Meredith N
I am running out of good foods to feed my 2 1/2 year old. He likes pretty much anything he's not that picky. I want to feed him a well balanced diet but I'm 9 months prego so I've been slacking a little just because I don't want to cook. I just feel like he is getting bored with his food choices and I was wondering if anyone out there has any good, healthy, relatively simple meal ideas! Thanks!
Answer
My 2 year old loves hummus sandwiches, there are a variety of flavors (he especially loves the garlic and red pepper varieties) and you could also just supply the dip with whole-wheat pita bread cut into triangles for dipping (messy but a good alternative to chips and salsa). Whole wheat pita bread is also good for making pizza with just a little organic spagetti sauce, low-fat cheese and veggies (my son likes spinach, olives, and mushrooms). Those steam bags of veggies in the freezer section are always great for a side dish. I also add the little frozen peas and carrots to everything to up the veggie content (pasta, casseroles, whatever, even frozen or packaged foods can be improved by adding a cup of veggies into the mix.) For breakfast, my son and I alternate between Trader Joe's oatmeal with cranberries (lots of flax seed and high in fiber, plus individually packaged for an easy morning) and omlets made with "Best of Egg", spinach, tomatoes, and low-fat cheese. To up the nutrient content of pancake/waffle mix, I add flax seed and mash up a ripe banana into the mix. Oh, and Trader Joes also has whole wheat couscous that I make with chicken broth instead of water and cooks in 5 minutes for a great (if messy) side dish.
Being the mother of a two year old and a two month old, I'd also like to suggest trying something like Dream Dinners where you can prepare a whole bunch of dinners in advance and then just pull them out of the freezer all month. http://dreamdinners.com/main.php?page=ms_previewcurrentmenu All the nutritional information is available online so you know in advance what you're getting and I usually just add one of those steam veggie bags as a side dish and I'm done - they're really good enough even for all that company you get after having a baby! Good luck with the pregnancy!
My 2 year old loves hummus sandwiches, there are a variety of flavors (he especially loves the garlic and red pepper varieties) and you could also just supply the dip with whole-wheat pita bread cut into triangles for dipping (messy but a good alternative to chips and salsa). Whole wheat pita bread is also good for making pizza with just a little organic spagetti sauce, low-fat cheese and veggies (my son likes spinach, olives, and mushrooms). Those steam bags of veggies in the freezer section are always great for a side dish. I also add the little frozen peas and carrots to everything to up the veggie content (pasta, casseroles, whatever, even frozen or packaged foods can be improved by adding a cup of veggies into the mix.) For breakfast, my son and I alternate between Trader Joe's oatmeal with cranberries (lots of flax seed and high in fiber, plus individually packaged for an easy morning) and omlets made with "Best of Egg", spinach, tomatoes, and low-fat cheese. To up the nutrient content of pancake/waffle mix, I add flax seed and mash up a ripe banana into the mix. Oh, and Trader Joes also has whole wheat couscous that I make with chicken broth instead of water and cooks in 5 minutes for a great (if messy) side dish.
Being the mother of a two year old and a two month old, I'd also like to suggest trying something like Dream Dinners where you can prepare a whole bunch of dinners in advance and then just pull them out of the freezer all month. http://dreamdinners.com/main.php?page=ms_previewcurrentmenu All the nutritional information is available online so you know in advance what you're getting and I usually just add one of those steam veggie bags as a side dish and I'm done - they're really good enough even for all that company you get after having a baby! Good luck with the pregnancy!
foods for a 1 year old?
Q. I reposted this from newborn & baby. My son just turned 11 months old. I have a few questions about what he should & should not be eating. This was his last month on formula & baby food for WIC. He's been doing great on finger foods, I started giving him the Gerber Graduate snacks when he was around 8 months old that dissolved in his mouth after a few seconds. When he was 9 months old he started taking bigger bites and actually chewing so I started breaking up some fruit like bananas and letting him eat it. I've tried eggs, plums, blueberries (the insides of it), sweet potatoes and things just to let him play with it and figure it out. But next month everything changes and I'm really worried. He starts getting cheese, whole milk, bread, and I just don't know what to buy for him to make sure he is getting the right nutrition. I want to try and get him accustomed to more foods before he is on them all together as his main source of nutrition. We have a tight food budget (food stamps plus what we pay for about 130 a month total), but we eat very healthy. I have fresh & frozen fruit & vegetables all the time, chicken, turkey, & salmon, lots of whole grains. Are canned vegetables okay? I buy the 'no salt added' canned vegetables. What should he be eating & how much, and what should I avoid?
