Do you ever find yourself wondering what foods to feed your one year old? We want to be sure they are getting the proper foods with health benefits like vitamins and minerals from their diet.
Meal time can be simple and healthy, while also being a little fun! Here are some of my favorite tips, tricks, and ideas for meals for one year olds.
Introducing New Foods To One Year Olds
One-year-olds can be super picky when it comes to meal times.
It can be a range of things, from taste to texture. Introducing foods can seem overwhelming, but just take it one food at a time and see what your child enjoys more.
Incorporating a variety of fruits and veggies and protein is a good way to make sure they are getting a good amount of vitamins in their diet.
Encouraging One Year Olds To Self Feed
Meal times can be messy especially when you are letting your one year old feed themselves. Self-feeding is a whole new experience for them.
It lets them explore many of their senses and teaches them to be independent as well.
Having them sit at the dinner table surrounded by everyone eating, they will watch and see how to self-feed while learning to do so themselves.
Related Post: Easy & Effective 9 Month Old Self-Feeding Ideas
The Best Meals For One Year Olds
When choosing meals for your one year old, we want to make sure they are eating a healthy and delicious meal.
We like to make sure they have a balanced diet that includes protein, veggies and fruit, and carbs.
Simple meals can go a long way.
Some may eat the whole meal and some may eat a part of it. I like to make meal times fun and simple for my one year old. They will enjoy it as well.
The Best Breakfast Meals For One Years Olds
Breakfast mealtime can be quick and easy especially for moms on the go and these delicious breakfast meals are simple.
Pancakes with Yogurt and Banana
This easy and simple breakfast is a pancake with some mango yogurt and half of a banana. It’s a filling breakfast for your one year old.
Just add some yogurt and slice a banana and cook a small mini pancake using a ready mix or homemade.
Scrambled Eggs with Ham, Toast, and Fruit
This protein-packed breakfast is delicious and has a variety of fruits including strawberries and grapes.
Beat 2 eggs in a bowl and add some butter to a pan and add some slices of ham then add in eggs and scramble them up.
Toast a slice of bread and spread a thin layer of butter and cut it in half and cut up some fresh fruit. Even mom will enjoy this meal.
French Toast with Chia and Oat Pudding
This yummy French toast with chia and oat pudding is easy to make!
Just beat one egg with a splash of milk and 1 tsp of vanilla extract, and 1/2 tsp of cinnamon powder.
Next, dip bread on both ends and cook on a skillet in melted butter until it is golden brown.
Serve with chia and oat pudding with sliced banana and sliced cherries.
Cheerios with Almond Milk and Fruit
This breakfast meal for your one year old is simple and is packed with vitamins. Just add cherries to a bowl with some almond milk and cut up some fresh blueberries and raspberries.
You can add some yummy Greek yogurt with strawberries and blueberries on the side.
Blueberry Sheet Pancakes
Blueberry sheet pancakes are a delicious sweet treat breakfast and can be made by using an already-made pancake mix, adding blueberries and baking on a cookie sheet.
Try adding a sliced boiled egg for some protein.
The Best Lunch Meals For One Year Olds
Lunch for your one year old does not have to be complicated and still be healthy and these meal ideas for lunches are some great ones to try.
Ham and Cheese Spread Wraps
This wrap is easy to make by adding cheese spread to a tortilla adding some ham and grated carrots and just roll up and slice into pieces. You can serve it with sliced cucumbers and whole-grain puffs.
Tuna Avocado Crackers
This is a great healthy lunch packed with omega-3 fatty acids for your growing one year old.
Add tuna in a bowl with a little mayo and sprinkle a little dash of salt add the tuna to ritz crackers and add some cubes of avocado for more healthy fats.
Serve with some fresh-cut strawberries.
Mac & Cheese with Cauliflower Chicken Nuggets
This simple filling meal is chicken nuggets with cauliflower and mac and cheese with some added broccoli pieces and slices of kiwi on the side.
Chicken Salad Sandwich with Fruit and Veggie
This delicious chicken salad sandwich has great protein and veggies with anything you want to add to taste for your one year old and serve with some steamed broccoli and sliced strawberries.
Chicken Fingers with Apple Slices and Cheese Bites
Chicken fingers that are cooked from frozen but made with whole white meat chicken and served with slices of apples and cubes of cheese and some teddy grahams for an extra sweet treat.
Related Post: Secrets to Simplifying and Enjoying Family Mealtime with Little Ones
The Best Dinner Meals For One Year Olds
Dinner for your one year old doesn’t have to be hard! Most of the time they can eat a variation of what you are eating yourself!
Here are some of our favorite ideas!
Grilled Salmon with Mashed Potatoes, Corn on the Cob with Steamed Veggies
This delicious healthy filling meal is packed with so many vitamins and minerals for your one year old.
Just grill the salmon over some butter and serve with mashed potatoes and mini corn on the cob and steamed broccoli and green beans.
