What do your 15-16 month olds eat?

Danijela - posted on 02/02/2009

It's a hard time with food.  My daughter loves peas, beans and chick peas.  She seems to enjoy things that she can use her fingers to pick up and feed herself.  She also enjoys salmon.  Another thing I've noticed, is that she likes her food to be colorful and enjoys variety.  I hope this helps.  Danijela

Donna - posted on 02/02/2009

Quoting Allison:

I would suggest you cut down the milk because it will fill her tummy up and she won't be hungry. My first-born is picky and it's a struggle every single meal to get him to eat his food (been this way for 2 years now). My 16 month old will literally eat anything and actually eats more than his 4yr old brother. I just hope he remains this way. Although he is starting to get antsy at the table.

This whole "no peanuts" thing is something I've never heard. There have been studies that state the exact opposite, that introducing peanuts helps prevent developing food allergies.

blogs.drgreene.com/blog/2008/01/08/eggs-...

I think that all this hysteria about certain foods just creates weak digestive tolerance. Introducing foods to your child is good for them. Any of the possible allergen foods should be given in moderation at first, obviously. I just allowed my 16mo old to try strawberries yesterday. He tried them, liked them, and now is over them and prefers grapes haha.

You must remember that this is only one study!  My family has no food allergy history, but my 16 month old is allergis to peanuts, fish and garlic.  Obviously we introduced the peanut butter early at one year old, but it didn't change the fact that she is allergic!  And garlic is hidden in many, many things including Gerber graduates foods and she didn't become not allergic to them just because she ate them.  You either have the allergy to the peanut or you don't.

Nova - posted on 01/30/2009

I've had a lot of luck with canned beans, dried blueberries from Costco, and grits with cheese. But she still has mostly milk days too. Good luck

Christine - posted on 01/30/2009

Quoting Rebecca:

the only suggestion i will make is no peanut butter. i noticed a few people suggested it but it is a huge risk and can offset a lot of different allergies. ask your childs dr before thinking about it. most will say no peanut products until age 5. other then that i agree with letting your child graze throughout the day onlittle things if they wont settle. make them sit at the table though or it will be hard when they get older to switch them. my son only eats at the table and if he gets down he's done and he knows that. on occasion he will have crackers while we're on a long drive but other then that it's the table. it's easier to clean one floor also :)

Actually I have a peanut allergy so I am really concerned about my son eating peanut butter. In speaking with my doctor they are now recommending trying peanut butter earlier because waiting too long can make them more sensitive. All I know is that I am totally freaked out about the whole peanut thing and I will probably split the difference. Wish me luck!

Allison - posted on 01/30/2009

I would suggest you cut down the milk because it will fill her tummy up and she won't be hungry. My first-born is picky and it's a struggle every single meal to get him to eat his food (been this way for 2 years now). My 16 month old will literally eat anything and actually eats more than his 4yr old brother. I just hope he remains this way. Although he is starting to get antsy at the table.

This whole "no peanuts" thing is something I've never heard. There have been studies that state the exact opposite, that introducing peanuts helps prevent developing food allergies.

http://www.babycenter.com/204_babies-who...
http://blogs.drgreene.com/blog/2008/01/0...

I think that all this hysteria about certain foods just creates weak digestive tolerance. Introducing foods to your child is good for them. Any of the possible allergen foods should be given in moderation at first, obviously. I just allowed my 16mo old to try strawberries yesterday. He tried them, liked them, and now is over them and prefers grapes haha.

User - posted on 01/25/2009

I freeze my gogurt, then cut it right in half. I give it to the kids with a napkin around it. With it being frozen and smaller, it really cuts down on the mess and waste.

Amber - posted on 01/24/2009

I have only found ONE thing that my son will not eat- and that's TUNA fish!! LITERALLY he eats EVERYTHING that you put in front of him!! It's kinda funny! A lot of times we get concerned that maybe he's eating too much, but NAH- he's just a growing boy!

