How can I get my one year old to eat?

My one year old daughter eats very well when we go out to dinner, but when we stay at home all she wants is cereal and junk food.  Every time I sit down and try to feed her healthy food that my husband and I are eating she refuses and starts screaming and crying.  I have tried to call my doctor and they just say that she might be teething, but she's never had this reaction while teething.  I can't stand it anymore. I feel she's losing weight because she won't eat.  There must be something someone could do.  Please someone how can I get my one year old to eat?

[AndiJ78]

Depending on the type, cereal isn't a bad food jag to have. As for the other, if it isn't in the house, she can't eat it no matter how much she fusses. My three year old still has food jags, but thankfully they are not so bad. He loves peanut butter sandwiches, cereal (we get whole grain stuff), yogurt, etc. There are often healthy alternative to alot of that junkfood that tastes just as good and pack a nutritional punch to boot.

Have you looked into pedi-sure as a supplement for those days when she refuses to eat? Offering new foods can take up to 11 times before they are accepted, but if she knows you will cave in right away, she will quickly learn to manipulate the situation until you are giving her nothing but garbage.

I am not a ball baster, especially with such young children, but there is a way to feed her without feeling guilty.

[kellym]

My just turned 1 year old is bored with her food too. She gets a meat a fruit a vegetable and usually a piece of cheese (her favorite). I started with cold cuts like ham/turkey and now I've switched to frozen meatballs & nuggets. She's uninterested in her pancakes & waffles so I've switched there to oatmeal & fruits.

[ZevasMom]

Our DD is 14 months... She eats meat and carbs well, some fruits (bananas, blueberries)... but WILL NOT eat veggies... SO, we buy stage 2 baby food carrots, sweet potatos, and squash (sometimes too thick though) and we stick a straw in the jar and she slurps it down... I don't know if she thinks she is a big girl because she is using a straw (rather than me spoon feeding her) or what, but it WORKS for us!!!

[AndiJ78]

Finger foods are a big hit for this age as well. If i break it into small bite sized pieces, Cj will eat just about anything. He is still testing the waters with solids, preferring breastmilk to anything else, but he has a liking for yogurt, plain chicken breast, he has even put down a bit of BBQ pulled pork and cinnamon life cereal is his favorite cold cereal.

Make it fun, but make it healthy. You child will thank you for it in 20 years ; )

[AshleysMom]

My 3 yo DD won't eat either!  Never has been a big eater, and forget about vegetables.  She only eats spaghetti, fried chicken, some fruit, yogurt, and of course loves sweets.

I used to stress about it, but like my sister told me:  "Kids won't starve themselves."