Feeding Your Toddler

There comes a time when your baby becomes a little person that eats like a real human!  It's a bitter sweet moment when your Baby isn't actually a Baby anymore .. But I believe in my heart Nora will always be my Baby!  Ok I am getting away from the topic of this post.  The first time I realized Nora needed like ..  a meal .. I was stumped.  Like ... Milk?  Or ... Milk?  I don't know what to feed her!  It took a little thinking and brainstorming but I came up with some descent ideas and I thought I would share in case you are a little stumped yourself (:

Also, here are some helpful tips about nutrition facts and your little tot!  

This should give you a good reference on how much of each food group your little one needs each day!

Breakfast Ideas:

1: Raspberry Jam on Toast, Graham Crackers and Tomatoes

2: Scrambled Eggs with Cheese, Mandarin Oranges and Banana Bread

3: Cinnamon Sugar Toast, Mixed Fruit and Dulce De Leche Cheerios

4: Veggies and Eggs, Peach Parfait and Cheerios

5: Pancakes, Banana Slices, and Thanksgiving Turkey (:

6: Scrambled Eggs, Buttered Toast, and Tomatoes

P.S. IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY DISCOVERED THE PIZZA CUTTER - IT MAKES CUTTING THINGS INTO MINI SIZES SO EASY AND QUICK! DON'T UNDERESTIMATE IT'S POWER!

Lunch/Dinner Ideas:

1: Quesadilla, Ham Slices, Pasta Salad with Corn

2: Alfredo Noodles, String Cheese chunks and Banana Slices

3: Chicken Strip Pieces and Ketchup, Tater Tots and Mixed Veggies

4: Ravioli's, Mandarin Oranges and Mixed Veggies

5: Chicken Salad Sandwich, Grapes (Cut VERY Small), Corn

6: Alfredo Rotini, Polska Kielbasa Pieces, Yogurt Raisins 

Nora also gets her Milk at meal time.  She also enjoys a nice glass of water to wash her food down.  I have thoroughly enjoyed the Avent's My First Drinking Cup.  This cup is designed to help your toddler transition to grown-up drinking and mimics the use of a regular cup.  The spill-proof lid is lip activated and allows drinking from all the way around the rim.  Nora loves it!  I recommend only giving him/her 2 ounces at first - or your little one will be swimming in their drink.  

We like to give Nora treats about once every 3 or 4 days.  This can include a cup of 1/2 Water and 1/2 Juice (Keep in mind that fruit juices are not an acceptable substitute for fresh fruits), Fruit Snacks, Chocolate Chip Granola Bar, Popsicles, etc.  Keeping the treats to a minimum helps to keep a healthy balanced diet.  

Snacks are another story and we offer snacks once a day - but snacks are most definitely on the healthy side and come from whatever food group we may be lacking for the day.

Hope this hasn't been the most boring post you ever read in your life.  If it was, go read something from Ellen Degeneres' Twitter and forget all about it!  

Happy Eating!