Jamie - posted on 01/24/2009

Rylan is 16 mo 3 weeks

I feed Rylan lots of fruit (bananas are his fav. but also , blueberries, blackberries, kiwi and apples). 

Breakfast is usually apples and cinnimon oatmeal (boxed) or pancakes (which I will add smashed up fruit in the batter, I have even pureed sweet potatoes, carrots and different fruits and put it in ice cube trays to freeze, when I am ready to make pancakes I just take a couple of cubes out and defrost and put it in the batter!!)   I makes the pancakes by the spoonfuls so they are just his size.  I never add butter or maple syrup to them, they are yummy without it!

Lunch is harder for me......PB and J sandwhich, grilled cheese, fruit, white chedder organic cheetos, mozzerella string cheese stick and maybe his choice of a cookie

dinner:  fishsticks, chicken fingers (anything with ketchup- I get organic), spaghetti, tortillini, hamburger patty, mashed potatoes, scalloped potatos, salmon, french fries (i sometimes make sweet potato french fries- they really are good!) and  fruit.  it is usually whatever I am cooking for dinner.

I recently bought him a step stool to help me cook things in the kitchen and when he helps he seems to want to eat more things.  For example- she can put ingredients in a bowl for you like for a salad...carrots, lettuce (she can even tear it into pieces).  She can pour packeged ingredients into bowls like boxed scalloped potatoes.........

anyways, the veggie thing is a hard one for me too.  I usually end up chopping up green peppers, onions and stuff in his scrambled eggs in the morning and he loves it!

When I can, I give Rylan 2 choices, like in the morning I show him the box of oatmeal and the box of pancake mix and ask him which one he would like for breakfast- this lets him know that he can have an opinion and it does count

I really hope all this helps and good luck!!!!

Jamie

Valerie - posted on 01/24/2009

The twins eat pretty much everything and anything. They prefer finger foods and pretty much refused to let you feed them from a spoon. Sometimes it's a matter of just letting them sit in the high chair and graze at their own pace. Both twins get whatever the rest of us are eating.

Patrick in particular goes off solids when teething and only wants milk. He still gets the opportunity to eat as much or as little as he wants and then off he goes again. Teething doesn't seem to bother Lily as much and she will usually clear her tray.

Mixed frozen veggies are a big hit - if they don't like them warm, try cold or even frozen. I usually cook a roast of some sort during the week and then chop it up. Meals usually consist of protein, grain, veggie, a starch and fruit if there is still room. Right now I am more concerned about developing their taste buds, and limiting excessive amounts of sugar and salt so they can develop healthy eating habits.

Carbs at this age are a good thing - helps with brain development. Just try to make smart choices - whole grains, low salt.

Danijela - posted on 01/22/2009

My daughter it's everything.  She particularly likes black beans.  I really don't have a problem feeding her.  The other night, she and I split a piece of salmon.  I was shocked.  

Amber Lynne - posted on 01/22/2009

Quoting Rebecca:

the only suggestion i will make is no peanut butter. i noticed a few people suggested it but it is a huge risk and can offset a lot of different allergies. ask your childs dr before thinking about it. most will say no peanut products until age 5. other then that i agree with letting your child graze throughout the day onlittle things if they wont settle. make them sit at the table though or it will be hard when they get older to switch them. my son only eats at the table and if he gets down he's done and he knows that. on occasion he will have crackers while we're on a long drive but other then that it's the table. it's easier to clean one floor also :)

Our ped. recommended we start introducing peanut butter at 12 months-he has asked it we have anyone in the family that had an allergy to peanut butter and since we didn't-he suggested trying it-and watching him carefully for a couple days before letting him have it again.  He has never shown any sign of an allergy-and LOVES it!-
But definately if you have any allergies in your family-you should use caution with PB

