You’ve had a peek into our baby’s menu, but what about older, harder-to-please babies/toddlers? What does a one-year-old eat?

Our oldest daughter (now 3 1/2) has always loved strange (frozen, uncooked lima beans) and exotic (pomegranate and papaya) foods and flavors. I can’t explain why, but I’m certainly hoping we can replicate our success with our younger daughter! To help me remember what we fed/feed our children, I keep lists of our menu ideas. I sometimes refer to them when we get in a food rut. And since I love hearing food ideas from other moms, I thought I’d share my list(s) with you!

Today’s menu is from when our girls were about 18-months-old. Now, before i go any further, you have to promise you won’t judge me too harshly. I feel hesitant to share our menu ideas, because it seems like our society is fiercely critical of other people’s food choices. Too much meat. Not enough meat. Too much dairy. Not enough dairy. Wrong kind of dairy. Too much sugar. Too strict with sugar. Too many carbs. That’s a choking hazard. That could trigger a food allergy. That’s not what I would do. You get the idea! So, as long as you promise to be kind, I’ll happily share what OUR one-year-old daughter ate. (These are ideas, not ultimatums!)

For nutrition advice and food-safety tips, I again defer to the experts. Check out this website for more info.

Food for a One Year Old–50+ Easy Ideas!

Fruit

Blackberries

Raspberries

Strawberries

Blueberries

Pitted cherries

Papaya

Applesauce

Grapes (cut)

Mango

Pomegranate

Peaches

Avocado (My girls LOVE avocados, but you could sneak them using this delicious avocado cookie recipe!)

Watermelon

Honey dew

Cantaloupe

Clementines

Pears–This no-sugar added recipe for pearsauce is always a hit at our house.

Bananas

Pineapple (soft, small pieces)

Dried fruit–raisins, cranberries, blueberries

Tomatoes

Smoothies–check out this recipe for the “perfect” smoothie!

Protein and Dairy

Refried beans

Yogurt

Milk

Cheese

Grilled Cheese sandwiches (with wheat bread, no butter)

Cream cheese

Cottage cheese

Hummus (affectionately known as “hummy” by our 19-month-old!)

Peanut Butter

Tilapia

Chicken

Tuna

Eggs

Quinoa

Nuts–cashews, peanuts, pistachios (use your discretion–I’m sure a lot of people think we gave our girls nuts too soon, but we started offering nuts around the year and a half mark.)

Vegetables:

Pureed pumpkin (great in muffins! Try this healthy pumpkin muffin recipe.)

Squash

Peas

Lima beans

Carrots

Corn

Broccoli

Cauliflower

Green beans

Sweet potato

Bok choy

Spinach (in smoothies or pasta shells)

Olives

Carbs/snacks:

Trail Mix–we love this mix, and it’s perfect for travel!)

Cheerios

Puffs

Puffed millet, puffed rice, etc.

Goldfish (there’s a whole grain variety)

Graham Crackers (“Cackers!”)

Whole wheat pasta

Animal crackers (these are our favorite)

Pancakes (we love these butterfly pancakes!)

Blueberry waffles*

Rice cakes

Brown rice

Fruit and grain cereal bars

Tortilla shells (we eat a lot of bean + cheese + peas + corn) quesadillas for lunch!)

Saltines

Oatmeal

A Few Favorite Recipes for a One-Year-Old

Easy calzones–picky eater approved!
Bumbleebee stew–a yummy vegetarian dish packed with veggies and a special ingredient that kids love.
Honey Puffs–Healthy, 4-ingredient no-bake “cookies”
Banana Oatmeal Muffins (this recipe is very popular! They are nutritious, delicious, and easy to make. No flour, white sugar, or oil!)

If you remember what your kids loved at age one, please share in the comments! I promise I won’t judge! 🙂

Next up: food ideas for two-year-olds!