Foods a one year old can eat: Food for 1-year-old: Menu and nutrition
Food for 1-year-old: Menu and nutrition
Choosing the right foods for a 1-year-old can help them embrace new flavors and see meals as fun.
No single meal plan is right for all children, but these guidelines can help with feeding a toddler.
Share on PinterestToddlers can often safely eat many fruits, vegetables, proteins, and grains.
Toddlers can eat the same foods that their family members eat, though it may be necessary to modify some foods to make them easier and safer to eat.
Children may need to try a food many times before they like it. Parents and caregivers should never force a food, and never punish children, but continue offering a wide variety of nourishing options.
Some toddler-friendly foods to consider include:
- Fruits: Avocados, bananas, oranges, berries, mangoes, and other fruits are great choices. It is important to cut berries, grapes, or hard fruits into small pieces.
- Vegetables: Toddlers can enjoy all of the same vegetables as adults, so parents and caregivers can introduce new ones on an ongoing basis.
Some toddlers enjoy baby food purees that include both vegetables and fruits, providing a sweet taste.
- Protein: Toddlers can eat bits of meat in baby-sized bites. They may also enjoy other proteins, such as lentils, beans, or tofu.
- Grains: Grains such as oatmeal offer healthful fiber that can prevent constipation.
There is no need to disguise food, add sugar to it, or try to make it taste better in other ways. Children learn to eat the things that parents or caregivers give them.
Toddlers respond to texture and shape changes. If a child dislikes a specific fruit, try cutting it into different shapes, arranging it into a smiley face, or offering it in a smoothie. Make food fun and creative, and do not try to control how much the child eats.
Eat together at mealtimes, and offer the toddler the same foods as the rest of the family rather than creating special toddler meals. Offer the child something that they like and be willing to give them a second portion if they indicate that they want more.
Where possible, it is best to develop an eating schedule and stick with it. Although toddlers should not have unhealthful snacks, such as cookies, with no nutritional value, they may need several healthful snacks throughout the day, particularly during a growth spurt.
The schedule only applies to foods, as it is important to give children water whenever they indicate that they want some.
Between the ages of 1 and 2 years, toddlers can begin enjoying the same foods as their parents or caregivers, as long as the food is in a child-friendly form.
Young children face a very high risk of choking on certain foods. Choking is a leading cause of childhood injury and death. Parents and caregivers can reduce the risk of choking by:
- Being mindful of dense foods that change shape: Peanut butter, squeezy cheese, and similar foods can block the airway. Avoid giving them on a spoon or in large globs. Some people prefer to thin these foods with water or spread a small amount over a cracker.
- Giving peanuts in smaller pieces: Doctors used to think that parents and caregivers should delay giving babies peanuts, but research now shows that the early introduction of peanuts reduces the risk of allergies. Cut peanuts into small pieces or blend them into peanut butter.
- Cutting small, round foods: Blueberries, grapes, and similarly sized foods present a significant choking hazard. Cut them into very small pieces — for example, divide a large grape into eighths. The same is true of canteloupe or other dense melon-type fruits.
- Avoiding choking hazards that offer no nutritional value: Popcorn and some other snacks, such as tortilla chips, present a high risk of choking. As they also offer few health benefits, it is best to avoid them.
It is also advisable to monitor children while they eat, discourage them from eating while playing, and remind them not to talk and eat at the same time. In addition, never allow a child to eat alone or in the backseat of a car, as choking is usually silent.
Sweet beverages, such as sodas and sugary juices, encourage tooth decay. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) note that there is no reason to give healthy children juice. If parents or caregivers want to give juice, the AAP recommend no more than 4 ounces of juice per day.
However, babies and toddlers should always have access to water.
There is no need to feed children differently, just because they are sick. If the child’s appetite is unaffected, and they are not vomiting, it is fine to continue giving them their usual meals. However, some children regress when they are sick.
Toddlers who are still breastfeeding may want to breastfeed more. Those who have just switched to solid foods may want purees or baby food instead. Encourage the child to listen to their body, then offer them healthful foods based on their needs. For example, a child who does not want to chew food can still get excellent nourishment from a fruit smoothie.
When a child cannot keep down food or does not want to eat, it is essential to continue giving them water. If a child has diarrhea or a very high fever or is vomiting frequently, ask a doctor about giving them an electrolyte drink to replace lost fluids and prevent dehydration.
Some doctors recommend sticking to a very bland diet for a few hours after a child has had diarrhea or been vomiting. People can use the acronym BRAT to remember suitable foods:
- Bananas
- Rice
- Applesauce
- Toast
Learn more about the BRAT diet here.
Most toddlers need 1,000–1,400 calories per day. Larger and more active children may need slightly more.
Parents and caregivers should not worry about trying to provide perfect portion sizes. Instead, they can offer a wide array of healthful foods and allow the child to decide what to eat. Many toddlers achieve balance over time by eating large meals one day and almost nothing the next.