Amber Lynne - posted on 01/22/2009

Some of the things my son eats are:
Breakfast: scrambled eggs
                   toast with blackberry preserves on it and torn up into bite size pieces
                   occasionally a plain waffle
                   or a handful of cheerios, rice chex or kix .
Lunch: 1/2 grilled cheese sandwich
              vienna sausages sliced in 4th lenthwise w/ saltine crackers &  a slice of
                   american cheese
              peanut butter crackers
              ham/crackers/cheddar cheese   mini lunchable thing
Supper: whatever we are having
               steak torn into little shreds, rice (any flavor-but not plain), mac&cheese,
               green beans, pinto beans, black eyed peas, green peas, mashed potatoes,
               spaghetti (using elbow noodles instead of spaghetti noodles), french fries
               pretty much most things we eat for supper-except he doesn't like ground
               beef in any way, and only sometimes likes chicken)
Dessert/Snacks: a table spoon of vanilla or choc pudding, 1 few pringles, a small bowl of
                               hull-less puffedcorn, Gerber Graduates Puffs or Crunchies,
                               a pkg of Baby Mum-Mum veggie rice cakes, handful of Gerber Graduate
                               Yogurt Melts or a Fruit Bar
Bedtime: I make myself a bowl of cheerios and we sit down in the liv room floor and eat it-he usually eats most of the whole bowl and only get 3, 4 maybe....5 bites.

I limit his milk to 3 sippy cups a day and 1 juice cup (mixed at 1/3 juice, 2/3 water). 
If he has more milk than that he gets constipated.

He feeds himself 100% of the time.  The mess stays on the high chair tray, b/c if he starts throwing food in the floor or wherever, I assume he is finished and remove him from the table.  He does usally have a mess on his face, but that's nothing a warm wash cloth can't take off.  And if it's too bad, like with mashed potatoes or spaghetti-he just gets a bath after dinner that night.

Donna - posted on 01/22/2009

Quoting Christie:

About the peanut butter... I think every doctor is different and each parent has a different opinion about it. Make your own decision with your doctors help. My daughters doctor said she could eat pb as soon as she was over 12 mos. as long as there were no pb allergies in the family, so we gave it to her and she is fine

So were my other 3 children, but in hindsight, I wouldn't give them peanut butter until 3!  My daughter's allergist suggested she shouldn't have had until 5!  There was no history of allergies in our family, but the fact is you never know until it happens and you are rushing your baby to the ER!  Doctors reccomend after 3 because their immune systems are better able to handle an adverse reaction than when they are under 3.  Also, they don't reccomend eggs until after 3 either, or fish...

Jessi - posted on 01/21/2009

My son was the same way he wouldn't eat meat at all but I started to show him me eating the same things as him and my husband did to. He loves to feed himeself now, which was part of the problem I think. He liked pita's and rice, peas, anything he could feed himself I also noticed that if it's TO messy of a food he will not like it as much. I notice he likes to have whatever we are having now

Amanda - posted on 01/21/2009

For the most part my 15month old son will eat just about anything. Some of his favorites though are: Cheerios, Mac and Cheese, Yogurt, pudding, cereal bars. He really likes the Gerber graduates lil entrees in the spaghetti rings and shells and cheese too. I have noticed when he is working on more teeth his appetite changes though to not wanting really anything.

Valerie - posted on 01/21/2009

Sarah eats just about everything.  Favorites are goldfish and teddy grahams for snacks-  she asks for them.  ISH?  ISH?  How can I deny her goldfish.  I agree with the others about staying away from peanut butter.  Even with no food allergies, our pediatrician said to wait until 3 yo. 

Danielle - posted on 01/21/2009

My 16 month old eats pretty much anything i put in front of her, but I try to make sure that she has a variety of food groups in a day. For Breakfast sh eloves oatmeal or scrambled eggs with cheese and tomatoes. She also loves deviled eggs at dinner time. Unless she has allergies to certain things, she should beable to eat anything at this age, obviously watch out for choking hazards, just cut stuff small if need be.

