Need Help with Healthy meals for 1 year old?

Question

Hi all I need help with healthy meals for my 1 year old daughter. I am running out of ideas as what to give her for healthy lunches and suppers. She eats extremely well, but I think she might be getting tired of the same old stuff. For lunch she usually gets chicken pieces ( not fried ) and cheese. Supper she usually eats red meat and veggies. I don't know if I shuld begiving her the foods that we eat because lately we have been eating salad and easy to cook foods that I don;t think are apprioprate for her.
She likes yogurts and fruits, but what else can we feed her that is easy to make and cheaper.
Thanks for your help in advance

Answer 1

I think you are doing great.....add in some fish sticks, oatmeal, baby corn dogs (cut up of course so she doesn't choke) anything you are doing a wonderful job and it sounds like you are a great mother just relax.....she didn't come with a manuel so do the best you can! You can also try things like salad sandwiches for lunch on white or wheat bread, little smokies, grilled cheese, soup with lot's of crackers to make it easy to eat, spaghetti cut up, anything you eat at this point should be fine just make sure that you don't just give her salad most kids that age don't care for it and they won't get full!

Answer 2

You should be working on what you are feeding the whole family, not just her. If what you are eating isn't healthy enough for her, is it really healthy enough for you? Are you setting a good example? Are you going to live a long and healthy life.

Menu planning is really the way to go. Sandi Richard's books and show "Fixing Dinner" are great. If you plan healthy easy to cook meals, for the week ahead then you will buy what you need. If you spend 15 minutes the night before, or during the day prepping ahead for dinner then you are committed to cooking dinner and you will follow through. And dinner should take 30 minutes or less of your time.

In the begining menu planning is hard. It may take an hour or two to pick your meals for the week. You start by seeing what is on sale. Then try to use things more than once. Like have boiled potatoes one day and then later in the week have mashed. Then you only have to boil potatoes once. Same with rice have plain rice and then fried rice.

Have spaghetti with meat balls, and fry some loose ground beef for later in the week. Etc.

It really works and soon everyone will benefit.

(Also your daughter may love salad. My son can't keep his hands off uncooked collard greens and spinach)

Answer 3

Try fruit salads cut up small, with yogurt and granola, also maybe some soups low in sodium or better yet home made soups with more noodles than broth. Pastas are great for kids, just cook up the pasta and make 2 different sauces one for her and one for the rest of the family. Always add a lot of veggies no matter what. How she eats now will determine how she looks at food later. Also use whole grains or organics more then others.

Answer 4

For breakfast

Cheerois with low fat milk
or
Grapes With Juice

For Lunch
A pb&j on wheat bread
Creamy peanut butter

For Snack
Chesse Cubes With Grapes
Milk or Juice

For Dinner
Baked Chicken Pieces Cut Up Small
With Carrots

For Dessert
Youter Or A Hot Bottle Of Milk

Answer 5

You're doing the right thing giving her little finger foods, because toddlers love eating foods they can pick up with their fingers. I know that when my brother was small, he absolutely loved "banana wheels." Just slit the banana peel lengthwise with a knife and then cut cross wise into little circles, discarding the ends of the banana. Your child will have a great time picking up the little "wheels" and peeling off the peel, which will be easy for her to do, and bananas are rich in potassium so they are nice and healthy treats.

Also, have you been giving her mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes? I haven't met a baby yet who hates mashed potatoes. You could maybe put a tiny bit of melted butter on top to make it extra yummy.

It's nice to see that some moms still care about feeding their kids in ways that are healthy as well as fast and easy.

Answer 6

My now three year old demands grilled chicken and salad with croutons, cucumbers, and cheese please!. First of all make sure your one year old can accomodate chewing food. And things like fish and various pasta dishes might be great introductions to her eating. your already on a great path you dont seem to give her a lot of fried foods. for easy snacks you can give her a variety of flavored crackers or dried fruits. most one yr olds love to dip things if possible some carrots and ranch dressing or avocado dip as well as non-hot salsa with corn chips.

Answer 7

I bought a great book called FIRST MEALS. Terrific healthy meals that will grow with baby. I have a 1 year old with a slight thyroid issue and am now using the book as a guide...

Answer 8

I started feeding my daughter table food at 8 months, no special meals and fully spiced (because she loved it!)

Just make sure that the pieces are small and easy to chew and she should be fine.

At 20 months her favorite foods are all spicy or garlicky. Only drawback is the odor of her diapers is quite strong.

Answer 9

You can still feed her simple meals that will be healthy for her, like plain cooked spaghetti (or any pasta) with mixed in carrots and peas. or rice and green beans- you can just change up what you serve with her meats. they like simple plain food and you can mix easy stuff together to make one simple meal and give her juice or water to drink with it, then give a piece of fruit for a dessert. A lot of times my son likes to eat just a bowl of green beans and pieces of bread on the side with juice. I always keep it simple and he is very healthy and happy!

Answer 10

Doesn't sound like she gets enough veggies at lunch. As long as okay with pediatrician: try little finger foods of jicama, broccoli, carrot, cauliflower. You can let her try yogurt based dip for a taste and dipping treat. (May depend on how many teeth she has!) Stay with whole, unadulterated foods and she will be healthy.