Toddlers should eat every 2 to 3 hours, or five to six times per day. A sample daily schedule might look like this:
Breakfast options
- one-half of a cup of oatmeal and one-half of a cup of fruit, such as sliced blueberries or bananas
- fruit smoothie containing avocado, frozen berries, and banana
- cottage cheese
- scrambled eggs
Mid-morning snack options
- fruit and vegetable smoothie containing kale, apple, mango, banana, and carrot
- yogurt
- hummus or nut butters with dippable fruit or soft crackers
Lunch options
- sliced chicken or cheese and a fruit salad
- tuna and crackers
- lentil soup
- peanut butter sandwich with fruit on the side
- Greek yogurt with fruit
Postnap snack options
- frozen fruit smoothie “popsicle,” consisting of apple, mango, banana, and orange frozen in a popsicle mold
- cottage cheese with sliced avocado
- a few pieces of cheese
- mild salsa with pita bread
Dinner options
- cooked quinoa, lentils, or beans
- tofu stir-fry
- tender chopped hamburger with beans or macaroni and cheese on the side (or black bean burger for a plant-based option)
- grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup
- vegetable soup and an egg omelet
- cooked vegetables and ground beef or other chopped tender meats
Toddlers who eat dinner several hours before bedtime may also need a pre-bedtime snack.
Some 1-year-olds still drink breast milk. All major public health agencies say that it is fine to continue giving breast milk for as long as the breastfeeding adult and child mutually desire. Breast milk provides nutrition, so breastfed 1-year-olds may eat slightly less than those who have already weaned.
Once the child is ready to wean, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advise replacing breast milk with milk rather than with formula.
Every toddler is different. Some have barely started eating solids at 1 year of age, while others enjoy a wide range of complex flavors. However, children will eventually start trying new foods.
The job of parents and caregivers is to introduce new foods and turn meals into a pleasurable experience.
It might be helpful to discuss nutritional goals with a pediatrician or dietitian.
Food for 1-year-old: Menu and nutrition
Choosing the right foods for a 1-year-old can help them embrace new flavors and see meals as fun.
No single meal plan is right for all children, but these guidelines can help with feeding a toddler.
Share on PinterestToddlers can often safely eat many fruits, vegetables, proteins, and grains.
Toddlers can eat the same foods that their family members eat, though it may be necessary to modify some foods to make them easier and safer to eat.
Children may need to try a food many times before they like it. Parents and caregivers should never force a food, and never punish children, but continue offering a wide variety of nourishing options.
Some toddler-friendly foods to consider include:
- Fruits: Avocados, bananas, oranges, berries, mangoes, and other fruits are great choices. It is important to cut berries, grapes, or hard fruits into small pieces.
- Vegetables: Toddlers can enjoy all of the same vegetables as adults, so parents and caregivers can introduce new ones on an ongoing basis. Some toddlers enjoy baby food purees that include both vegetables and fruits, providing a sweet taste.
- Protein: Toddlers can eat bits of meat in baby-sized bites. They may also enjoy other proteins, such as lentils, beans, or tofu.
- Grains: Grains such as oatmeal offer healthful fiber that can prevent constipation.
There is no need to disguise food, add sugar to it, or try to make it taste better in other ways. Children learn to eat the things that parents or caregivers give them.
Toddlers respond to texture and shape changes. If a child dislikes a specific fruit, try cutting it into different shapes, arranging it into a smiley face, or offering it in a smoothie. Make food fun and creative, and do not try to control how much the child eats.
Eat together at mealtimes, and offer the toddler the same foods as the rest of the family rather than creating special toddler meals. Offer the child something that they like and be willing to give them a second portion if they indicate that they want more.
Where possible, it is best to develop an eating schedule and stick with it. Although toddlers should not have unhealthful snacks, such as cookies, with no nutritional value, they may need several healthful snacks throughout the day, particularly during a growth spurt.
The schedule only applies to foods, as it is important to give children water whenever they indicate that they want some.
Between the ages of 1 and 2 years, toddlers can begin enjoying the same foods as their parents or caregivers, as long as the food is in a child-friendly form.
Young children face a very high risk of choking on certain foods. Choking is a leading cause of childhood injury and death. Parents and caregivers can reduce the risk of choking by:
- Being mindful of dense foods that change shape: Peanut butter, squeezy cheese, and similar foods can block the airway. Avoid giving them on a spoon or in large globs. Some people prefer to thin these foods with water or spread a small amount over a cracker.
- Giving peanuts in smaller pieces: Doctors used to think that parents and caregivers should delay giving babies peanuts, but research now shows that the early introduction of peanuts reduces the risk of allergies.
Cut peanuts into small pieces or blend them into peanut butter.
