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Meal Plan for 12 Month Old Toddler
What should you know about feeding your 12-month-old?
Most of your toddler’s calories and nutrition should now be from solid foods
Cow’s milk or soy milk can be introduced at this age
Family meals encourage healthy eating and trying new foods
Your baby has made their way into toddlerhood and is starting to master the ability to eat solid foods. By their first birthday, formula and breastmilk should be reducing while solid foods will start providing most of your little one’s calories and nutrition.12
Expect your toddler to be eating 3 balanced meals with 2-3 healthy snacks each day.
Between ages 1 to 2 years, toddlers have a great need for fat (which includes DHA), protein, and other nutrients such as iron, calcium, and choline to support their development.
Additionally, the 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans states that children this age are not getting enough vitamin D, fiber, and potassium. 10
Read more:
Nutrient Needs and Feeding Tips for 6 to 12 Month Olds
Why does Choline Matter for Babies, Tots, and Mama?
Why does Calcium Matter for Babies, Tots, and Mama?
Why does Fiber Matter for Babies, Tots, and Mama?
Why does Vitamin D Matter for Babies, Tots, and Mama?
Protein: Getting Enough and the Best Sources
Transition to cow’s milk
Formula fed babies are encouraged to transition to whole milk or unsweetened soy milk at the one-year mark, while breastfed babies can continue to drink breast milk.
If you’re making the switch to milk, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends 16 ounces with a maximum of 24 ounces (2 to 3 cups) of whole milk daily,4 and breastfeeding moms can continue to breastfeed as long as mom and baby desire.56
Learn more: What Type of Milk Should My Toddler Drink?
Pro tips on healthy family meals
By 12 months, your baby will be eating more and more of the foods you are. So eating as a family may become easier!
In fact, making time for family meals is an important way to encourage healthy eating and appropriate mealtime behavior.7 Babies and children who are part of regular family meals are often more willing to try new foods.8
Keep in mind that even at this age, slight adjustments may be needed in the texture and size of certain foods to help prevent choking.9
Read more: Family Meals: Developing Healthy Eating Patterns
If you have questions on how to prevent picky eating, reach out to our team of registered dietitian nutritionists for free! They’re here to help on our free, live chat from Monday through Friday, from 8am–6pm ET. Chat now!
Meal Plan for 12 Month Old Toddler
The below meal plan provides snack and recipe ideas to help you provide your little one with nutritious choices that will continue to positively influence their taste development and food preferences, as well as get nutrients that are important for their growth and development.
Be sure to provide foods in a texture and size your child is able to handle.
Breakfast
Option 1: Whole Grain Pumpkin Waffle Dippers with nut butter and 100% fruit spread
Option 2: Unsweetened yogurt with sliced berries and granola
Option 3: Oatmeal topped with diced cinnamon apples
Option 4: Easy Cheesy Egg Roll-Ups
Option 5: Banana pancakes (combine 1 ripe banana, 1 egg and 2 tbsp. whole wheat flour. Cook 3 minutes on each side over medium heat)
Lunch
Option 1: Quesadilla made with whole-wheat tortillas, cheddar cheese and cubed avocado
Option 2: Shredded or diced chicken or turkey with black beans and corn
Option 3: Hard boiled egg, cubed butternut squash, sliced grapes
Option 4: Whole grain pita “pizza” topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, spinach and broccoli
Option 5: Easy-Peasy 5 Veggie Pasta for Baby
Dinner
Option 1: Baby’s First Bolognese
Option 3: Baked fish “fingers” with roasted carrots and quinoa
Option 4: Cheeseburger (ground beef, chicken or turkey), cut up in pieces on a whole grain roll and soft roasted zucchini
Option 5: Fork mashed salmon and soft cooked cauliflower
Snacks
Option 1: Baked Seasoned Tofu
Option 2: Hummus with steamed or soft cooked veggies
Option 3: Banana & Yogurt Muffins
Option 4: Diced, ripe fruit
Option 5: Shredded or cubed cheese
Let’s Chat!
We know parenting often means sleepless nights, stressful days, and countless questions and confusion, and we want to support you in your feeding journey and beyond.
Our Happy Experts are a team of lactation consultants and registered dietitian nutritionists certified in infant and maternal nutrition – and they’re all moms, too, which means they’ve been there and seen that. They’re here to help on our free, live chat platform Monday - Friday 8am-6pm (ET) Chat Now!
Read more about the experts that help write our content!
For more on this topic, check out the following articles and recipes:
Strategies for Creating a Healthy Kitchen for your Family
Types of Fats: Knowing which to Choose
Why does Folate Matter for Babies, Tots, and Mama?
The Division of Responsibility: Helping Avoid Picky Eating
Family meals: Developing Healthy Eating Patterns
Healthy Snacks for Babies and Toddlers
Our meal plans offer recipe and meal suggestions for your child. They are not designed to replace your doctor’s recommendations, nor do they take into account special nutritional needs, including allergies and intolerances. The meal plans suggest serving sizes that may or may not be appropriate for your child. Please consult your doctor to determine what is best for your child.