Advice on Feeding One Year Old...

Updated on October 13, 2007
K.R. asks from Hobart, IN
6 answers

Hi all!

My one year old son has become such a picky eater...it seems all he wants are chicken nuggets and hotdogs!!! He eats most veggies and fruits fine, but we have such a problem with meats and other proteins! What kinds of things do you feed your kids?? I would love some suggestions. Also, I'm getting conflicting advice on how much milk he should have per day...some sources have said 16oz others have said up to 24. Also, I want to start getting him off his bottle, but when I offer milk in his sippy, he just won't drink it and I'm afraid he won't get enough milk if I refuse the bottle. He only takes the bottle a few times a day and rarely if ever uses it to sleep. Should I just stop with the bottle and hope eventually he starts drinking his milk out of a sippy??? I know I've thrown a bunch of questions out there but I would REALLY appreciate any advice you have!! THanks!!!

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A.F.

answers from Chicago on

As for the milk intact....I have read the same 16-24 oz but it can be a mixture of whole milk or the equiv. in other dairy products.
Proteins...have you tried those Gerber meat sticks. My one year old LOVES them...they smell really gross but they are just the right consistency. Also, a girlfriend of mine suggested tortillas for protein. I know...I didn't think so either....
We just gave up our bottles too and it was a rough go for a few days....I just kept offering the sippy cup throughout the day (with milk or water) and eventually he got the hang of it.
Good luck.....

1 mom found this helpful
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C.

answers from Chicago on

It is very common for one year olds to become very picky eaters. It's especially hard with meat because the texture is tougher for them to eat. My first son liked it, but didn't do well with chewing it so would often stash meat in his cheek until we took it out. From all I hear, doctors generally say to just go with it when they are picky, as long as you provide nutricious food, they won't starve themselves and they'll be fine. I can surely relate with the picky eater...my first son will eat just about anything, but my second son would often rather not eat than eat his meal!! He's almost two and is EXTREMELY picky (even to the point that food cannot touch each other on the plate)!!! It is not at all uncommon for him to skip an entire day of meals or just pick at them and then the next day he'll have a big meal. And what he'll eat one day, he won't necessarily eat the next. I have the 3 year old and I do home day care, so I honestly don't even pay that much attention to what he eats, because I figure he'll eat eventually when he is hungry enough. He doesn't get the sweets he wants as an alternative. He just waits til the next meal and we see if he'll eat that. He's strong willed, has a major sweet tooth, and a low appetite...COMPLETE opposite of our first son!

1 mom found this helpful
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J.P.

answers from Chicago on

My son wasn't into "protein" either in terms of chicken, beef, etc. However, I did find that he will eat meat-free products which typically have good amounts of protein in them. He loves veggie burgers with cheese and the meat-free chicken nuggets. Also, when he was older, I added ketchup to his hamburger and this has encouraged him to eat his hamburgers or turkey burgers.
Also legumes/beans have tons of protein and this is a good option (also tofu). So you can look at alternatives to "meat" products to get his protein intake. Good luck.

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Y.D.

answers from Chicago on

Don't feed him the junk. My son is 4 year old and he heard the word hamburger the other day and he asked what it was!
I think he had a hamburger once or twice before (given to him by someone else). I cook a lot of soups, lots of chicken breast, veggies, fruit. Yes, I give him mac & cheese or hot dogs once in a while but no more then once or twice a month. If you teach them to eat right from the beginning, they will eat healthy later on in life.

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P.D.

answers from Chicago on

K.:

not sure what to suggest for protein.. i don't know wnough about beans - there are also grains that have protein in them. what are you eating? can you cut some of that for him at dinner? it may be ok for him to eat more veggies and fruits... as to milk... try water and see if he will drink that. he does not really need milk - he need fluid for hydration.

P., RLC, IBCLC
Pres. Lactation Support Group, Inc
www.lactationsupportgroup.com
good luck

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K.N.

answers from Chicago on

I would suggest stop feeding him hot dogs and chicken nuggets. He has mostly likely gotten used to the extreme salty, fatty taste of these items and everything else tastes bland and not good to him. Highly processed foods skew kids taste buds to wanting foods that are extremely salty, sugary, fatty.
Try seasoning his veggies with some herbs and butter or melt a little cheese on them for extra flavor. Add salsa, ketchup, BBQ sauce to chicken breast for extra flavor. Beans are also a great protein/fiber source and you can season them with herbs, garlic as well. Tofu is also a great healthy protein source that takes on the flavor of whatever you put on it.
Plain whole milk yogurt mixed with a fruit puree (mashed bananas, apple sauce) is a great substitute for milk and they get the added benefit of the healthy bacteria cultures which will help digestion. And give him water in his bottle for hydration.

Good Luck.

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