- Cutting small, round foods: Blueberries, grapes, and similarly sized foods present a significant choking hazard. Cut them into very small pieces — for example, divide a large grape into eighths. The same is true of canteloupe or other dense melon-type fruits.
- Avoiding choking hazards that offer no nutritional value: Popcorn and some other snacks, such as tortilla chips, present a high risk of choking. As they also offer few health benefits, it is best to avoid them.
It is also advisable to monitor children while they eat, discourage them from eating while playing, and remind them not to talk and eat at the same time. In addition, never allow a child to eat alone or in the backseat of a car, as choking is usually silent.
Sweet beverages, such as sodas and sugary juices, encourage tooth decay. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) note that there is no reason to give healthy children juice. If parents or caregivers want to give juice, the AAP recommend no more than 4 ounces of juice per day.
However, babies and toddlers should always have access to water.
There is no need to feed children differently, just because they are sick. If the child’s appetite is unaffected, and they are not vomiting, it is fine to continue giving them their usual meals. However, some children regress when they are sick.
Toddlers who are still breastfeeding may want to breastfeed more. Those who have just switched to solid foods may want purees or baby food instead. Encourage the child to listen to their body, then offer them healthful foods based on their needs. For example, a child who does not want to chew food can still get excellent nourishment from a fruit smoothie.
When a child cannot keep down food or does not want to eat, it is essential to continue giving them water. If a child has diarrhea or a very high fever or is vomiting frequently, ask a doctor about giving them an electrolyte drink to replace lost fluids and prevent dehydration.
Some doctors recommend sticking to a very bland diet for a few hours after a child has had diarrhea or been vomiting. People can use the acronym BRAT to remember suitable foods:
- Bananas
- Rice
- Applesauce
- Toast
Learn more about the BRAT diet here.
Most toddlers need 1,000–1,400 calories per day. Larger and more active children may need slightly more.
Parents and caregivers should not worry about trying to provide perfect portion sizes. Instead, they can offer a wide array of healthful foods and allow the child to decide what to eat. Many toddlers achieve balance over time by eating large meals one day and almost nothing the next.
Toddlers should eat every 2 to 3 hours, or five to six times per day. A sample daily schedule might look like this:
Breakfast options
- one-half of a cup of oatmeal and one-half of a cup of fruit, such as sliced blueberries or bananas
- fruit smoothie containing avocado, frozen berries, and banana
- cottage cheese
- scrambled eggs
Mid-morning snack options
- fruit and vegetable smoothie containing kale, apple, mango, banana, and carrot
- yogurt
- hummus or nut butters with dippable fruit or soft crackers
Lunch options
- sliced chicken or cheese and a fruit salad
- tuna and crackers
- lentil soup
- peanut butter sandwich with fruit on the side
- Greek yogurt with fruit
Postnap snack options
- frozen fruit smoothie “popsicle,” consisting of apple, mango, banana, and orange frozen in a popsicle mold
- cottage cheese with sliced avocado
- a few pieces of cheese
- mild salsa with pita bread
Dinner options
- cooked quinoa, lentils, or beans
- tofu stir-fry
- tender chopped hamburger with beans or macaroni and cheese on the side (or black bean burger for a plant-based option)
- grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup
- vegetable soup and an egg omelet
- cooked vegetables and ground beef or other chopped tender meats
Toddlers who eat dinner several hours before bedtime may also need a pre-bedtime snack.
Some 1-year-olds still drink breast milk. All major public health agencies say that it is fine to continue giving breast milk for as long as the breastfeeding adult and child mutually desire. Breast milk provides nutrition, so breastfed 1-year-olds may eat slightly less than those who have already weaned.
Once the child is ready to wean, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advise replacing breast milk with milk rather than with formula.
Every toddler is different. Some have barely started eating solids at 1 year of age, while others enjoy a wide range of complex flavors. However, children will eventually start trying new foods.
The job of parents and caregivers is to introduce new foods and turn meals into a pleasurable experience.
It might be helpful to discuss nutritional goals with a pediatrician or dietitian.
The diet of a one-year-old child / What and how to feed a baby – an article from the “What to feed” section on Food.
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Principles of nutrition for a child per year
If a child has 6-8 teeth per year, and he looks with interest into the plates of his parents , this does not mean that it is time for him to change to a common table. At the very least, the diet of a one-year-old child should be very different from that of an adult.
Adult food is often unbalanced, prepared in an unsuitable way for a baby, contains a lot of sugar, salt and spices. Such food harms the growing body. Therefore, first of all, build the right diet.
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It is recommended to eat 3-4 times a day for 300-400 g plus 1-2 snacks between feedings.
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From the first year of life, the baby can chew solid food.
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If lactation continues, breastfeed until 2 years of age.
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Avoid fast food and sugary sodas.
A one-year-old’s diet might look like this:
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8:00 – breakfast.