Christie - posted on 01/21/2009

About the peanut butter... I think every doctor is different and each parent has a different opinion about it. Make your own decision with your doctors help. My daughters doctor said she could eat pb as soon as she was over 12 mos. as long as there were no pb allergies in the family, so we gave it to her and she is fine

Lexi - posted on 01/17/2009

My son went through that picky stage for about a week. From the moment he got teeth I began feeding him whatever we ate for breakfast, lunch and dinner. So because of this he's pretty much a good eater. Of course, when my grandmother visited, she wanted to feed him the "yummy" foods (SWEETS) and that has ruined him a little bit. If he doesn't want to eat what we have for dinner, then he doesn't eat at all. Eventually he learned and decides to eat rather than be hungry. What also helped was after he woke up from his nap and had his snack, I would take away the sippy cup. He would fill up on juice before dinner and didn't want to eat. Now he eats all his dinner, for the most part. Also, during dinner I wouldn't let him have his drink until he ate a few bites. So now he eats half of his meal, points to his drink and then hands it to me after a couple of sips to eat the rest of his dinner. Honestly, I wouldn't cater to whatever your child wants. That's how they grow up to become very pick eaters, only wanting mac n cheese or pb&j's.

Nichole - posted on 01/17/2009

You are SO lucky...mine only will eat carrots from a can (blech!!) and one day he loves something the next he won't touch it.  It is such a guessing game what to feed him!  I try not to worry much tho.  Doctor says he is gaining weight just fine and she isn't worried!  We try to eat healthy....it's just trying ot figure out what he will eat which day!!

Kristie - posted on 01/16/2009

I'm glad my son's not the only picky eater.  I agree about the peanut butter...better to be safe than sorry.  I don't give him any nuts...maybe a little over-the-top.  I just don't want him to get food allergies.  He LOVES cheese and bananas which causes me to get creative about increasing his fiber intake IYKWIM.  There's a good cookbook called Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Sinfeld that shows you how to incorporate (sneak) veggie puree in unexpected places such as brownies along with pasta, and so many other things.  It's quite helpful for me too since I'm not the biggest fan of veggies either :)

Becky - posted on 01/16/2009

I have twins as well - one is a big eater and the other is picky.   Every meal consists of a meat, vegetable, starch and fruit at the end.  My youngest twin would rather drink than eat so he doesn't get anything to drink until he is 1/4 of the way through his meal.  When I try a new food with the boys my picky eater won't eat for about 10 minutes, but once he realizes that he isn't getting anything else he begins to eat.  Kids won't starve themselves and they all go through times when they eat and times when they pick.  Also, at this age it is common for kids to eat a lot at one meal and not at the others.  I feel it is best to put a variety of food in front of them at each meal so hopefully a little bit of everything makes it in.  Good luck!

Donna - posted on 01/16/2009

Quoting Christine:

I do lots of fruit- grapes, bananas, apples, pears, etc. Crackers and any dry cereal works well too! Pretzels are good too! Did you try toast and peanut butter? Lunch meat and cheese is good too! Good luck

Please don't give them peanut butter!  I found out the hard way that they should not have peanut butter unti after age 3!  But, we did find out early that she is allergic to peanuts.

Jodi - posted on 01/15/2009

My daughter will eat anything. She only has one bottle a day and that's before bedtime, and it's really only to comfort her to go to sleep. We try to make sure that she only eats in her highchair though. And when we ask her if she's ready to eat, she will walk over to the highchair and wait for us to put her in. Thankfully neither of my girls have been picky eaters and will always try something first and normally they like it.

Sharon - posted on 01/12/2009

I have twins, and they have different preferences. My daughter loves scrambled eggs, my son leaves it on his plate. He loves toast, she'll eat a bite or two. They both love grapes (cut in half), bananas (cut in thick coins cut in half), blueberries. Sometimes cantaloupe. Broccoli and peas are favorite vegetables. I feed them organic mac-and-cheese a few times a week, with chopped broccoli, spinach, or peas mixed in. Brown rice cakes. Baby yogurt. Grilled cheese sandwiches and quesadillas (sometimes with veggies mixed in). Beans-and-rice. Annie's cheddar cheese bunny crackers. Pretty much any kind of cracker or pretzel. I offer them the food, and it's up to them to decide if they're going to eat it or not. Good luck!

