Feeding a one-year-old baby: what can he eat?

In less than you expected, your little one has already grown. Every day he discovers new things, and one of them is food. The one-year-old’s diet is made up of more foods, and his diet is becoming more and more like that of an adult. Feeding a one-year-old baby: what can he eat?

“As children grow, they require more nutrients for their development; do not panic if your little one does not want to eat or you notice that he has become picky. This is because your child grows at a slower rate; therefore, his appetite decreases”, indicates the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford.

The American Academy of Pediatrics points out that a child of this age needs approximately 1,000 calories a day, which have to be distributed among three meals and two snacks to cover growth, energy, and good nutrition.

You must know that your little one will not always eat the same; his habits at this stage are very erratic; he can eat very well for breakfast but almost nothing for the rest of the day. Or he may eat the same thing for three days but then refuse these foods.

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Feeding a one-year-old baby: what can he eat? What foods does he need?

Your little one’s diet begins to resemble that of an adult at this age. UNICEF recommends the consumption of these products:

• Water
• Vegetables
• Legumes
• Fruit
• Whole grains
• Meats
• Fish
• Egg
• Bread
• Rice
• Pasta

Patricia Martínez, a pediatrician at the Ixtapa Zihuatanejo Pediatric Center, comments that the food group should be changed every three days and not all on the same day; the baby will gradually learn about this food.

“You can give him a new food once or twice a day; if he refuses, divide it into four teaspoons in the morning and some other four spoonfuls in the afternoon”, she explains.

Forbidden foods for one-year-old babies

• Foods with added sugars and sweeteners, including sugary and diet drinks.
• Foods with a lot of salt.
• Unpasteurized juice, milk, yogurt, or cheese.
• Raw vegetables, grapes, hard cheese, popcorn, and nuts. They can cause suffocation.

Dr. Martínez stressed that products with too much sugar, such as boxed juices or flavored milk, can generate an addiction to sweet foods, which in the long term causes obesity and later diabetes.

She also recommended avoiding tuna since it is a fish that spends a lot of time in the sea and can contain mercury, a toxic element for children.

How often should a 1-year-old baby eat?

This stage is essential to establishing healthy eating habits, so you must set schedules: plan three meals a day and two snacks. At first, your little one may skip meals or will not want to eat; don’t worry, as he adapts to the routine, the frequency of feeding will be more balanced, indicates the organization Nemours Kids Health.

Feeding a one-year-old baby: what can he eat? Tips for a good diet:

The American Academy of Pediatrics provides the following recommendations:

• Encourage your baby to eat and give him a variety of healthy foods. When your baby is full, he can close his mouth, turn his head away, and make gestures or sounds.
• Balanced diet: Your little one needs the same basic food groups you do; if you offer him a variety of flavors, colors, and textures, he will consume the necessary nutrients.
• Do not limit fats: Babies and young children get half of their calories from this source, which is very important for their development.
• Good temperature: Ensure that the food is not too hot to avoid burns.
• No condiments: Foods with a lot of salt or sugar harm his health; let him enjoy the natural flavor of food.
• Right size: Make sure the food is cut into pieces that are easy to chew; at this age, children have not yet learned to chew and mash.
• Watch: Accompany your baby while he eats to prevent choking.

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Do not forget to visit the pediatrician to give an adequate follow-up to your little one’s feeding and know the necessary amounts according to his weight and height.

Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara

Spanish version: Here