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12:00 – lunch.
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16:00 – afternoon tea.
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19:00 – dinner.
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21:00 – snack.
Advice
600 ml is the recommended amount of milk for a baby to drink daily.
If breastfeeding, feed your baby after waking up, in the afternoon after dinner, or before bed. You need to feed at the same time with a delay of 15-20 minutes.
Proper nutrition helps to form reflexes, which improves the absorption of nutrients in the body.
How much should a one year old child eat
A baby’s diet should include 1000-1400 kcal per day. The calculation is as follows: multiply the weight of the child by 100 kcal.
The calorie content is distributed as follows:
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Breakfast – 250 kcal;
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lunch – 350 kcal;
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afternoon tea – 200 kcal;
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dinner – 200 kcal.
Healthy food contains enough vitamins, minerals and nutrients: proteins, carbohydrates and fats. It is necessary to include fatty foods in the child’s diet: milk, butter, sour cream, cream. Fatty food promotes the absorption of trace elements in the body.
Interesting fact
10% of one-year-old children in Russia are overweight. They are not properly fed, they are allowed to eat fast food and drink soda. Obesity at an early age leads to vascular disease, heart disease, diabetes, mental disorders and other serious disorders.
Child’s menu per year
Balanced menu includes specialty meals designed to meet the needs of children, plus “adult” foods: meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, cereals, bread, pastries and legumes.
It is good to eat milk porridge for breakfast. It is a rich source of vitamins, minerals and fiber. Fiber is good for intestinal microflora: it regulates the balance of beneficial and harmful bacteria.
Meat is a source of animal protein, indispensable for a growing organism. WHO recommends that children eat 60–70 g of meat per day. It can be served as steam cutlets, meatballs in soup, or any other attractive form. Offal and meat products are harmful to a one-year-old child.
It is also desirable to gradually expand the vegetable menu. Vegetables contain many vitamins, minerals, trace elements and organic acids that are beneficial to the body. Gradually introduce boiled carrots, cabbage, zucchini, turnips, beets into the baby’s diet.
Legumes are a source of vegetable proteins. Beans, lentils, green peas diversify the baby’s diet. They contain useful trace elements, vitamins, as well as coarse fiber. Therefore, legumes need to be boiled and chopped in a blender. Beans should not be eaten too often either, as they cause bloating and, in rare cases, diarrhea.
Fruit diet improves immunity, especially in winter when the body is weakened. Fruit goes well with cereals or served as smoothies and juices.
Sugar and salt lead to nutritional imbalances, cardiovascular problems and obesity. Avoid cakes, pastries, chocolate bars and other sweets. Replace sugar with fructose, which is abundant in fruits, or honey.
What to drink? Water, lots of water. It is advisable to make sure that the child has drunk a glass of liquid after eating. He himself will not ask, because he still does not know how. When a one-year-old child is thirsty, he begins to act up. Sweet soda should be excluded from the diet of the baby.
What foods should not be given to a one-year-old child
Approach the baby’s menu carefully. Do not rush to transplant him to an adult table. Among the forbidden foods for a one-year-old child:
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Fried foods, including chips, snacks and fast food.
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Meats and offal such as sausages and sausages, other than liver, heart and tongue.
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Curds, ice cream, condensed milk, koumiss.
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Mushrooms.
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Products containing colorants and flavors.
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Cream confectionery containing vegetable protein.
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Carbonated drinks.
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Concentrates like Doshirak.
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Caramel and gum.
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Pickled vegetables and fruits.
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Spices and condiments, including ketchup, mayonnaise and other sauces.
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Smoked products.
Advice
Buy food from stores labeled “Baby Food”. The label often says for what age this product is intended. There are no additives, GMOs, artificially grown products and other things in baby food. Read the contents of the label carefully. Often unscrupulous manufacturers use false labels for marketing purposes.
What to do if the child does not want to eat
It is difficult to persuade children to try unusual food. There are four ways to deal with this problem:
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Lead by example before introducing new foods. When he sees that adults eat with appetite, he involuntarily wants to try it. But remember that the baby gets used to a new food only from the tenth time.
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Try one new product at a time.
A child needs time to get used to it. New food should be combined with what is already loved.
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Don’t force your child to eat something they don’t like. Let him choose what he wants.
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Food should be as simple and familiar as possible. Children do not like dishes with many obscure ingredients like casseroles.
Tip
Babies eat better when they are relaxed. Work up an appetite during a walk or after a game. Never teach children to watch TV or smartphones while eating. Eating should be extremely calm.
Benefits of pre-mixed formula
Don’t be afraid to switch babies to formula instead of breastfeeding. They benefit the baby’s body, unlike, say, goat’s milk. Goat’s or cow’s milk is too low in nutrients and high in protein. Its digestion increases the load on the gastrointestinal tract of the child and leads to obesity.