Janette - posted on 01/12/2009

Kids go through phases.  My son when he was that age...only milk.  They will eat when they are hungry.  It didn't last long though.  We have always fed our kids "homemade" food.  They never got the taste of jar food.  Some moms say they do have trouble making the transition from earlier jar purees to "real' food.  Just go with the flow...they wont starve.  Check with your DR maybe you can give Vitamin supplements.   My DTR is 16 months and some weeks only wants PB & J??  When that is the case, I get sugar free jelly and let her go at it.   

Amy - posted on 01/10/2009

Cheesy Chicken Rice Soup
This is my favorite soup recipe, my son eats bowl after bowl of it (and so do I!)

Season 3 skinless boneless chicken breast halves (or thighs if you like dark meat) with:
Season salt, garlic powder, ground coriander
Heat a large pot over medium high. Sauté chicken in 2-3 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Remove chicken to a plate to cool when it is browned on both sides and cooked through. (Let chicken sit at least 10-15 minutes before chopping to keep it nice and juicy) Add to the pot:
1 chopped onion
2 chopped celery stalks
2 chopped carrots
A little extra olive oil

Sauté about 5 minutes or until veggies start to get tender. Sprinkle 3-4 Tbsp all purpose flour over veggies stir and cook 2-3 minutes longer.
Meanwhile:
Cook 1 box Uncle Ben’s Long grain and Wild Rice according to directions omitting seasoning packet. Set aside
Pour in and whisk 1 cup chicken stock bring to a boil and simmer until thick. Slowly add 5 additional cups of chicken stock and 1 cup milk, simmering again until thick. Season broth to taste with
steak seasoning (or salt and pepper) and ground sage.
Stir in 4oz Velveeta cheese cut into chunks until melted.
Add 1 can of corn and reserved chicken chopped into ½ inch cubes and reserved rice. Heat through and serve with crumbled tortilla chips. This makes a really big pot of soup, but it freezes well.
Variation 1:
Omit flour, milk and Velveeta Cheese. Replace Uncle Ben’s with cooked brown rice and add 1 cup of defrosted Frozen Chopped spinach.

Amy - posted on 01/09/2009

Thanks everyone for your responses. It is nice to know I am not alone!! :)

Amy - posted on 01/09/2009

Quoting Amy:

Hi! my son (16 months next week) is usually a big eater, but just last week he went through this wierd phase of only drinking milk and refusing everything else. Most kids go through phases like that, so don't be too freaked out, you can always try Pediasure if your really worried. Normally some of his favorite foods are PB&J, yogurt, bananas, whole wheat pancakes, mashed potatos, goldfish crackers, applesauce, and baked beans. Weird combo i know, the other thing he really loves is soup, i make my own and he scarfs it down, it's a great way to sneak in lots of extra veggies! i'd be happy to share a recipe if you want:)

I would love to have any recipes you want to share thanks!!

Christine - posted on 01/09/2009

oh sorry that was me with the peanut butter- you are right I forgot about the allergies! definitely ask your doctor first!

Rebecca - posted on 01/09/2009

the only suggestion i will make is no peanut butter. i noticed a few people suggested it but it is a huge risk and can offset a lot of different allergies. ask your childs dr before thinking about it. most will say no peanut products until age 5. other then that i agree with letting your child graze throughout the day onlittle things if they wont settle. make them sit at the table though or it will be hard when they get older to switch them. my son only eats at the table and if he gets down he's done and he knows that. on occasion he will have crackers while we're on a long drive but other then that it's the table. it's easier to clean one floor also :)

Veronica - posted on 01/09/2009

I'm in the same boat. She would rather drink her bottle than eat food. She loves fruit, so I keep alot of fresh fruit. She is starting to get better with it. Whatever she eats she has to do it herself, she will not let me do it. I recently tried spaghetti, she loves it and mac and cheese, she loves it. In order to get her to eat, I make the things she shows interest in.

Maya - posted on 01/09/2009

Wow- nice to see that everyone elses child pretty much survives on carbs....

