What are some healthy food choices for my one year old?

Question

I don't want to be the too busy mom who warms up mac and cheese or spaghetti O's for her little one. I want him to have healthy meals to set him up to make healthy decisions later on. I'm just running out of ideas for him. He won't be one until September, but he already is through with me spoon feeding him. Also, I'm so used to watching how much he eats by reading the ounces posted on the side of the baby food jar. How do you know how much food to give a pre-toddler?

Answer 1

I guess it really depends on how well your baby is doing with eating foods of different textures at this point. I agree with previous posters, soft foods like bitesize pieces of fruit (I'd steam harder fruits like apples and pears bc they can be too hard to swallow if they cant chew well, and cut grapes in half to minimize the choking risk) and steamed veggies. You can make soft things like quesadillas filled with cheese and shredded chicken and just cut them into really tiny chunks. Breads, spaghetti/pastas, hot dogs cut into small pieces.... probably your baby could eat a lot of what you are aleady preparing for the rest of your family to eat. Just be sure that it isnt too hard to chew, and that it's in bite sized pieces. You can give them a portion the size of your palm, and if they want more, let them eat until they are done! You dont have to use extreme portion control, so long as you are feeding them healthy meals and your baby isnt overweight (which your doctor would tell you if it was something you needed to be concerned about.)

Answer 2

I have a two year old & an 8 yr old so my time can get busy too. I wanted my children to eat healthy as well sooooo... when I couldn't cook i just heated in a pot some vegetables like corn & green beans, baked potato,greens, any & all beans even the ones i dont like. cut grapes, bannanas, raisins, cheerios for a snack, etc... i never gave salty foods until they were 2 or little older. My children will eat anything i give them especially my daughter because i started her young on veg & fruit. I didn't offer meat to my daughter until recentally & she will have nothing to do with it so the sooner you introduce the foods to your child the better chance you have of them likeing it when they get older. Make sure your child has all there teeth before offering hard to chew foods or things they can choke on.

Answer 3

i have always let my boys decide when they are full. If they keep eating they must still be hungry. If weight becomes an issue then readdress the food amounts.

Good foods: any fruit or vegetable , although you shouldn't give strawberries to any kid under 2 because of allergies, homemade spaghetti or other pasta. Rice with taco meat on top, cheerios, applesauce, pudding, jello, whole wheat crackers, gold fish.
My 1.5 yr old basically eats any rice or pasta with most steamed veggies on top or mashed in it. He is not a big meat eater but will eat fish. We buy whole grain waffles or I make pancakes and add blueberries to them. He doesnt even want the syrup on them.
I would try to give him whatever you make for you to eat. It may have to vary a little bit, like if your food is too spicy or something.

Good luck!

Answer 4

The guideline is one Tablespoon of a food for every year of age. Example - one Tbsp. meat, one Tbsp. potato/rice/pasta/bread/, one Tbsp. veg; and one Tbsp. fruit.
Feed him the foods he likes least first, save what he likes best for last.
Chop up or mince what you need to, and avoid all choking hazards [ nuts, gum, popcorn, candy, raisins, and seeds. ]
All grapes, cherry tomatoes, hot dog slices, etc. should be quartered befor serving.
Do not let your child eat unattended, or in the backseat of the car.
He can eat 'grown up' applesauce, and chopped up single fruit servings.
Don't give him a drink until he has eaten about half.

Answer 5

I get my daughter Gerber Graduates foods they make all kinds of stuff from full meals to snacks. My daughter loves em. They have finger foods and cheezit crackers and even dried fruit. All of it is made to dissolve really well so they can eat it better then adult food and it has all the vitamins and stuff Lil bodies need to grow up strong. And I just let her eat when she is full she lets me know. They say a toddlers tummy is only about the size of their fist, All three of my kids have made sure I know thats not true in their case.

Answer 6

i would feed him veggies and fruit and finger food. also soups are very healthy. i give my baby food untril she is full im not the kind that gives my child a spoon full of food and then 5 hours later give her another spoon full of food like it says on the papers. i feed my child till shes full. would you like it if you had too eat a certain amount of food? and no more than that even though your still not full??? its the same with children except that we know whats too much for them you should know whats too much and whats too little dont go by what the books tell you or what ppl say is the right amount EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT and what it says in a book or what ppl say its b/c of theior own children and your shild is not one of theirs

Answer 7

1. Cheerios
2. small pieces of banana or watermelon or peach.
3. pinto beans (my daughter loves them so much...still her favorite at 18 months, and great for when they are teething...beans are soft.)
4. Large curd cottage cheese.

Answer 8

Try getting frozen vegatables and cook them so that they are soft. I usually get mixed vegatables. Cut fruits are a good idea also.