I would love to know if anybody has any nutritious meal ideas or recipes for a 14 month old who mostly uses her hands "finger foods" to feed herself. The grilled cheese sandwiches, cheese pizza, chicken breast, etc. seem to be getting a little boring to me. I would love to give her more variety.

My neighbor gives her son hamburger helper pretty often, just gives him a bowl and let's him go to town. Naturally he gets it all over him, but he loves it, and otherwise he refuses to eat any meat.

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Tigriz
Mom to Alex - 1/21/06

What are you having for dinner? Except for really tough meat, you could give a 14 month old pretty much whatever you are having, just cut up really small.

I used to feed my eldest turkey and cheese sandwiches cut up very small. Applesauce, very mild chili, well-cooked veggies like green beans and carrots. Check out some parenting magazines, they usually have good recipes that change up things like grilled cheese.

We generally gave our son all that we ate, just cut up small. He especially liked pasta (bowtie, curly, etc). It wasn't any more messy than other finger foods. Fruit in pieces was also a big favorite.

Yes, we give her lots of fruit and the pasta. We also give her chicken breast when we have that. I just feel a little weary giving her hamburger. I just can't even think what I usually cook for dinners at the moment. I am at a total loss. I know she did enjoy soft tacos though! LOL

Oohh, speaking of, soft tacos sound pretty good to me right now too! :-) Alex isn't quite to the finger food stage yet, he's just been introduced to very mashed potatoes though, and he loves them. Other than that we're still doing just baby food and formula. My MIL did tell me that she used to give my husband whatever they were eating. She just got a little grinder and ground up whatever they were having. His favorite was lasagna! Can you imagine the mess? LOL.

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Tigriz
Mom to Alex - 1/21/06

Oh yes, that mess must have been fun! My daughter is starting to make messes with even her cereal now. She enjoys spilling the milk and then hitting her hand in it to make it fly everywhere!

Oh, also try puddings, yogurt, cottage cheese (my eldest LOVED that), and tofu. I would fry the tofu. It's very soft and bland. Kids seem to love it.