1st Birthday non-cake... any ideas?

Lorin - posted on 12/12/2010

Thanks everybody. I'm glad to hear from a couple of you whose kids had sweet cake and did not become sugar fiends, because that was my main concern. I appreciate all the input!

Jennifer - posted on 12/11/2010

I just thought about an ice cream cake. You could get one made with frozen yogurt if you didn't want regular ice cream.

Tyrae - posted on 12/11/2010

You can make a healthy version of the cake. There are lots of diabetic recipes that are meant to not have a lot of sugar in them that would allow you to have the birthday cake and it still be relatively healthy!

WENDY - posted on 12/11/2010

what about a fruit and sugar free jello mold or even just fruit salad ? just as yummie as cake but healthy :)

Kate CP - posted on 12/11/2010

Ahem. *does her best French accent* Let them eat cake!

Get it? Marie Antoinette? French Revolution...any one?

Angie - posted on 12/11/2010

I respect your desicion not to give your son cake on his birthday. I gave my child cake but I would never tell you to "lighten up" and give him cake. Do you what is best for YOUR family, not what society says it best. Now that I'm done with my rant, I have an idea.... I have a child who is born at a time of the year when we don't eat any baked goods. She loves watermelon, so even though it's March, we buy her a watermelon. We cut a ring out of the middle and put a candle in it like a cake. She is 13 and has had 2 birthday cakes in her entire life. She has survived it without any psychological damage - LOL.

Sarah - posted on 12/10/2010

Why not google some low-sugar cake recipes - or maybe make some bran or carrot muffins to look like cupcakes. You could also consider some low-sugar Jello dessert.

Stifler's - posted on 12/10/2010

I agree, it's one day and one piece of cake. She'll be right.

Sherri - posted on 12/10/2010

I agree one day and one teeny slice of cake. Who in heck would want to look back on those cute 1st birhday photos with NO Cake. I think it would be very mean and sad if you didn't allow them to have a cake.

Joy - posted on 12/10/2010

I agree with Kate. One day of cake isn't gonna derail her healthy eating habits. It's one piece and most of it will go ON her and not IN her. Besides, it's her birthday Momma! And an important one! C'monnn.....give that baby some cake lol! (I totally just said that last part in a whiney voice in my head lol)



Edited to add: I'm totally on board with the applesauce thing though. It does make cakes more moist!

Kate CP - posted on 12/10/2010

It's one day...and it's one piece of cake. I have photos of my daughter's first birthday: she looked at the cake (never seen one before) and tasted it with her hands. Then she said "forget the hands!" and just dove face first into the cake. Chocolate frosting everywhere (thankfully we had stripped her down to her diaper)! She got a bath afterward and we all had a good laugh. She wasn't hyper, she wasn't addicted to sweets, and her teeth haven't fallen out.

Loosen up, Mom. Let the kid have a piece of cake. ;)

Katherine - posted on 12/10/2010

Oh yeah, applesauce is the best if you want it moist.

Jennifer - posted on 12/10/2010

You could make banana bread cupcakes or zucchini muffins. Applesauce can be used in place of oil and you can always reduce the amount of sugar you put in them.

Kimberly - posted on 12/10/2010

Umm yeah...forget what I said...I like Katherine's idea!!

~♥Little Miss - posted on 12/10/2010

I agree with everyone. Applesauce keeps it wicked moist!

Katherine - posted on 12/10/2010

You can substitute sugar with applesauce, cut it in half in the recipe.......make your own!!! There a re plenty of recipes out there.

Kimberly - posted on 12/10/2010

I agree with Louise. I made cupcakes with Winnie the Pooh shaped sugar cookies on top for my daughter's first birthday and she refused to eat the cake and only took one bite of the cookie...she's 15 months now and she gets treats like a cookie or ice cream maybe twice a month and she still prefers her veggies over anything else. Giving him a bit of cake on his birthday wont set him on a path of sugary goodness!

My only suggestion would be a fruit salad maybe? You could always make jello and fill it with fresh fruit...I know it's still sugary but less so than a cake!

Louise - posted on 12/10/2010

I really don't know what to say about that. The only thing I can think of is make a shepherds pie and put the candles in the mash potato topping. But really at the end of a day a mouthful of birthday cake would do no harm at all. My daughter had a cake on her first birthday but would not eat it because it was to sweet for her and she did not like the texture of the cake in her mouth. Now aged two she does still not like sponge cake and prefers to just pick out the fruit or she just pulls it apart. Introducing sugar to children should be a gradual affair. Just remember if you are to strict with the sugar then they will crave it when they are older as they will feel deprived. It is getting the balance right that is essential.