Answer
* Your baby loves to learn new tricks and show off. If you make her the same food you are eating, you will probably see a new side of your baby.
* Babies begin to use a cup around one year of age. Some can hold it themselves, and some just need a little help. Either way, once you show them how, they will probably want to do it themselves.
* Don't give your baby juice with sugar late in the day or in the middle of the night. Besides not being good for her teeth, it will wake her up and/or keep her awake. On the flip side, if your baby is grouchy when she wakes up, give her a little bit of orange juice right away. This will help her over the hump. Orange juice is great for preventing colds, too.
* Petroleum jelly is a great barrier cream for your baby's face when you are introducing her to more acidic foods, such as oranges and spaghetti sauce. Just use a small amount and be sure to keep the jelly off your clothes, because it stains. To remedy a stain, douse the area in baby powder and let it stand until the powder dissolves. Do it again and again until the powder remains. This means the wetness is mostly removed. Your item will be ready to wash, or the powder will simply wipe off with little or no stain remaining.
* Don't wait to instill a love of home in your baby. Make family recipes such as grandma's secret spaghetti sauce, mom's cinnamon rolls, or dad's pancakes; or make a tradition of roasting a chicken every Sunday. You'll be glad you did. Long after your baby is grown up, he will come home because he wants to taste mom and dad's home-cooked meals again...so think ahead.
* Some babies eat and eat and gain weight slowly, and some eat less and gain weight rapidly. It's in the genes. I'm certain I got the wrong ones.
* Some foods are very real choking hazards for babies this age. Keep grapes, popcorn, hot dogs, hard candy, long spaghetti, and hard chips away from your baby!
* One of the first signs that baby is ready to wean completely off of the breast or bottle is when he's still hungry after he drinks his milk.
* No soda or caffeine for baby.
* Limit any fried foods and/or spicy sauces. These types of foods can give baby unbearable gas.
* Freezing your leftovers is great, but never refreeze leftovers after they have thawed out.
* It's not good to mix foods that baby strongly dislikes with those he likes. He'll probably just end up disliking both. Notice what your baby likes and expand from there.
* Don't offer too many choices for foods in the beginning. Stick with one thing at a time.
* If baby likes cereals, feel confident moving towards soft crackers, breads, noodles, and other things that she can pick up on her own.
* Try using a little cup, such as the ones from children's medicine bottles, when helping baby make the transition from bottle to cup. They hold just a little fluid and are fun for the baby to hold and learn withâminiatures of things that adults use are usually attractive to babies.
* Children go through growth spurts for years. If your baby normally picks at food and suddenly seems hungry after every meal, get ready to go shopping! She is probably getting ready to grow again.
* Some babies fuss when their hands and face get dirty. Notice if baby acts the same way around messy foods like mashed potatoes or soups. If so, try drier foods like toast.
* Don't forget to introduce pizza! Just be sure to take off the stringy cheese because it is a choking hazard. Just keep in mind that some babies are very particular and don't like certain marinara sauces, especially if it's tangy.
* Remember, babies like to do things themselves, so if she isn't eating well, simply try letting her do it herself.
* A great way to tell if your baby is aware of the new foods in front of him is to put a finger-size piece of pasta (easy to pick up) next to a cookie. If your baby grabs the cookie first, you'll know he is totally aware of your menu selections. If this happens, you have to remember to keep all cookies, juices, and other sweets and delights out of his view until you get him hooked on veggies, fruits, meats, and other healthy alternatives.
* By this time, baby is on the move. Set rules and make sure to teach your little one to eat only at the table in the high chair. This is one of those things that, if taught early, gets easier and easier. Otherwise, baby rules the house, and when that happens, it gets harder and harder...for you.
