate. From Mexican to Thai to everything in between, kids will eat what they have opportunity to try repeatedly. Aside from meats, which typically require more teeth, everything shoud be an option. Never decide your child doesn't like something, just because they refuse it - keep trying! Mine eat all kinds of things - cheesecake, okra pickles, black eyed peas, and exotic cheeses - because we like variety and I want my kids to grow up learning to eat whatever is placed before them. It will make them much more suited to getting along in society and make them grateful for the opportunity to eat!

SAHM of seven

C. - I applaud you that you're not using processed baby food and looking for "real" food alternatives. Personally, I would start introducting as much fruit and vegetables as you can possibly try. At the moment, the 3 choices that you're doing are all high carb, high glycemic foods. He definitely needs some protein choices in their and low gylcemic carbs such as the fruits and vegetables. It's been awhile since I've had a one year old in my life so I'm not certain what he can and cannot easily eat. But here's a handy chart from my personal nutrition booklet about good sources of protein.

Group

Meats Lean cuts, upper quarters

Poultry White meat

Fish Baked

Beans Black beans, navy

Nuts Almonds (raw is best),
cashews, peanuts, walnut

Vegetables Yams, asparagus, broccoli,
Brussel Sprouts, Cauliflower,
okra, spinach

So introduce more protein, and more fruit and vegetables.

Hope that helps

D.

Our (almost) 11 month old daughter will eat anything we put in front of her! She loves cooked veggies of any kind (including lima beans). To save time I have frozen mixed veggies (Italian blend with zuccini, lima beans, green beans, carrots, broccoli and cauliflower) that I microwave for one minute to make them a little softer. She also loves "mushy" fruits like peaches, cherries, banana. She also eats bread, crackers, cheese, hamburger, chicken, beef, pretty much anything we are eating. I use my Pampered Chef chopper to chop things up into small pieces for her. She only has 2 1/2 teeth but that doesn't stop her from trying everything! Now I can't get her eat anything that comes out of a babyfood jar. The only things I have avoided are things that can be choking hazards or common food allergies (nuts, peanut butter, fish (because of bones), hot dogs).

Amy's brand Organic Whole-Wheat Crust Broccoli Pot Pie, you can find it in the freezer section. It tastes best when you cook it in the microwave and let it cool down. My 4 year-old has been eating them for years and she loves those!!!

We give our 9 month old pretty much everything we eat. Yesterday, we had hamburgers, potato salad, watermelon, cantaloupe and potato chips. We didn't give him potato salad or potato chips, but we chopped up parts of a burger and gave that to him, sliced up the cantaloupe and watermelon small enough that he could mash it with his tongue, and he's happy as a clam! When he wants to eat but we're not ready yet, I give him frozen peas (feel good on his teething mouth), a piece of cheese, a graham cracker, goldfish, a piece of whole wheat toast, and tons of fruit--watermelon, cantaloupe, kiwi, strawberries, dried mangoes, tiny apple pieces... The only things we don't give him are dairy (we do do yogurt, though), honey, nuts, seafood and bananas, which seem to give him extraordinary gas. At one, you should be able to give your baby most foods, unless you have specific allergen concerns. We did this with our first, and he was self feeding early and, at 4, eats very well at the table with the family. Good luck!

Oh--my kids have both had a harder time with stringier meat--roasts, pork chops, steaks--and thus often wound up eating more processed meat--deli meats, sausage, etc. I didn't love this, but it was just too hard for them to get past the texture. We just kept pushing the better meats--and eating chicken and beans!--and now my four year old will eat steak and roast and chops--with BBQ sauce!

Hi C.,

I struggled with this issue a lot myself with my twin boys. I think the biggest determining factor on what your son can eat is the amount of teeth he has. Our boys only had 2 teeth by 12 months, so it was hard to get away from the mushy stuff.

Some things we've been able to get them to enjoy is bread with hummus, butter, or fruit spread. They also enjoyed baked beans quite a bit (warning: messy!), creamed corn, and mashed vegetables other than standard potatoes. We mashed broccoli, sweet potatoes, beans, peas, carrots, etc by microwaving them for an extra minute or two before-hand.

We've done pizza, breadsticks, refried bean tortillas (all chopped up of course). We throw in a jalapeno here or there just for fun :) and to slowly introduce spicy foods because we love spices.

I know it might seem bland or boring for you, but these basic foods on a somewhat regular basis are good for your son. Young kids thrive on routine, and there is actually routines with food that you're showing him.

He can eat just about anything that you eat except nuts until 12 months. Note that adults eat more sugar and salt than young kids need or can handle, so you may need to adjust your food for that reason.

It wasn't until our boys reached 20 months old that we were able to really diversify. If your son has quite a few teeth, then mix it up however you want. If not, then take whatever you want to eat, decrease the salt and/or sugar content, and mash it good. You'd be surprised at what you can come up with!

Good luck!

some good ideas here
http://www.bchealthguide.org/healthfiles/hfile69e.stm

Our son loves baked beans, little pasta raviolis, pieces of hamburger and everything in between! Pancakes or toast are great to give him to feed himself as well as the usual cheerios or goldfish crackers. Good Luck!

