#asktheexpert what kind of food and how many times to serve baby in a day

Question

Accepted Answer

At one year old, your baby is transitioning to a more varied diet and can begin eating a wider range of foods. At this stage, it’s important to offer a balanced, nutritious diet and continue breastfeeding or formula if needed, but solids should become the primary source of nutrition.

General Food Guidelines for a 1-Year-Old Baby:

1. Frequency of Meals:

3 main meals a day: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. These meals should be made up of a variety of foods from different food groups.

2-3 snacks a day: Offer snacks between meals to keep your baby satisfied and ensure they’re getting enough nutrition.

Breastfeeding or formula milk: If your baby is still breastfeeding or on formula, it’s still fine to offer it in addition to solids. You can reduce milk intake gradually, but it remains an important source of nutrients at this stage.

What Foods to Offer:

1. Grains and Cereals:

Offer whole grains like oatmeal, porridge, soft rice, or soft whole wheat bread. These provide energy and fiber.

Pasta: Cooked well and cut into small pieces.

2. Fruits:

Soft, cut-up fruits like banana, apple slices, pear, peach, avocado, or berries. You can also offer fruit puree if your baby prefers it.

Try to serve fruits without added sugar and ensure they’re cut into small, manageable pieces to prevent choking.

3. Vegetables:

Cooked, soft vegetables like sweet potato, carrot, peas, spinach, and pumpkin. You can serve them mashed, pureed, or in small chunks depending on your baby’s preference.

Vegetable fritters or small veggie patties are also great options if your baby is ready for finger foods.

4. Protein:

Eggs: Soft scrambled eggs or boiled eggs are great sources of protein.

Chicken, fish (well-cooked and without bones), or tofu can be served as soft pieces or mashed.

Legumes like lentils, chickpeas, and beans are excellent protein sources. Offer them well-cooked and mashed.

5. Dairy:

Full-fat yogurt and cheese can be given in small pieces or mixed into other foods like fruits or cereals. Be sure to choose plain, unsweetened yogurt.

If your baby is drinking cow's milk, it’s a good source of calcium, but keep in mind that breast milk or formula should still be included.

6. Healthy Fats:

Include healthy fats from foods like avocado, ghee, or olive oil. You can mix them into cereals or mashed vegetables.

7. Fluids:

Water: Ensure your baby is drinking plenty of water throughout the day. Start with small sips in a cup.

Continue breastfeeding or offer formula milk if desired.

Example Daily Meal Plan for a 1-Year-Old:

Breakfast:

1 small bowl of oatmeal with mashed banana or apple

1 scrambled egg

Mid-Morning Snack:

Small pieces of fruit (e.g., banana slices or diced pear) and water

Lunch:

1 small serving of lentil soup or vegetable stew with soft rice or whole wheat bread

Cheese cubes or cottage cheese

Afternoon Snack:

Whole grain crackers with a bit of hummus or a small piece of fruit

Dinner:

Soft vegetable pieces (like carrot or sweet potato) with mashed chicken or tofu

Boiled or mashed egg and soft bread or rice

Throughout the day:

Breast milk or formula (if your baby still drinks it)

Sips of water from a cup

Important Notes:

Avoid choking hazards: Make sure all foods are cut into small pieces that your baby can manage, and avoid hard, round, or small foods like whole nuts, grapes, or popcorn.

Introduce new foods slowly: Introduce one new food at a time and wait a few days before introducing another new one to watch for any allergic reactions.

Texture progression: At 12 months, your baby can eat most foods in small pieces or soft textures. Gradually progress to finger foods and cut food into bite-sized pieces as they get better at chewing.

How Much to Serve:

The amounts your baby eats may vary from meal to meal. A good rule of thumb is:

About 1/4 to 1/2 cup of food at each meal.

Offer snacks like small pieces of fruit, crackers, or a small serving of yogurt.

Milk intake may range from 500-700 mL per day (breast milk or formula), but some babies may drink less as they eat more solids.

It’s important to follow your baby's cues. Some babies may have a bigger appetite some days, and on others, they might eat less. Ensure that food is balanced, healthy, and offers all the essential nutrients your baby needs to grow and develop.