wilkes

Healthy eating starts now because this is when thier taste preferences are formed. I've got 8 children rangeing from 2 to 22. Those at home eat the healthy food I fix with no pickyness. At 13 months I let the baby try just about everything we serve. The trick is to wait until the baby gets a little hungry and put a small portion of the new food on a special small plate. I take a bite and show how much I like it. When the baby motions she'd like to try it I feed her a small amount and sincerely go "umm. This is good." My kids like broccoli, spinich and everything. Precisely because I do not make "childrens meals." The only time you should fix something special for a baby is when what you are eatting is to hard (like steak). If we are having salad I'd let her have some tomato. If we are having chili I'd lightly rinse off the spices and mash up the beans, ground beef and cooked vegetable. If we are having chicken, steamed vegetables and whole wheat rolls I might give her one third of a roll , and mash the vegetables. With some milk that makes a complete meal. If the chicken is soft enough I might mash that up too. I use a fork. Model good choices by makeing sure that you eat a healty diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Forget the fake foods like velvetta. If you are having macaroni and cheese use real cheese (mild or medium melt best) and pasta with whole grains. You get used to what you eat so think quality instead if quantity.

Try freezing bananas like popsicles-my daughter loves it!

my baby is almost 13 months old and she loves everthing!!!! I was told that she could try any thing except honey and nuts.

Also, it really depends on what your child WILL eat. My baby will eat most anything, but I know others that will not eat much at all. I try to get her to eat with us, anything we eat she eats for the most part. I always try to incorporate some beans or mac and cheese with the meals though, specifically for her because I know she will pig out on those things. I do not used boxed mac and cheese, I make it myself with elbow mac, velveeta cheese, mozarella cheese, milk and butter. Healthier than the boxed, but the baby loves it! :)

My baby loves beans and vegetables. Something that I make for her that she adores is as follows:

1lb ground meat, browned
1 can green beans
2 cups frozen corn
2 cups frozen peas and carrots mixed
1 can kidney beans
1 can diced tomatoes

Just add all the ingredients into a pot, heat and serve. My daughter loved this when she first started wanting to feed herself too because she could use her hands and eat everything there. Other kids liked it too! You can even add spices and things to add more flavor, sometimes after baby eats I use rotel or something like that.

I feel like my little one is always eating the same thing, mainly because I am out of ideas on what to fix for him. He's only 13 months old, so it has to be something he can eat with only 4 teeth, and something healthy. Thanks for any ideas or suggestions!!