Christine - posted on 01/09/2009

I do lots of fruit- grapes, bananas, apples, pears, etc. Crackers and any dry cereal works well too! Pretzels are good too! Did you try toast and peanut butter? Lunch meat and cheese is good too! Good luck

Naz - posted on 01/09/2009

My son has just hit the DON'T-WANNA-EAT stage after being a big eater. One thing he would never refuse is butter crackers but even that gets a fervent head shake from side to side nowadays. But i've found that his taste has changed. Things he didn't like before he is taking aliking to and things that were his favourite i guess i had worn off the novelty. But my advise would be to try a variety of things and make a note of what he takes to.

Amy - posted on 01/08/2009

Hi! my son (16 months next week) is usually a big eater, but just last week he went through this wierd phase of only drinking milk and refusing everything else. Most kids go through phases like that, so don't be too freaked out, you can always try Pediasure if your really worried. Normally some of his favorite foods are PB&J, yogurt, bananas, whole wheat pancakes, mashed potatos, goldfish crackers, applesauce, and baked beans. Weird combo i know, the other thing he really loves is soup, i make my own and he scarfs it down, it's a great way to sneak in lots of extra veggies! i'd be happy to share a recipe if you want:)

Devon - posted on 01/08/2009

My son is also picky. I sometimes will let him watch tv while he eats and that helps. He also does well if I let him "graze". I'll put the food on the coffee table or in the seat of a dining table chair and he'll just come back to it as he plays. Of course, I don't do this with the messier things and you are running the risk of finding food pieces scattered in your house. I try to keep a close eye on him so that doesn't happen. I try new things all the time and eventually he'll start eating some things. Our current staples are Nutragrain blueberry waffles (LOVES them), Yobaby yogurt, grilled cheese, bananas, chicken nuggets, fish sticks and just recently he has started eating more diced fruit, cheeseburger, sausage links, egg, and peanut butter and jelly sandwich. He pretty much will eat whatever little snacks (chips, cookies, crackers) you give him. He's still eating some babyfood since that is about the only way he'll eat any veggies. I'm trying to just let him do it himself more and get messy, but that isn't always convenient. We've been giving him Pediasure for awhile now also.

Lesley - posted on 01/08/2009

i make my son alot of organic mac and cheese. they have tons of brands out there.. i like aunt annies. even if he's being particularly picky.. i think he generally just likes picking up the small shells and feeding himself. eventually he just finishes the bowl. or i make grilled cheese sandwhich and cut them up really small so he can feed himself. basically anything that you can make into finger food. good luck.

Adrienne - posted on 01/08/2009

My son pretty much eats everything that we eat. His favs include: Yogurt, bananas, pears, goldfish, gerber pasta pick-ups, grilled cheese, mac-n-cheese, quesadillas, pretty much all green veggies, and spaghetti.

Haylee - posted on 01/08/2009

I find Nutri-grain is really good (No Milk) My son likes anything that he can eat on the go I generally put a bowl on the coffee table with a varity of different things eg nutri grain, dry biscuits, fruit, Saltanas sandwich. and he grazes on it

Melissa - posted on 01/08/2009

Mine is picky too and sometimes I feel bad for feeding her the same things over and over.  Some of our staples:  Nutra-Grain blueberry eggo waffle or cinammon toast with fruit for breakfast.  Usually a grilled cheese, mac 'n cheese, beef frank, or black bean and cheese quesadilla and fruit for lunch.  If I'm in a rush or really lazy, cheese and crackers or soy butter and crackers.  If dinner is close to 6:00, I try to have her eat whatever we're eating, but usually it ends up late and I give her one of the lunch options.  She gets fruit with pretty much every meal.  It's nearly impossible to get her to eat a veggie, so I sneak them in when I can (like tomato sauce with pasta, or finely chopped brocolli with pasta, etc.).  We tried spaghetti the other night and she loves trying to eat the long noodles.  The go-gurt is also a big hit (yogurt in a tube).