Tyson makes chicken bites and chicken nuggets where you can make just a few at a time, also fish sticks are good and hot dogs cut up really small. For vegies, my son likes the steamfresh vegies which come in single serving packages or in packages big enough for the whole family. We also get fruit cups, applesauce and jello. My son also liked to have Ravioli or Lasagna or jelly sandwiches.

This stage is tough! So much chopping/mashing....and watching for the allergens (egg white, but yolk is ok, citrus, strawberries, nuts, fish/shellfish)

For breakfast my son eats oatmeal (plain) with sunbutter (sunflower seed butter) or applesauce. I make it think then kind of roll it in balls for him to eat. Also, melon, cooked apples, peaches, bananas, toast (with sunbutter), egg yolk, waffles (I make his with whole wheat flour, egg yolk only, cinnamon, yogurt....)and freeze extras. You could do the same and make pancakes.

He loves avacado. I used to mash it for baby food, but now give him dices of it.
Lunch- pasta, tortillas with cheese, veggies (I don't do corn yet either), soup, barley/whole wheat pasta/cheese, ...
supper...whatever we're having chopped meat, veggies/pasta, etc.
Snacks for me are challenging, usually fruit/cheese/whole grain crackers.
Good luck, I love trying to find variety.
But as others said DO NOT cook special for him. He'll grow to expect that and it can breed a picky eater.

Hi C.,
Just feed your 1 yr. old the same foods that you are eating. Keep in mind if it's very spicy that it may not be the best for a young digestive system. Make sure that you're remembering a lot of fruits and veggies, protein........and you are doing a great job!!
good Luck,
JLO

Once our daughter hit age one, we almost always gave her whatever we were having (with the exception of pizza, which I felt like was too hard for her to chew safely). Whatever meat we had, I just cut up really small (or sometimes used my Pampered Chef chopper), same for fruits and cooked veggies. I feel like this also established a good system of "you eat whatever we make" and then we don't have to be "catering" additional meals for her. She even devoured (and still does at the age of 4) cooked broccoli (we were lucky--not too gassy afterwards). If you are looking for easy lunch/snacks cut up melon is good, deli meats (unless you are vegetarian) can be cut up easily, hard boiled eggs (good protein--just dont' give him too much--could get a tummy ache), etc. Be careful with all the pastas--they are easy and soft, but don't offer much of a variety, and have limited nutrition (unless you are using organic, whole grain, etc) and limited textures. Also, how about yogurt and cottage cheese? small bites to start b/c of the texture thing. I'd say, uless there are allergy or other issues, let him eat what you eat as long as it's healthy (including dipping things in ketchup, etc--that's how they learn!)

C., its ok to feed them what is on your menu, cut it up small, and mush what needs it, dont worry about making different meals, just make what you will be eating, and eat together is a good way to keep a close family, there are also many sandwhich options, balogna, peanut butter and jelly, applesauce, fruits, vegees, etc, just smaller peices of stuff, of what you normally eat, have fun and enjoy , D. s

I liked giving my daughter cut up lunch meat, mandarin oranges, frozen peas(thawed), corn, cheese curds, plain macaroni, bananas, or anything else that was soft and tender.

It's a good thing you are tired of these things C. because he is ready for more nutrition than "white" foods will provide. Think about color when feeding your son - colorful food has nutrients:

Sweet potatoes (toss chunks lightly with olive oil and bake for 30 minutes @ 400 degrees)

Frozen peas thawed or steamed fresh peas.

Frozen blueberries (keep them frozen - it makes their gums feel better) or fresh

Watermelon, cantaloupe, pears, apples, bananas, plums - skin removed, strawberries....

Cheese chunks if he will tolerate dairy (this is one way to find out) - there are so many varieties of cheese - try them all!

Scrambled eggs

Steamed fresh vegetables: carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, beets... there is no end!

Kidney, butter, pinto or navy beans right out of the can - rinse and serve.

Toast with sesame butter (tahini) or peanut butter if he can tolerate it.

Babies love a variety of fresh, colorful foods ~ why feed him just one thing at a time? Little pieces they can pick up that pack a lovely flavor or color will always do the trick. Stay away from cereals - they are unnecessarily fortified and are just filler. What's important is to stay away from serving the same foods every day so that he decides all she wants is one thing or another.

I agree that cutting up the food you are eating into smaller pieces and introducing as many fruits and vegetables as possible. When a child doesn't seem to like it - keep trying!!! They are getting used to texture as well as taste. Some foods children appear to hate they will eventually love. I have had that happen with my own children.

Happy eating!

Our daughter just turned one and we've been feeding her pretty much everything we eat for quite awhile now--even though she still doesn't have any teeth!!!

Yes, the mixed veggies are a staple in my house too. In fact, now my 3 1/2 and 2 year old love frozen peas right out of the freezer as a snack. The other thing my kids always liked is sweet potatoes. Just stick it in the micro and then cut up into bite sized pieces. But, just about anything you eat, he can eat. Just separate out a bit when you're cooking before you add sauces/spices. Now, my kids eat just about everything. I refuse to make something separate for them to eat!

