If your baby is going to turn 14 months in a couple of days, you must be looking for some food items that can be given to him, aren’t you? But coming up with a 14 months baby food menu will not be an easy task for a parent. The feeding habits of your growing baby will have changed considerably since he turned one and now you will have to give it a lot of thought before giving anything to your baby because this is the age when a child starts being picky. While introducing new foods to your 14-month-old baby, you must make sure that those foods meet his nutrient requirements. Well, if you are all confused now, then read this article to know what you can give to your baby.
Your child is still in a growing stage and needs the best nutrition to keep his development on track.
Energy is the biggest requirement for kids who are 14 months old. Beginning with 1000 calories from the previous months, the daily requirement would plateau somewhere around 1200-1300 calories at this time.
If your diet usually focuses highly on carbohydrates, this can leave the amount of protein on the lower side. But don’ ignore it. A 14-month-old kid requires around 13-15 grams of protein on a daily basis.
Carbohydrates should be included in your child’s diet since they not only provide energy but give the brain all the support it needs to function and grow. Their requirement is the same as that of an adult, i.e. roughly 130-150 grams per day.
Dietary fibre is important for your child’s good health. It helps in digestion and ensures bowel movement. A child’s daily intake of fibre from fruits and whole foods should be at least 19 grams.
Sodium is one of the most vital nutrients required for our bodily processes. Kids need it too. A baby would need around 1 gram of sodium every day.
If your child has weaned, he needs to keep his iron intake optimal from other sources. With a 7mg daily intake of iron, your child will easily steer clear of any kind of iron deficiency.
While most parents might not look at water as a nutrient, the requirement of water to keep the body’s electrolyte balance perfect cannot be stressed enough. Make sure your child drinks at least 1 litre of water throughout the day.
Apart from the major ones, some trace substances are also necessary to support different areas of the body. Omega 3 fatty acids, DHA, probiotics, and many others can be included by adding variety to your meals.
Before looking for breakfast ideas for your little one, it is important to know that a 14-month-old toddler won’t eat as much as they used to before. Even though they are growing, their development rate is plateauing down to a fixed pace. A daily requirement of 1000 calories is usually enough for kids at this age.
To ensure that your 14-month-old baby gets the best nutrition, here are some popular food items that you can include in his diet without fail.
Although many mothers might choose to wean their child from their breast, if breastmilk consumption is continued at this age, it is quite beneficial for the little one. Numerous antibodies along with enzymes and vitamins are easily provided via breastmilk and keep your kid healthier and protected from infection for a longer duration.
While choosing meat, it is necessary to opt for lean meat products such as fish or poultry for your kid. These can provide the required amount of protein for your kid’s age as well as introduce him to a tasty and delicious palate at the same time. Around 30g of meat should suffice.
Kids love to eat cheese. It doesn’t have to always be paired with bread items or any fast foods. Include cheese with your regular vegetables or breakfast items for an added twist, and your kid will get enough calcium and proteins from it.
When giving beans to your child, mash them. These are a blessing for families that are vegetarian since they can provide a good quantity of proteins and vitamin C. Furthermore, synthesis of iron within the body is also supported by them.
Eggs are highly recommended and one of the most popular choices for breakfast. Since there are so many ways to make eggs, your child will never get bored. Along with that, the presence of folate, vitamin B12, iron, and other nutrients make it the healthiest meal your child will have.
When we say juices, we strictly mean the ones prepared at home from fresh fruits. Don’t give your child the commercial juices that contain preservatives, sugar, or any sort of additional elements. Stick to only 180-200ml of quantity at the most.
Some kids are weaned off by the time they are 14 months, so they must drink around half a cup of milk on a daily basis without fail. Pairing it with some interesting food items can elevate the taste, and the fat from the milk can provide him with energy.
These form the very core of any meal for a child. Avoid giving raw vegetables to your child and choose to steam or boil them, making them soft. Opting for items of various colours would make the entire dish interesting for your child, and help him meet his vitamin intake properly.
It is a great habit to eat a fruit after having a meal since they top up any missing nutrients that your body requires. Make sure the fruits are ripe when given to your kid. A 14-month-old child can have around a small cup of fruit quite easily.
The largest constituent present in a child’s meal are foods made from grains. Whole foods or even vegetable pasta can be tasty ways to include grains in his diet. Opting for bread made from whole wheat or including oatmeal in breakfast is highly recommended for kids to make sure that their nutrients requirements are met in an easy way.
If you’re struggling to prepare a meal plan or a diet chart for 14 months baby, here’s a simple one that you can use as a starting point.
Day | Breakfast | Snacks | Lunch | Snacks | Dinner |
Monday | French Toast | Veg soup | Spinach with Rice | Glass of milk | Oatmeal porridge |
Tuesday | Sweet potato puree | Apple chunks | Egg rice | Cheese sandwich | Rice cereal |
Wednesday | Wheat pancakes | Smoothie | Chicken with rice and steamed purred vegetables | Glass of milk | Oats pancakes |
Thursday | Peas & potato puree | Banana puree | Meat puree with vegetables | Beetroot cutlets | Oats and pureed fruit mix |
Friday | Banana pancakes | Oats cookies | Veg rice | Apple and pear puree | Eggs on toast |
Saturday | Cheese sandwich | Chicken muffins | Fish with steamed vegetables | Glass of milk | Pasta with pesto & cheese |
Sunday | Rice and fruits cereal | Milkshake | Chicken stew with vegetables | Sweet potato and papaya mash | Cheese omelette |
Here are some great food recipes that can be used for various meals throughout the day.
If your kid is bored of eating the same thing, surprise him with this vegetable pasta and watch him dive into it.
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This is an excellent and yummy way to include calcium in your toddler’s diet.
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Plain rice can be too bland for kids. Pep up the taste with one of these healthy lunch ideas.
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For kids that may or may not like noodles, this combo will definitely have them drooling.
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Make the weekend a fantastic one with these pancakes for breakfast or even for dinner.
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Here are a few tips to keep in mind before feeding your child:
Try these amazing recipes for your 14-month-old baby and he will eat it without any fuss. With a proper meal plan and a diet that covers all the necessary nutrients, you can know for sure that your tiny tot is developing in the right way.
Also Read: 15 Months Old Baby Food – Ideas, Chart and Recipes