New Food Ideas for My 1 Year Old

Mac & Cheese, diced ham, cooked veggies I use to cook up a bunch on the weekend and then reheat and serve throughout the week, peaches, pears, bananas, cheese cubes, beans pre-cook and then reheat,waffles & pancakes(w/o syrup)-if you want to make your own they freeze great and then you just reheat, dry cereal, cereal bars, jello. The list is endless really and the thing is, kids are creatures of habit so even though you may be bored with his menu he may be quite content. HTH

Due to the rise in food allergies it is highly recommended by most Peds & Allergists to not introduce certain foods into your childs diet until the proper age.

The most common foods that can cause allergies include: peanuts, tree nuts (walnuts, pecans, etc.), fish, shellfish, eggs (especially egg whites), milk, soy, and wheat.

Infants should not be fed solid foods until they are six months old. When infants are six to 12 months old, vegetables, rice, meat, and fruit can be introduced to their diets. Each food should be introduced one at a time so parents or caregivers can identify and eliminate any foods that cause a reaction. After the child is one year old, milk, wheat, corn, citrus and soy may be added. At two years of age, the child may have egg. Finally, at age three, fish and peanuts may be introduced. Referenced from http://www.aaaai.org/

Unfortunatley their immature digestive tracts cannot filter out the allergens in these foods. It takes away some options, but it is much better to feed safely then to worry about your child going into anaphylactic shock.

Sorry this is long, but I just wanted you to be aware of what to not use as finger foods at this time!

You will hear a LOT of differing opinions on Peanut Butter but for me there is no family history of allergies and so I chose the one year mark to introduce it. I did toast the bread until he was really chewing well and only used a thin layer of PB with some jelly and then diced the toast so he could pick it up. I love the book Simply Natural Babyfood. It gives LOTS of suggestions for all age groups and stuff I wouldn't have normally thought of that my son has loved. Diced avocado is a HUGE hit for him even now at age 2! Also the website http://www.laptoplunches.com/ gives really good ideas that you can adjust around to fit any age and they are all healthy options as well.

For breakfast, you can do eggs (scrambled), waffles, pancakes, french toast (I do not use syrup). My son loves bananas and watermellon cut up as well. Have you tried chicken nugets? PB&J, grilled cheese, cheese quesadilla. spgaghetti (that's a favorite!) My son loves any veggie you give to him. cooked carrots, peas, asparagus, lima beans. I also give him turkey (sandwich meat). If i cook a pot roast in the crock pot, my son will eat the meat. he loves it! And just so you know, your son is not weird. Mine will not let me spoon feed him a thing! he has to feed himself. its a pain!