Day 355 - 1st Year Round Up - How Much Should Your 12 month old be eating

Today's first time parenting tip - Serving sizes for a twelve month old are different than adults

As part of the first year round up, I'm going to look at taking stock of where your baby is at. Keep in mind that these are averages, and they could fall above or below these ranges and be perfectly fine. The numbers are meant to give you a general idea of what your baby should be doing.

Your baby's eating patterns have probably changed quite a bit over the last year. They went from all breast milk to fruits, veggies and crackers in no time. So how much is too much? At this age, your baby is still probably too young to eat just for the sake of eating.

If he's hungry, he'll eat. If he's not, he'll stop. If you think your child has a weight problem, first take stock of what you're giving him. Is it unhealthy foods with lots of fat and sugar? Or is it healthy fare, like veggies and fruits.

If that's not the problem, your baby could just be naturally bigger. You should never underfeed your baby or try to put them on a diet. At this age, they still need a high-fat diet for brain development, so consult your pediatrician before making any diet changes.

Here's how much your baby should be getting from each food group:

• 3 oz. of grains (1 slice of wheat bread = 1 oz, and 1/2 cup of cereal or pasta = 1 oz)


• 1 cup of raw or cooked vegetables


• 1 cup of fruits or fruit juice


• 2 oz of meat/beans (2 tablespoons of lean meat is 1oz, and one egg is an ounce

Parenting, Food, Average, Vegetable, Fruit, Diet

Day 273 - Recipe for Biter Biscuits

Today's first time parenting tip - Make your own biter biscuits with fruit and vegetables rather than buying them at the store.

Have you seen biter biscuits at the store? They're hard biscuits that gradually dissolve away as your baby gnaws on them. They help them learn to chew and can help with teething to.

The trouble is, they're a mess. And my wife and I were looking for a way to incorporate fruits and vegetables into everything we make for our son because he's picky about eating them.

Lucky for me, my wife's creative in the kitchen and whipped up a recipe for homemade biter biscuits that's super easy and healthy.

Sandi's Better Biscuits

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup mixed vegetables


• 1/3 cup banana


• 3 medium strawberries


• 1 egg - white only


• 3 tsp. brown sugar


• 1 tsp. vanilla


• 1 1/2 tbsp. oil


• 1/4 cup milk


• 1 tbsp. oatmeal


• 1 cup flour


• 1 tbsp. wheat germ

Mixing instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Farenheit/180 Celsius


• Puree vegetables, banana and strawberries


• Mix the puree, egg, vanilla, oil and milk in a medium bowl


• Add the brown sugar, oatmeal, flour and wheat germ
• 
  
• Mix until you have a stiff dough


• Roll out into a thin sheet and cut pieces about an inch wide


• Bake for 15 minutes on an ungreased cookie sheet

The recipe makes about 2 baker's dozens. Our son loved his!

Parenting, Vegetable, Fruit, Biter, Biscuit, Recipe

Day 272 - Fruit and Vegetable Juice

Today's first time parenting tip - Only give your child 100% fruit or vegetable juice, but don't give it as a substitute for the real thing.

Hopefully you've introduced a cup to your baby already, and he's well on his way to drinking out of it on his own. Now the question is, can you or can you not give your baby juice?

The debate of should or should not is as volatile as the debate between formula and breastfeeding. It seems to change with whatever society's prevailing winds are.

What does that mean? It's more or less up to you and what you think is right for your baby, under a few conditions.

• Only give 100% fruit or vegetable juice


• Dilute juice at least 1:1 with water


• Don't use juice as a substitute for the denser nutrients of real fruit and veggies


• Limit diluted juice consumption to less than 8 oz per day, more can cause diarrhea

Sometimes when you've got a fussy eater, they'll be more apt to drink juice. The way I see it, now my son is still getting a taste of the fruits and veggies he needs and some of the nutrients if he's being picky and not touching his carrots or apples.

Again, juice shouldn't replace real fruits, veggies, breastmilk or formula you feed your infant.

Parenting, Vegetable, Fruit, Juice, Drink, Nutrition