1 year old baby food is more varied. At this time, babies can switch from breast milk (ASI) to cow's milk. You can even give various snacks congested to the little one.
Although the choice of food for 1 year old babies is more diverse, it is recommended not to give low-fat milk to babies. At this age, babies need additional fat intake to support brain growth. Therefore, it is important for parents to understand what nutritional needs need to be met through food for 1 year old babies.
1 Year Baby Diet
At the age of 1 year there will be many changes in the little one's diet. This is also related to the weight of a 1-year-old baby who will grow very quickly, reaching three times the weight at birth. But after that, there is a possibility that the child's weight slows down and his appetite changes.
Don't be surprised if you find your baby really likes certain foods for a certain period of time, but becomes disliking them after a while. Changes in eating patterns that may occur are during the day the baby eats a lot, but at night does not have the appetite to eat. This is normal for 1 year old babies. As they get older, your little one will gradually get used to having a more regular diet.
1 Year Baby Food Menu
Although there are various choices of food menus for 1-year-old babies, you must ensure that the food intake provided contains balanced nutrition. You can provide vegetables and fruit as a source of vitamins, side dishes as a source of animal and vegetable protein, and staple foods as a source of calories.
In order not to be confused anymore, here is a 1 year old baby food menu that can be an inspiration for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks:
Breakfast
Some of the breakfast menus that you can choose from are:
- Vegetable porridge filled with potatoes, peas and carrots
- Fruit pulp or mashed fruit. Fruits such as bananas, apples, and mangoes can be an option
- Rice porridge with carrots and peas
- Potato porridge combined with chicken that has been cut into small pieces with a soft texture so that children can easily eat it
Have lunch
For lunch, food choices that can be given include:
- portion of chicken or tuna sandwich
- cup cooked greens
- cup whole milk
Dinner
For dinner, 1-year-old baby food options include:
- 2-3 ounces of minced or mashed meat
- cup cooked yellow or orange vegetables
- cup pasta, rice or potatoes
- cup whole milk
In addition to the 1 year baby food menu, you can also give your child snacks during the breakfast break to lunch or the lunch break to dinner. The choices of snacks that can be given are also varied, ranging from whole wheat bread with peanut butter, raisins, cheese, to your little one's favorite pieces of fruit that can also be mixed with yogurt.
Although the food ingredients for a 1-year-old baby's food menu have varied, the timing of feeding still needs to be adjusted. The recommended time is three main meals with 2-3 snacks. Give in small portions, because the baby's stomach capacity is still small at this age.
Make sure that the food your little one eats does not contain too much salt or sugar, and use just enough seasoning to enrich the taste of the food. Avoid giving ready-to-eat foods to 1-year-old babies, as they generally contain a lot of salt and too much oil which is unhealthy. In addition, fast food also does not have enough nutrients needed for growth and development.
Give a Chance to Eat Alone
1 year old baby is starting to be interested in eating alone. Give an opportunity to train his fingers, for example by giving a finger food. It's also okay for babies to take food into their mouths every now and then, because it effectively trains the motor coordination system. Give a spoon so that the baby is more interested in eating.
Even if your baby is still clumsy about scooping food and directing it to his mouth, self-feeding can help your baby practice using cutlery. Of course, sometimes you still have to help feed the food faster, especially when he's hungry.
Even though 1 year old baby food is easier to feed, you still have to be careful. Avoid giving food that might choke your baby, such as fruit that has been cut too large or nuts that are difficult to chew. In addition, you are advised to always accompany your little one during meal times, even though he can eat alone.