What are the best and easiest healthy eating recipes for a 16 month child?

i'm wanting to make sure my child is eating a healthy and well balanced diet, instead of chicken nuggets and smilie faces e.t.c. i haven't got loads of time to be cooking but want to make sure he's eating well. he's at the stage where he likes to feed himself with a fork, so preferably i'd like to give him foods that he can pick up with a fork rather than mashed foodsWhat are the best and easiest healthy eating recipes for a 16 month child?
The easiest thing to do is not worry about recipes!





First of all, your son can eat almost anything you eat as long as it is cut up into very small pieces. Obviously you would avoid nuts and raisins and hot dogs...all the choking and allergy hazards.





Just think of the food groups and pick choices from them. For example, cheese, watermelon, steamed broccoli and a cup of whole milk would be a great meal! Or maybe some sauteed tofu, zucchini, sweet potato, bananas, and of course, milk.





Also, Gerber makes lovely little meals for children. They also have little containers of ravioli and macaroni that are good in a pinch.





Also, Morningstar Farms makes wonderful meatless products that kids LOVE! They have Chik'n nuggets, Veggie burgers, soy sausage...soy is a wonderful healthy protein for children AND for you, too!!





Dont stress over it. If you eat healthy, your child will, too. Just provide healthy options.What are the best and easiest healthy eating recipes for a 16 month child?
try oatmeal with fruit on the side... it's a good wholesome quick meal... and my son really likes the oatmeal they have now that ';magically changes colors';
i make my own fish cakes for my son he's only 14months so not into feeding himself just yet, but i mix either salmon as full of omega oils or cod with mash pots spinach (for iron)and a little whole grain mustard then mould into little flat cakes with a little flour or wholemeal bread crumbs and u can bake in a little butter till golden brown or just freeze and re heat , my son loves them i also cook extra veg an freeze it so its easier for me and not so time consuming . I actually cook chilli for my hubby and i and keep some mince (no chilli) and place in ice cube trays and then put in freezer bag and keep in freezer for my sons meals , i do this with alot of meats mainly beef, chicken and mince and its very convenient.
My Daughter (a similar age) likes the following - 1)chicken, a handful of veg and a handful of rice simmered in stock until cooked through, 2) baked potato with cheese and/or baked beans, 3)roast dinner finely chopped and with plenty of salt-free baby gravy, 4) a plate of cheese chunks, cucumber, tomato, bread and butter, 5) Cottage pie - mince and onions simmered until tender and topped with mashed potato 6) Spag bol


Hope this helps!
having got two children myself..4yrs and 6yrs..i can tell you from experince that simple food is best:





Boiled mince and baked pots.


finely chop a cabbage into little bags and you have veg all wek.


shepard pie,pasta,brown rice.





fruit slads,plenty of wholemilk yougarts,dried fruit,little boxes of raisans.


let them chew on baby sweet carrots..plenty od raw veg too.I do not give the children sugar drinks at all...they like milk or water.





they key here is to plan and prepare food in advance...so you spend little time in the, kitchen and more time with your toddler!





Do plan the occasional treat.Take healthy snacks when walking too.and take time for yourself too..i know how demanding a toddler can be.





salmon Fishcakes: 1lb of cooked and mashed pots.


1 tin of john west salmon(bones taken out)


bit of butter and white pepper.





mash it all together and put this in the fridge for later.


when it come to cooking a frying pan and a bit of oil.Flour to dust the burger shape fishcakes you make and cook both sides until golden and crispy..serve with mixed veg or hienz tined spagetti.





hope i have given you some ideas..last tip..get them helping you in the kitchen..bonding time!





take care..Janine.
It's worth taking the time to feed him proper food. I mean fresh food that you have cooked. Never so called ready meals which lose much of their nutritional value in reheating and are full of salt and other rubbish which sends kids mad. Just check the label. Mind you there's nothing with the occasional tin of beans. Just common sense really. We fed our kids that way and they've grown up fine. It's hard to explain, but you can spot a child who's been fed rubbish, they are sort of wobbly!
you can make simple things that are also healthy try a not so strong fish cooked in foil in the oven with mash or boiled patatoes and some sort of vegatables.
I found the cow and gate website a big help, they have simple recipes for children during different ages, with a wide variety of ingredients. I just printed them all off. www.cowandgate.co.uk.
Just feed him what you eat. That's what we do. If it's too chunky then we mash it down a bit.





Of course if you aren't eating healthily then it might be difficult...