* If your baby likes blueberries, don't be surprised to find his diaper has turned blue. Red dyes and red juices, which are discouraged because they can rile up your baby, have a similar effect. This can be a scary discovery, but don't worryâwhatever goes in is going to come out.
* Your baby loves to learn new tricks and show off. If you make her the same food you are eating, you will probably see a new side of your baby.
* Babies begin to use a cup around one year of age. Some can hold it themselves, and some just need a little help. Either way, once you show them how, they will probably want to do it themselves.
* Don't give your baby juice with sugar late in the day or in the middle of the night. Besides not being good for her teeth, it will wake her up and/or keep her awake. On the flip side, if your baby is grouchy when she wakes up, give her a little bit of orange juice right away. This will help her over the hump. Orange juice is great for preventing colds, too.
* Petroleum jelly is a great barrier cream for your baby's face when you are introducing her to more acidic foods, such as oranges and spaghetti sauce. Just use a small amount and be sure to keep the jelly off your clothes, because it stains. To remedy a stain, douse the area in baby powder and let it stand until the powder dissolves. Do it again and again until the powder remains. This means the wetness is mostly removed. Your item will be ready to wash, or the powder will simply wipe off with little or no stain remaining.
* Don't wait to instill a love of home in your baby. Make family recipes such as grandma's secret spaghetti sauce, mom's cinnamon rolls, or dad's pancakes; or make a tradition of roasting a chicken every Sunday. You'll be glad you did. Long after your baby is grown up, he will come home because he wants to taste mom and dad's home-cooked meals again...so think ahead.
* Some babies eat and eat and gain weight slowly, and some eat less and gain weight rapidly. It's in the genes. I'm certain I got the wrong ones.
* Some foods are very real choking hazards for babies this age. Keep grapes, popcorn, hot dogs, hard candy, long spaghetti, and hard chips away from your baby!
* One of the first signs that baby is ready to wean completely off of the breast or bottle is when he's still hungry after he drinks his milk.
* No soda or caffeine for baby.
* Limit any fried foods and/or spicy sauces. These types of foods can give baby unbearable gas.
* Freezing your leftovers is great, but never refreeze leftovers after they have thawed out.
* It's not good to mix foods that baby strongly dislikes with those he likes. He'll probably just end up disliking both. Notice what your baby likes and expand from there.
* Don't offer too many choices for foods in the beginning. Stick with one thing at a time.
* If baby likes cereals, feel confident moving towards soft crackers, breads, noodles, and other things that she can pick up on her own.
* Try using a little cup, such as the ones from children's medicine bottles, when helping baby make the transition from bottle to cup. They hold just a little fluid and are fun for the baby to hold and learn withâminiatures of things that adults use are usually attractive to babies.
* Children go through growth spurts for years. If your baby normally picks at food and suddenly seems hungry after every meal, get ready to go shopping! She is probably getting ready to grow again.
* Some babies fuss when their hands and face get dirty. Notice if baby acts the same way around messy foods like mashed potatoes or soups. If so, try drier foods like toast.
* Don't forget to introduce pizza! Just be sure to take off the stringy cheese because it is a choking hazard. Just keep in mind that some babies are very particular and don't like certain marinara sauces, especially if it's tangy.
* Remember, babies like to do things themselves, so if she isn't eating well, simply try letting her do it herself.
* A great way to tell if your baby is aware of the new foods in front of him is to put a finger-size piece of pasta (easy to pick up) next to a cookie. If your baby grabs the cookie first, you'll know he is totally aware of your menu selections. If this happens, you have to remember to keep all cookies, juices, and other sweets and delights out of his view until you get him hooked on veggies, fruits, meats, and other healthy alternatives.
* By this time, baby is on the move. Set rules and make sure to teach your little one to eat only at the table in the high chair. This is one of those things that, if taught early, gets easier and easier. Otherwise, baby rules the house, and when that happens, it gets harder and harder...for you.
* If your baby likes blueberries, don't be surprised to find his diaper has turned blue. Red dyes and red juices, which are discouraged because they can rile up your baby, have a similar effect. This can be a scary discovery, but don't worryâwhatever goes in is going to come out.
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