Three advantages of mixtures:
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Contains polyunsaturated fatty acids that are beneficial for the baby’s body.
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Rich in probiotics and prebiotics, live bacteria that maintain normal intestinal microflora.
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Give your child the necessary balanced intake of vitamins and minerals.
Tip
Formula will not replace breast milk.
What can be done?
Set a clear power mode. Make a menu for every day: breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, snack. Write down the products and their quantity. The children’s menu should be varied and balanced, contain sufficient nutrients, minerals and vitamins. Introduce new foods gradually and do not force the child to eat something that he does not want in a year.
Read more about children’s nutrition:
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How to improve your child’s health during the off-season. Simple tips from an expert
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How to improve your child’s appetite. Instructions for parents
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6 healthy fiber foods. How to feed a child so that he is healthy
We are expanding the diet.
Nutrition for children from 1 year to 1.5 years. Menu and diet of a child after 1 year
Your baby has just celebrated his first “anniversary” – he is one year old. He has learned a lot this year. Should his eating style change now?
Perhaps we can say that your baby has entered a transitional stage in nutrition. He is no longer a baby. The kid will begin to master the “food environment” more and more and come closer in his eating habits and addictions to adults. But it takes some time for the baby to gradually adjust to a new style of eating.
By this age, the baby’s digestive system has also undergone great changes. First, he already got his own teeth. As a rule, by the age of 1 year, children have 6-10 milk teeth. The chewing skills of the baby are rapidly improving. In this process, an important role is played by the interest in chewing food, which “gets” the crumbs in coarse or even unground form. Secondly, the activity of digestive enzymes produced in various parts of the baby’s digestive tract has increased significantly. This means that he is already ready to digest and assimilate much more complex products than six months ago. Thirdly, the child has already become acquainted with many tastes of dishes; it is likely that he has already formed certain taste preferences. Further modification of nutrition should be associated not only with an increase in the nutritional value of the diet, but also with the expansion of the taste knowledge of the baby.
As a rule, breastfeeding after 1 year occurs early in the morning and late in the evening, before going to bed. Often, even at this age, night feedings are also preserved. There is nothing to worry about: it is impossible to overfeed with breast milk. In addition, recent studies allow us to say with confidence that nightly breastfeeding not only does not increase the risk of developing caries, but, on the contrary, prevents its development. Antibodies contained in breast milk inhibit the growth of staphylococcus aureus, which is the main cause of tooth decay.
If the baby has already stopped receiving breast milk, but continues to “sip” at night on a bottle of formula or even juice, then this should be stopped. Unfortunately, formulas differ in properties from breast milk. Therefore, their use, especially at night, significantly increases the risk of caries. The fact is that after them, as after any meal, the acid-base balance in the oral cavity is strongly shifted to the acidic side, which creates the prerequisites for the destruction of tooth enamel. And in general, by the age of one and a half, a baby should already be weaned from eating at night (this does not apply to breastfeeding), as this disturbs sleep, worsens appetite during the day and prevents parents from getting enough sleep.
When and how much to feed the baby?
Up to 1.5 years old, you can leave the baby five meals a day, but if you notice that the child refuses the last (fifth) feeding, then it’s time to transfer him to the “adult” four meals a day: breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. In this case, the intervals between feedings are 3.5-4 hours. It is during this period, according to research, that the food eaten is evacuated from the stomach of the crumbs, that is, it is ready for the next meal. You should follow the established diet quite clearly: try not to deviate from the “schedule” for more than 15-30 minutes. If the feeding regimen is observed, a clearer work of the entire digestive system is observed: the food reflex determines the formation of a good appetite, digestive juices are produced in a timely manner and in sufficient quantities, which allows you to digest and assimilate food well. With erratic nutrition, such a reflex is almost not developed, the secretion of enzymes and juices decreases, and food is processed worse. Try not to give your baby anything between feedings – fruits, juices, dairy products, and especially sweets. This is especially true for children with reduced appetite. Such “snacks” reduce the appetite of the crumbs, knock down the established mechanism for the production of digestive juices, so during the main meals, he may refuse certain healthy foods.
The daily calorie content of a child aged 12-18 months is approximately 1300 kcal, the amount of food is 1000-1200 ml. The distribution of this amount during the day is quite even: breakfast and dinner – 25% each, lunch – 35%, afternoon tea – 15%. It is estimated that for every kilogram of body weight, a one-year-old child needs about 4 g of protein, 4 g of fat and 16 g of carbohydrates per day. At the same time, animal proteins should make up at least 70% of their total daily amount, vegetable fats – approximately 13% of the total amount of fat.
What to bring to the table?
By the age of 1, your little one has most likely become familiar with almost all kinds of foods. After 1 year, the modification of the diet involves both an appeal to new products, and a gradual change in the way they are prepared and the degree of grinding.
Breast or non-chest?