Hi C.,

If your baby wants what is on your plate then cut it up and give it to him! He will be happier and so will you! Our 4th child is now 15 months old and he eats what we eat, except for things like nuts and chokable items. He's been eating this way for a long time.

Just watch for allergies. Don't be afraid. Your baby will tell you when he's ready for it.

You could try sweet potatoes, mashes cauliflower, rice and gravy, hamburger helper, ravioli, lasagna, different casseroles

I know what you mean. Here a few things my 15 month old likes to eat. Whole wheat mac, ricotta or cottage cheese with peas and carrots (mixed up). Sometimes I buy the baby carrots and boil them on Monday so I have them for the week. I add spaghetti sauce to them one day and cheese another day. She also likes lunchmeat, turkey with cheese and whole wheat pita bread pieces. She also loves green beans, asparagus, brocolli and beans.Also, taco meat, cheese and tomatoes. We eat fairly healthy so it's easy to just give her some of the same things we eat.

We buy deli meat for lunch (and sometimes dinner). My daughter loves roast beef. There's a new brand - Hormel Natural Choice - which has no nitrates. We probably should have given her turkey first, because now she only tolerates it, but she really loves the roast beef. She had that first because that's what daddy likes best! She also likes wheat toast and mini-bagels, applesauce, bananas, all the steamfresh veggies (I just freeze half the bag after steaming them to defrost and use the next week), and tofu! She loves tofu, especially when cubed and cooked in low sodium chicken broth.

Check out wholesomebabyfood.com. It's an awesome site with a ton of ideas!

cut up fruits and veggies for him to eat! thats the best stuff in life.. my son will eat TONS of fruits and veggies. i just always cut them up really small. the less you have to 'make' something the healthier it is anyway, so try to go for more simple, foods as grown. it may seem expensive at face value to buy fresh foods, but in the end it actually costs less because fresh foods help you to feel full longer. (its all that good fiber!) ... so i would try lots of fruits and veggies. my son would also eat just plain bread (i would take the crust off as its hard to chew) and since your son is over one, you can even add a LITTLE peanut butter. cottage cheese, yogurts.. that kind of thing. little chunks of cheese. basically, do a lot of cutting and less cooking LOL>

:D good luck!

Fresh fruits and fresh veggies - 75% raw/25% steamed (organic if possible). Children don't need any starches.

Feed him what you are eating. It will help keep him from becoming a picky eater. Just cut it up small. He still is too little for raw veggies like carrots - but if I'm eating those myself, then I usually give my son a cooked veggie. Frozen peas and beans are really handy and already finger food size!

My son also loves 'dipping' so he usually gets ketchup, barbeque sauce, or syrup on the side (food appropriate) and this seems to encourage him to try new foods because he can coat it with something he already loves.

Cooked oatmeal squares (cook oatmeal-generally a double serving-you can add frozen berries, honey, molasses, and other seasonings, including unsweetened flavored applesauce). Pour into 9x9 cake pan (sprayed with non-stick vegetable oil) and let cool. When firm, cut into squares and serve (can be kept covered in refrigerator up to 3 days). Sounds yukky, but kids love em.

Sweet potatoes, carrots, potatoes, squash, and other similar root veggies, as well as cauliflower (sp?) can be baked or boiled with light seasonings and cooled and stored in a similar fashion for kids to eat cold or warm. Cut into finger or bite sized chunks or 'sticks' and let the kids have at 'em. (Make sure they are completely cooked and soft enough to slide down smoothly.)

There are a whole bunch of fruit that can be cut up and are easy to eat. Bananas are great and if you use your fingers to break them up they aren't as slippery for them to pick up. My kids went nuts for watermelon and pears. I just gave them the ones that were more ripe. I had a friend whose daughter loved avocados. We used to eat a lot of casseroles when I was working, which was great because we enjoyed them and most of them were soft enough for our daughter to eat.

By 1 year you can feed him anything you are eating cut up small enough for him to chew and swallow. My son only 4 teeth(2 top front and 2 bottom front) by a year and had been eating only table food for 3 months. At 9 months he decided baby food wasn't for him anymore and wanted the good stuff. For breakfast he loves eggs, waffles, pancakes, french toast, yogurt, bananas, strawberries, blina, oatmeal, cereal bars. For lunch and dinner he would have chicken, chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, quesadillas, fruit, veggies (usually canned), hamburger, hot dogs cut very small, or whatever I was making for the rest of us to eat. Gerber Graduates meals were also really enjoyed if you want to spend the money on them. I always kept a few on hand for nights when I didn't have time to cook anything. They only take 30 seconds in the microwave.

He really is getting to the point where if he has enough teeth - he should be eating what you eat for dinner (provided it is nutritionally balanced). Avoid the food allergy no-no's like strawberries, milk, and peanuts for awhile. If you are having steak, potatoes and a veggie, cut everything up small enough for him to eat without choking. He probably won't eat much meat to start, so don't give him more than a few very small pieces.

Try not to get sucked into making him his own meal all the time. I have friends with 7 and 8 year olds that get their own separate meal all the time because they were never taught to eat what mom and dad eat.