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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.^{1, 2} 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.³

For more information on nutrient needs of your young toddler, check out: Nutrients to Look for at 6-12 Months 

Need some ideas for healthy snacks? Healthy Snacks for Babies and Toddlers

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.^{5, 6}

Learn more: What Type of Milk Should My Toddler Drink?

The below 12-month-old toddler meal plan provides snack and recipe ideas to help you provide your little one with nutritious choices that will continue to influence their taste development and food preferences.

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: Healthy Eating Patterns

If you have questions on how to prevent picky eating, reach out to our team of registered dietitians for free! They’re here to help on our free, live chat from Monday – Friday 8am-8pm (EST), and Saturday – Sunday 8am-4pm (EST). Chat now!

For more information on picky eating, please visit our  Picky Eating Hub.

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 2: Baked Seasoned Chicken Tenders & Sweet Potatoes
• 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 Baby Experts are a team of lactation consultants and registered dietitians 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 Mon-Fri 8am-8pm (EST), and Sat-Sun 8am-4pm (EST). 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

High quality dietary fats good for you and baby

Why folate matters for babies, tots and mama

Why omega 3s matter for babies, tots and mama

Healthy snacks for babies and toddlers

Avoiding picky eating

Why choline matters for babies, tots and mama

Family meals: modeling and enjoying healthy eating patterns

Nutritional requirements for 6-12 month olds 

 

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.