Despite the fact that the baby has formally left the ranks of infants, it is probably too early to wean him, especially in the hot season (the latter circumstance significantly increases the risk of catching an intestinal infection). Many pediatricians believe that breastfeeding is worth around 20-24 months. After all, breast sucking not only gives the baby the opportunity to get delicious milk, but also allows you to feel maternal warmth and care, providing psychological comfort. We must also not forget that milk remains extremely useful even at this age: it contains special substances that stimulate the development of the nervous system, in particular the brain, many vitamins, antibodies, and is easily and completely absorbed.
Dairy products in the child’s diet
Dairy products still occupy a large place in the diet. They are a source of valuable calcium, B vitamins, as well as a supplier of protein and milk fat. After 1 year, the baby can be offered kefir (up to 200 ml per day), yogurt (200-300 ml). It is best not to exceed the recommended amount, as lactic acid products are rich in acidic compounds, which can overload both the digestive and excretory systems of the baby. It is better that the yogurt is made specifically for baby food. If you give your baby “adult” yogurts, make sure that they are low-fat (dairy, not creamy) and contain as little sucrose, preservatives, flavors and other artificial additives as possible. Of course, it is better to prefer “live” yogurts – they allow you to maintain healthy intestinal flora. Such yogurts have a limited shelf life (usually no more than 2 weeks), and they can only be stored in the refrigerator, at a temperature of 2-8°C. If the yogurt packaging indicates that the shelf life is more than 1 month, then this product has been heat-treated and does not contain live lactic acid cultures. Milk formulas also remain relevant – the so-called “follow-up formulas”, that is, those that are intended for feeding children after 6 months. Why, even after 1 year, is it worth offering them to the baby? The fact is that nutritionists are increasingly agreeing to postpone the baby’s acquaintance with whole cow’s milk at least until 2-2.5 years, which is associated with a high frequency of allergic reactions to cow’s milk protein.
Other important dairy products are cottage cheese and cheese. The daily dose of cottage cheese can be increased to 70 g per day after 1 year. Some parents prefer to give it to their children every other day, but at a dose of about 140 g. Cottage cheese can be given in a “pure” form, or you can make pudding, casserole from it, closer to a year and a half – make cheesecakes. Cheese is often used in grated form as an additive to pasta. But some babies love to chew cheese with their teeth. In this case, this product will also contribute to the development of chewing skills.
Butter is most often used as an additive to cereals or spread on bread. The recommended dose is about 12 g per day. It is better not to subject the butter to heat treatment (that is, add it to ready-made dishes).
After 1 year low-fat sour cream and cream can be used in small amounts. Sour cream is best suited for dressing first courses, cream – for making sauces for second courses.
Fruits and vegetables in the child’s diet
Fruits and vegetables should also be widely represented on the baby’s table. After 1 year, you can slowly introduce the baby to new types of fruits and berries: strawberries, cherries, cherries, kiwi, apricots, peaches, currants, gooseberries, chokeberries, sea buckthorn, raspberries, blackberries, cranberries, blueberries, lingonberries and even citrus fruits. Of course, such acquaintances should be well thought out, and the mother will have to carefully observe the reaction of the crumbs to each new product introduced. In children with allergic reactions, it is best not to take new steps without consulting an allergist or pediatrician. Berries that have a fairly dense peel are best mashed, while soft juicy fruits (apricots, peaches, kiwi) can be offered to the baby in slices. Even if your beloved little one tolerates exotic fruits (citrus fruits, kiwi), do not give them a lot: these fruits contain quite a lot of vegetable acids, which in large quantities can irritate the delicate mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract. Grapes enhance the fermentation processes in the intestines and overload the child’s diet with carbohydrates.
However, it is relatively poor in vitamins. That is why nutritionists recommend starting its use at a later age – closer to three years. Fruits can be given to the baby at the end of the main meals, can also be added to porridge, mixed with dairy products. The recommended dose of fruits is about 200-250 grams per day. To this amount, you can add another 100 ml of fruit juice. If up to 1 year it was necessary to prefer clarified juices, then after 1 year it is quite possible to give juices and nectars with pulp to the baby.
Your baby’s vegetable menu can be enriched with beets, turnips, tomatoes, green peas, beans. Legumes should be given to children in small quantities and only in a well-cooked and thoroughly chopped form, as these foods are rich in coarse fiber, which causes increased gas formation in the intestines, increases peristalsis, which can lead to abdominal pain and stool thinning. Vegetables are mainly used in soups and side dishes for meat and fish dishes. They can not only be boiled, but also stewed. At the age of 1 year, they are given in the form of mashed potatoes; closer to a year and a half, you can begin to offer the baby soft boiled or stewed vegetables in pieces. Closer to a year and a half, you can sometimes begin to offer crumbs and garden greens – dill, parsley, cilantro, wild garlic, spinach, lettuce, green onions. Finely chopped greens can be added to soups and main dishes before serving.
