What to feed my 12 month old?

[BlackBarbies]

Now I know this question has been done to death but hear me out!

My second child will be 1 years old next week. He has a rare genetic disorder called DYRK1A (pronounced DURK-1A) which is an intellectual disability. He has loads of issues but eating is something he enjoys and he’s more than happy to try new things.

He doesn’t have any teeth yet as he’s behind developmentally in all areas, so this will impact the sort of food he can have. We can blend things for him so it makes it easier for him to eat but I really need suggestions on what to give him for lunch.

DS had an appointment with his dietician (who he’s been seeing for about 6 months) and his new paediatrician on Tuesday. They were basically saying that he needs to eat more energy and have things like cheese, yoghurts and so forth.

He either has porridge or fruits for breakfast.
Maybe scrambled eggs/fried eggs and a bit of bread for lunch.
Spag bol, salmon, rice and veg or chicken, pasta and veg for dinner.

Please help me out with suggestions for lunch as that’s what I struggle with the most. I can’t give him what I give him as I rarely eat lunch or I’m at work so his dad will be the one feeding him! DD is only 11 months old than DS and is ridiculously fussy so I’m trying to give DS as many new things to eat as possible.

I’d also love to know what sort of snacks you guys give your 12 month old. Thanks so much:)

My 12m old really likes couscous or rice dishes. I try to make it fresh but if needed the microwave packets get used occasionally. She also likes steamed or roasted carrot sticks or sweet potatoes. I still give her fruit pouches which I will mix with greek yoghurt for extra protein. Low sugar beans and toast is another option or I will save leftovers from the previous night's dinner and serve it again - like spag bol etc.

@bluebird3 that’s super helpful thank you. When giving your daughter rice or couscous dishes, what else is in them? Is it mixed with vegetables and/or meat? I’ve been told that I need to incorporate more veg into my son’s diet during lunch so carrot sticks is a great idea. He loves carrot!

Lunch
Pate spread on toast banana after
Baked beans and a finely chopped up sausage and custard with stewed fruit after
Soft Noodles, yoghurt after
Scrambled egg with toast fingers and raspberries after
Mashed potatoes with fish fingers chopped up. Cheesecake cut up after.

Also chopped up rainbow peppers. My dgc absolutely love those.

My DD loves couscous. Her favourite to have with it is Annabel Karmel’s fruity chicken (and it freezes! Winner) I often put other veg in it as well. Yesterday she had courgette and asparagus in it.

4 portions:

2 Tsp oil (vegetable, rapeseed, olive)
½ Onion, chopped
1 Clove garlic, crushed
75g Chicken thigh fillet, diced
150g Sweet potato, peeled and diced
1 Apple, peeled and diced
150ml Passata
150ml Unsalted chicken stock, or water
Method

1. Heat the oil in a casserole dish. Add the onion and fry for 2 minutes.
2. Add the garlic, chicken, potato and apple, and stir over the heat for 2 minutes
3. Add the passata and stock. Simmer for 15 minutes, then mash or chop until you reach the desired consistency for your baby.

Oh and orzo, she quite often has that for lunch. Or the what mummy makes lentil dahl 😊

If you want high fat and high calorie, mine used to go mad for toast with mashed avocado then grated cheese on top (sort of smushed into the avocado).

Banana sandwich? Lentil omelette? Rice crackers?

I like making baby pizzas - essentially a cheese and tomato (puree) toastie. For that matter, toasties go down well too

French toast is another hit - goes well with fruit like strawberries or kiwis. Pancakes too: you can make a batch and freeze them

For dessert yogurt and dessicated coconut is always a hit. You can add fruit or not for flavour

Thanks so much guys! A lot of these foods I don’t eat so I naturally don’t think to give it to my kids. They’ll probably enjoy it though especially DS so thanks so much

My little one is 13 months… but was a little 24 week micro preemie so is only really about 10 months (if that as he also had health issues). Honestly though he has whatever my other 6 have… he has one tooth but I try and let him have what we have. Eggs play a huge part of our lunches so egg on toast, omelette etc… snack boards are also great. My boy has decided he loves his cucumber and celery as well as cheese by just popping bits out for him to pick on and dicide.

I used to purée everything for my T but I was recently advised that actually there is quite a small window of purée which I didn’t realise and sometimes the “gag” reflex is actually really helpful to these little ones who need a little extra support. I am by no means a proffesional just what my nurse advised, it has really helped though. X

Thank you that’s super helpful:)