Curry Chicken and Rice with Peas
This curry chicken is made in a slow cooker. Just add chicken breast with seasonings and some broth to the slow cooker and prepare some basmati rice and serve with peas.
Spaghetti with Shrimp and Kiwi
Simple meat sauce over noodles and you can even leave the meat out and just do sauce over noodles. Popcorn shrimp just because it’s good and some slices of kiwi.
Pesto Pasta with Steak
Pasta noodles with some pesto sauce served with shredded steak pieces for some added protein and some blueberries for a sweet and healthy treat.
Cheeseburger with Sweet Potato Wedges
A tasty cheeseburger with veggies on it served with sweet potato wedges and some slices of avocado and tomatoes.
Related Post: 15 Simple Tips to Make Meal Time Less Messy
The Best Snack Ideas For One Year Olds
I listed some delicious and healthy snacks for your growing one year old that are simple and great for busy parents.
Fruit Bowl
A tasty fruit bowl with sliced strawberries, kiwis, and some blueberries. Refreshing and packed with health benefits for your little one year old.
PB Banana Toast
Toast some bread and spread some all natural peanut butter and add slices of bananas for a quick snack and serve with some sliced grapes topped with flaxseed.
Snack Pops
These tasty treat snack pops are made with cocoa powder and strawberries. Add 3 strawberries and half a cup of water and blend and pour into mold and freeze. For the chocolate pops, add one banana, half a cup of milk, and 1 tsp of cocoa powder and blend and pour into mold, and freeze. Your little one will love these.
Yogurt Bowl
This yogurt bowl is made with Greek yogurt, tangerines, and chia seeds and topped with a rice cake.
Cheese Toast with Avocado
Melt some cheese on some toast and cut in strips and add some slices of avocado for a filling snack.
Related Post: 13 Quick and Healthy Toddler Snack Ideas
The Best Drink Ideas For One Year Olds
When choosing a drink for your one year old, we want to be sure they are staying hydrated. We also do not want to give too much sugary drinks as well. So here is a list below to help choose a healthy drink for your toddler.
Breastmilk Smoothie
This nutritious smoothie is easy to make by adding 2 bananas and 1 cup of breastmilk or formula to a blender and it’s done, super simple and healthy.
Vitamin C Smoothie
This vitamin C-packed drink is made by adding some tangerines and some pieces of mango and pineapple and some yogurt and blending until desired consistency and bam super delicious.
Water
The best drink to give besides formula and breastmilk is water. Keeping your one year old hydrated is key. Water is great since there is no added sugars. A few cups a day is good.
Fruit Water
This refreshing drink is made with water and fruit added for extra vitamins. Your one year old will enjoy this and can even eat the fruit after.
Apple Juice
Apple juice is good to give to your one year old especially if they are constipated. Just be sure to limit the amount since it does contain sugar.
Our Favorite Meal Supplies For One Year Olds
Below I list some great meal supplies for your one year old. There is so many options out there and simple goes a long way.
The Best Plates and Bowls For One Year Olds
When choosing plates and bowls for your one year old, there can be an overwhelming of options and I narrowed it down to a few great ones below. So choosing can be more simple.
Suction Plate and Bowl
These multicolor and divider suction plates and bowls are great for your one year old as they self-feed and can add many food options to their plate. The suction provides a good grip to keep tight to a high chair or table.
Silicone Bowls
Silicone bowls are easy to clean and these provide a suction grip as well and you can add many different fruits and veggies and more to these great bowls.
The Best Utensils For One Year Olds
Utensils are a must for your one year old since they are still learning to self feed and choosing utensils is easy and I have a few listed below.
Color Changing Temp Fork & Spoon Set
This fork and spoon set is great since the color changes with the temperature letting you know the food item is too hot or cold. They are also easy to clean and dishwasher safe.
Stainless Steel Fork & Spoon Set
This stainless steel fork and spoon set provides an anti-choke design and fit for little hands and bpa free. They are great for self-feeding.
The Best Bibs and Protective Gear For One Year Olds
So adding some protective gear like a bib for your one year old at meal times can definitely help with less mess but meal times are messy regardless.
Silicone Baby Bibs
These bibs are amazing for helping catch some of the food mess and are easy to clean. These should be your go-to bibs.
Bib Outfit
These bib outfits are waterproof and definitely easy to clean and they can keep their clothes underneath clean. These are different and game changers.
The Best Cups For One Year Olds
There are millions of cups out there it seems like to choose from here are just a few of my favorites!
Training Cup
These training cups give your one year old a real cup feel with the 360 degree edge. They are also spill-proof and are a great beginning cup to help transition.
Silicone Straw Cup
This silicone straw cup is another great one for your one year old. It is safe for gums and growing teeth and can be used as a regular cup later on.
Meal times are meant to be messy and fun but most importantly it’s about the love that is shared with you and your one year old. So enjoy meal times with them and let them be a part of it. Hope your toddler enjoys these meals and drinks.
