What Does a One Year old Eat? She is so picky!/open forum if needed!

[kierstynsmommy]

Hey ladies.  I am sorry to take up a space for this, but I have really tried to research my question online and have not found really any good advice.  My daughter just turned one and has become a very picky eater. I need some help as to what I can feed her. Sometimes she only eats hot dogs or macaroni and cheese. But like what should I fix for supper? Snack? Lunch? I am so not good at this and better get good because I have another one on the way! Please, any advice is much appreciated! Thanks in advance...oh and also, you can use this as an open forum if needed!
Amber

[Amymommy]

Ok...  I'm really educated on this one..  Put healthy options in front of her and let her pick what to eat.  Whatever you do, don't force her and don't only give her the options of her favs.  If she likes hot dogs, give her green beans first while you prepare her hot dogs, add some sliced grapes or blueberries, cheese, etc.  Just give her a bunch of variety every time.  She will get use to seeing all that stuff on her plate and will eventually try some.

I've heard it can take tasting a food 5 times before a kid decides they want to like it.  It takes my boys like 100 times :)  Here are some snacks we like:

cheese slices
Vegi Booty (organic food section)
sliced grapes
blueberries
yo baby yogurt
green beans
red beans (canned)
Quesadillas
Avocado slices

GOOD LUCK!

[Momoftwogirls]

Mine sometimes just won't eat - and then the next day or two she'll eat wonderfully. I think they just eat when they are hungry - and some days/meals they just aren't.

Here are some things I feed her though:

*  mixed vegetables
*  potatoes or sweet potatoes (cubed)
*  cheese
*  oatmeal
*  Cheerios
*  Any meat we are eating ourselves - just cut up smaller (pork, hamburger, etc.)
*  rice (but what a mess)
*  noodles
*  Chicken & Dumplings
*  Beef Stew
*  Bananas, apples (cubed)
*  Cereal bars (she LOVES THESE!  The nutrigrain style ones)
*  And OF COURSE she LOVES chicken nuggets!

Pretty much anything we are eating - but not anything that is too spicy or too messy (cuz it is just too much work)

[Amymommy]

LOL on the nothing to messy comment :)
I never make spaghetti unless they are eating outside!  Blueberries are pretty bad too.  he he

[kierstynsmommy]

Thank you ladies for the advice and some food thoughts! I am fixin to go to the grocery store and pick these things up! My husband is going crazy telling me that I need to feed our daughter meals and make her eat something that is "good for her and not junk"! He is crazy, I should make him do all the work! Anyway, Thanks again for your advice!
Momoftwogirls- How are you doing today? Are you still bleeding for did it subside? I have been thinking about you all day!
Amber

[Momoftwogirls]

you are so sweet.  Well - good news is I didn't bleed to death, which I thought was happening last night.  Bleeding is WAY lighter today - but cramping is worse - reminds me of post-delivery or early labor actually - yuck.  Clots are very small - but still there. Also just beat. I emptied the dishwasher and afterwards felt so tired and just totally aware of my uterus. I know that sounds wierd - but it just reminded me of how I felt after my c-section a year ago...kind of bruised/very sore.  Ok - WAY too much info - sorry.  I am so touched that you guys actually remember my posts and think about me - that is so nice.  Thank you!!

[emma10]

If they see hotdogs and macncheese they will want these, they are salty and smooshy and full of that great fat flavor that is so addictive (making myself hungry here). However, a 1 year old can't talk so if there are no hotdogs, won't she just eat something else?

I found DS would eat almost anything if the format was right--his favorite was Miss Spiders Tea Party with all the food cut up into a little muffin tin.  You can put food in an empty orange shell too or even just in a little bag and go eat in the garden, play teddie bear picnic etc.  Since my baby had such bad allergies, he HAD to eat a ton of veggies and never really got to see the junkie stuff (or a lot of good stuff too)--(no grains, no dairy, no eggs, no soy, etc) so he had a lot of meats (cut up), rice/potatoes and veggies and fruit. To this day he states proudly his favorite food is cucumbers, followed by artichokes (these are fun, gotta be a littel older) and brussell sprouts (we fight over these but anything with lemon or vinegar on them my kids love).  You can do cookie cutters of anything too or just HIDE the offensive ingredient. My friend's kid would not eat veggies AT ALL so she pureed them and put them in pasta sauce and fed him his favorite spaghetti and tomato sauce (pumped full of veggies!) I think if food becomes the battleground for a power struggle though you are sunk. 2 year olds have a lot of power and control issues. I always kept it kind of lowkey--I'm not a finish your plate kind of person (more of a please don't starve to death). Also, we never ever ever had sodapop of any kind and maybe candy only twice a year---SUGAR ruins appetites horribly!  Good luck, hope it gets better or at least more fun!

[Morgan277]

I agree with the previous post.  besides trying new foods, get new fun plates or make the food appear interesting.  maybe a hamburger you can make a smiley face with ketchup- something along those lines.  cut a pb and j sandwich into a shape or toast with cream cheese into some interesting shape or something.  make it fun.
good luck!

[NataliesMommy]

Hi, just thought I would add to the suggestions.  My daughter is at a very picky stage.  She loves pancakes.  I make a batch of them and store them in a zip lock bag.  Microwave one for 20 seconds.  Also rice with a little butter.  Also, try adding a little onion powder or garlic powder to rice or noodles.  Some kids like that flavor.  Baked french fries, cheerios, granola bars too.

[HeidiL5]

I just wanted to say it is normal for a toddler to be a picky eater.  It is also normal for them to eat more of the "finger foods" then at meals.  That is why it is a good idea to make sure finger foods are healthy.  I would say, if you are still breastfeeding I wouldn't worry too much as long as she continues to grow at normal rate.  She will explore lots of foods this next year.  Lot's of good suggestions.

[Brat5Fam]

hope you dont mind if a father comments. as far as the fruit goes, you can try pain yogurt as like a dip for the fruit.. kids love dip, and they are both healthy. the hot dogs you can try vienna sausages just to switch it up a little. they are good as well as very soft. i peel the skin off just to be extra safe. my kids are the same way they will bearly eat anything one day and the next stuff themselfs.

[eramom]

my daughter is not even a year but she already eats everything that I do.  I try to limit what things but she just wants to try everything.  It was like as soon as she got teeth she new herself she was ready also I noticed that she goes easier.  She fought me for so long and when I started feeding her real food it's easier for her like her digestive was ready from the beggining.