It is better to add vegetable oils at the final stage of cooking vegetables in order to heat them as little as possible, since in the process of heating any fats, carcinogens are formed that are harmful not only to babies, but even to adults.
Meat, fish, eggs in the child’s diet
Meat products are given in the form of steam cutlets, meatballs, meatballs, meat soufflé and pudding in the amount of 100 g daily. Toward the middle of the second year, you can offer the baby stew in small pieces, but be careful not to choke. Many types of meat are still used in the diet: beef, veal, lean pork, rabbit, turkey, chicken, as well as offal – liver, tongue, heart, brains. Waterfowl meat (duck, goose) and lamb are rich in refractory fats, which complicates the digestion and assimilation of these meats, so they can be given only from time to time.
Fish should be offered once or twice a week for 30-40 g per meal as a substitute for meat dishes. You can cook fish cakes (steam) or meatballs, stew fish fillets.
Eggs are also of great importance in the nutrition of children after 1 year, as they are rich in valuable nutrients – easily digestible protein, valuable amino acids, vitamins (A, D, E), phospholipids, minerals, micro and macro elements. Egg protein is absorbed almost completely – by 96-97%, fats – by about 95%. Only chicken and quail eggs are used to feed babies. Waterfowl eggs are excluded due to the high risk of transmission of dangerous infections. Quail eggs differ from chicken eggs not only in their higher protein content (with a large amount of the essential amino acid tryptophan), but also in their higher content of fat and cholesterol. Children under 1.5 years old should only be offered boiled eggs (hard boiled) or in the form of omelettes in milk (they can also contain various vegetables). Raw (and besides, “soft-boiled” and “pouched” eggs are digested worse, as they contain undenatured protein, and are also dangerous from the point of view of infection transmission. It is convenient to cook an omelette in a microwave oven. Then it will not be fried, as on pan, and baked, without a crust.The omelette mass is poured into dishes intended for microwave ovens (without using oil) and put in the oven for 2-3 minutes.In addition, eggs are added to other products during the preparation of various dishes (cheesecakes, pancakes Since eggs are a product with high allergenic properties (quail eggs are still much less allergenic than chicken eggs), they should not be given to children daily, it is better to do this 3 times a week or every other day. The recommended dose of eggs is % chicken eggs per day or whole – every other day.
For quail eggs, the dose is approximately doubled.
Cereals, flour and bakery products in the diet of a child
Cereals are widely used in baby food. Oatmeal and buckwheat are especially useful for babies, you can also use corn, rice, millet and other types of cereals. It will be easier for a one-year-old baby to chew and swallow if the porridge has a uniform consistency, so soluble (“instant”) porridges are often used. Closer to one and a half years, well-boiled cereals can be given without additional grinding.
From time to time pasta can be used in children’s nutrition. They can be given as a side dish or seasoned with soup. However, they should not be abused, as they are rich in easily digestible carbohydrates. It is recommended to offer them to the baby once or twice a week.
Bread is also used in the nutrition of children of this age. Up to 1.5 years, it is better to offer babies only white bread: it is easier to digest. The total amount of bread per day should not exceed 100 g. Starting from 1.5 years old, you can include a little rye bread in the diet of crumbs (up to 50 g per day). Rye bread is not offered to children under 1.5 years old, since the sour dough from which it is made causes fermentation in the intestines.
Other products
Drinking can be presented with pure water (preferably not boiled, but bottled “for baby food”), dairy products, fruit and vegetable juices, compotes (it is desirable that they be brewed without any sweetener at all or with the addition of a small amount of fructose), weakly brewed tea, herbal decoctions (chamomile, fennel, mint, etc.). It is not recommended to give carbonated drinks (even mineral water) to children under 3 years old, since the carbon dioxide contained in these drinks irritates the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract. Let the baby regulate the amount of fluid consumed. It will, of course, depend on the diet, season, ambient temperature and physical activity of the crumbs.
Table salt is used in small quantities – about 0. 5-1 g per day.
Grapes enhance fermentation processes, so it is recommended to give it to children not earlier than three years.
Sweets. You can add a little bit of sugar to sweeten some foods that are especially not liked by the baby. It is better to prefer fructose: it is absorbed and absorbed by the body more slowly and evenly (which almost eliminates sudden changes in blood glucose levels), does not require insulin to penetrate into the cells of the body (that is, it does not create overloads in the pancreas), disturbs the acid-base balance less oral cavity (and therefore less conducive to the development of caries). In addition, properly made, it is almost 1.75 times sweeter than sucrose, which allows it to be consumed in small quantities. To add flavor to cereals and cottage cheese, you can use fresh fruits and berries, as well as dried fruits. In addition, occasionally babies can be pampered with sweets (ideally, they can also be made on fructose – you can find such products on the shelves of health food stores) – marshmallow, marshmallow, marmalade, jam and, of course, honey (provided that baby can handle it). The total dose of sugars per day is 30-40 g for children 1-1.5 years old.
