Dinner Idea’s for a one year old

When she turned 1 Ella started eating the same dinner as us- at that stage she still had to eat dinner slightly earlier than us, so either I would cook dinner early and then reheat later for DH & I or I would save some dinner from the previous night and reheat it for her.

Her favourite foods for dinner are; roast chicken (just put it in the slow cooker in the morning- easy as and a roast chicken normally lasts at least 2 dinners for us), homemade chicken nuggets, homemade crumbed fish, shepards pie, fried rice, risotto and scrambed eggs is a popular quick meal for her.

Once a week the girls get pasta for dinner they go mad for it! I just get wholegrain penne pasta and stir in a couple of tablespoons of sundried tomato pesto, with some mushrooms or frozen mixed vege. Although the girls have about 8 teeth each so I guess having a few more teeth helps with that one lol.

Fish is a really great one. I get fresh red cod or monk from the supermarket and pan fry it. The girls can't get enough and it practically melts in their mouths so little need for teeth. Very healthy too we try to give it at least 3 times a week. We still don't give a lot of red meats as the girls haven't taken to them but at this age as long as they're getting some chicken and fish it's all good.

Emily started having dinner with us when she turned one because she wanted to have what we were having. Back then I think she had four teeth (2 up 2 down front). She does have 10 teeth now though including all four first molars. She loves chicken, fish and LOVES red meat, so if we had steak or lamb, I would chop hers into small pieces for her to pick up with her fingers and put into her mouth to chew.   She didn't particularly like holding onto and chewing on big pieces by then (it had to go in our mouth properly like mummy and daddy do). Other good things are pasta (spaghetti or penne or spirals), meatballs (which get demolished by little hands first before being eaten!), broccolli was and still is a fave, rice (gets messy though). Yeah and fish is excellent too and always goes down well. Stir fry is another good one. Then they just pick at the meat and vege pieces from a bowl and if served with noodles it's even better!! If we're having a dinner that's probably not really suitable for her, then I'll whip up a quick mini omelette for her and she loves that cut up into cubes. But now she'll pretty much give anything new a go these days, although she'll quickly let you know if she likes it or not!!   

Since 1year my wee one has eaten with us. Some things needed a little more chopping or mushing but generally she's been fine having the family dinner.... In fact she wouldn't have it any other way, she's so independant and has always insisted she has the same and feeds herself... It's so much cheaper and easier when they will eat the same as everyone else...

Jackson has been eating what we eat since he was one. On the nights that our meals arent suitable I usually pop on a few fish bites and give him sweetcorn and veges, all as finger food. Sometimes I'll wip up scrambled eggs as well.

We generally eat alot of casseroles, mashed potato and veges. He loves our pasta meals and mac cheese too!

Sounds like he is doing really well.

Don't feel pressured to have him eating full family meals as he is only just one - we've just moved there over the past few months, but DD was also a little tooth deprived at one, and struggled with some things. She is going quite well with eating what we eat now.

Savory onion tuna (from a tin) with rice or pasta is a winner with my 1 year and 4 year old! Great back up to have in the cupboards.. for a quick and healthy meal!