Apayeva Dorofeya, pediatrician
not so long ago they wrote that their baby doesn’t eat so much, but it was written with such an indignant accent, I even smiled a little:) I want to say that children are all different, even Adults have different appetites. And children are the same people as adults, mothers, there is no need to raise a panic. How much the child eats, so much he needs. He will not leave himself hungry, he has developed a protective reflex from birth, and he notifies of hunger by crying (if he still cannot speak). The most important thing is to gain a few grams in weight. And if, on the contrary, he loses a kilogram, then you need to sound the alarm. And if he is completely lethargic, he does not play. Other than that, your kids are fine! Let’s turn on the mind, not emotions 🙂 but on the topic: our son eats well, he doesn’t refuse anything, eats 200 grams, and even 300 for breakfast (porridge 200 and cottage cheese 100). Now he is 1.4 years old and he began to snack more often between main meals. Today, before the last feeding, for an hour, I begged for a steering wheel. I think this is due to his increased activity (he walks more on the street).
2017-07-30, Anastasia Trubilina
I do not agree with everything, there are statements from the category of harmful advice, namely:
Offering instant cereals to a child up to 1.5 years is complete nonsense, neither benefit in them, nor nutritional properties. And yes, they are absolutely delicious! If someone’s child can’t chew yet, you can grind the finished porridge a little with a blender, and gradually coarsen the pieces.
Drinking in the form of unboiled water, but bottled. Horror, even the most good and purified water “for children” seems to be poured in the neighboring basement, at best from the tap.
And of course, I was simply amazed – cooking an omelette in a microwave oven! Those. everyone knows that its waves are not useful even for adults, but they advise kids to cook in it. Apparently they don’t know what steamers are or just put a cup of scrambled eggs in a water bath…
Moms and dads, your little ones are the best in the world, they should get all the best. Do not give in and do not take the word of all the advice, analyze the information, and then act!
2011-07-29, Nadina
I didn’t give my eldest son sweets at all until he was 1.5 years old. He didn’t ask. We didn’t eat sweet porridge, tea and compote without adding sugar and honey, we didn’t buy cottage cheese, that is, he received fructose from fruits and EVERYTHING. Everything ended sooo badly …. One morning he flattened himself at 8:30 and did not have breakfast for the first 40 minutes, and at 9:20 an ambulance took him unconscious with hypoglycemia (sugar 1, 7). Thank God they pumped it out. After the examination, the endocrinologist said that this happened due to a lack of carbohydrates in the baby’s diet. That’s how I “perebdila” with sweets. We are already giving honey to the youngest in tea, and we buy curds with fructose, and we give cookies . .. Be attentive to the child’s diet, do not limit your child too much.
And the article is excellent. Already from the experience of feeding two children, I judge.
2017-05-31
About the microwave oven struck and smiled! Complete nonsense, do such people really meet now. Curious to know what’s wrong with microwaved food? Or do you think that after removing the food, radio waves remain in it? ))))) Dear, this is not radiation! There are no waves left. The principle of heating in a microwave oven is based on the dipole shift of polar molecules (water, for example) as a result of exposure to an alternating electromagnetic field. High-frequency waves are dangerous only at the moment of cooking inside the microwave oven compartment, but you can’t put a child there! Yes, and there is always a metal screen on the lid! After extracting food, it is no different from thermally cooked food. And what you say is a myth of ignorant people. Really smiled))))))
2012-02-25
we call meat any protein of animal origin (except fish). For example, chicken and turkey, as well as rabbit, we call meat. And yet we give every day.
If you personally call only beef and pork meat – that’s your own business. If you have chosen vegetarianism for yourself and your child, this is also your own business. Just don’t be amazed at the advice to feed meat to ordinary people, including children, because not all people want to be vegetarians.
My personal opinion is that meat does not pollute the body, and you can eat it every day. And I have seen enough of the children of vegetarians – small, undersized.
2013-05-06, LucyMO
And we also sometimes made porridge for a child up to one year old, as in the comment above – they crushed it in a blender and the child ate it with pleasure. There are useful substances in homemade cereals, a little, but still, and we corrected the lack of vitamins – we took pharmacy ones, the doctor prescribed our baby’s Alphabet, and we got a complete diet :)) so they gave the child up to 3 years old, the child did not get sick with anything serious and grew quite strong)) I think the ideal diet is to combine everything)
2012-03-07, Mashenka77
I don’t quite agree about cereals, instant cereals are enriched with vitamins and microelements, therefore, in terms of their nutritional and beneficial properties, they are not much inferior to grain cereals, and children eat them more willingly, they have to adapt.