Looking for ideas on what to feed 1-year old who doesn't chew all that well
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Anonymous
| I figured maybe posting here would get me some more helpful responses than in the regular parenting forum. I have a one-year old w/ a neurological disorder resulting in pretty significant delays (motor and cognitive). He is making great strides with everything, and is receiving speech/feeding therapy, OT and PT. He doesn't chew all that well, and does not have pincer grasp yet to effectively pick up food and put into his mouth. However, he is okay at new textures (although suspicious at first), and loves to try to put everything in his mouth (like green beans, teething crackers). I am trying to transition out of baby food purees so I can try to help him develop some oral skills and eat more more age-appropriate food, except I need food that doesn't require lots of chewing. For example, I tried teensy little pasta cooked very well with homemade tomato sauce and he loved it! I thought maybe about scrambled eggs diced really small. Anyone else have ideas? I used to make my own baby food in the food processor but I think he can handle more than purees at this point, but he can't handle food that needs to be thoroughly chewed before being swallowed. And yes, we are working with the therapist on this, but I thought maybe you all would have some practical experience to share. Thanks! |
Anonymous
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my dd just turned 12 months, she only has two bottom teeth...
i make steam (you can boil too) tofu, sweet potato, white potato, broccoli, carrot, butternut squash, pumpkin really well and cube them so she can pick them up and feed herself... good luck! |
Anonymous
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My DS had severe eating problems. The food processor was my best friend. Take whatever you think she would eat, whatever she likes, and blend to the consistency she can tolerate. It also helps to test new and more difficult consistencies to build up oral motor strength and challenge the tongue when you get to that stage.
You name it, just chop and grind and blend away. Canned veggies and fruits. Done. Spaghetti with meatballs? Done. Meats and potatos? Done. |
Anonymous
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Try creamy polenta, risotto, large cous cous (not small), well-cooked lentils or barley, chunkier style mashed potatoes, yogurt, or apple sauce. A food mill vs. a food processor might get the right consistency.
When you're ready for seafood cooked fish filets like talapia or scallops flaked into small pieces. I realize your child doesn't use a pincer grasp, but can he sip through a straw? Maybe fruit smoothies? I also found this list of cookbooks online meant for older people or for people post dental work, but you might find some good recipes: http://www.archwired.com/soft_foods_cookbooks.htm |
Anonymous
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Try creamy polenta, risotto, large cous cous (not small), well-cooked lentils or barley, chunkier style mashed potatoes, yogurt, or apple sauce. A food mill vs. a food processor might get the right consistency.
When you're ready for seafood cooked fish filets like talapia or scallops flaked into small pieces. I realize your child doesn't use a pincer grasp, but can he sip through a straw? Maybe fruit smoothies? I also found this list of cookbooks online meant for older people or for people post dental work, but you might find some good recipes: http://www.archwired.com/soft_foods_cookbooks.htm |
Anonymous
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Anything made with rice or orzo.
White fish is great too - easy to chew and soft. |
Anonymous
| Hummus |
Anonymous
| OP here. Thanks for such helpful ideas! I like the idea of fish that I can flake into small bits. And hummus and polenta. Hmm...now I'm hungry. |
Anonymous
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Salmon, very soft meatloaf (lots of bread and tomato sauce in the mixture will keep it soft and extra egg will hold it together...you'll have to play around with the recipe), grated cheese (maybe worth a try?).
Also, bagels are good because he can practice shaving off bits with his new teeth but large chunks won't come loose...just watch closely. |
Anonymous
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This recipe is from an Everyday Food (PBS) cookbook. It's one of my favorites and is more time efficient then using the stovetop.
Oven Baked Polenta 1. Preheat oven to 425F. In a lidded baking dish, whisk 3 cups water, 3/4 cup corn meal, 1 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Cover and bake for 30 minutes, stirring halfway through (e.g., after the 15 minutes). 2. Remove from oven, add 2 tablespoons butter, 1/4 cup milk. Whisk briskly until smooth. Serve immediately. I use Goya brand corn meal and often add parmesan cheese at the end which melts beautifully in this bowl of creamy sunshine. When your little one can tolerate it, you could always add finely chopped spinach, olives, or sundried tomatoes--whatever flavors you like. |
Anonymous
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Another thing easy to buy are the cut up fruits in small containers- pears are great and very mushy. Saturate trader joe's shredded wheat in milk, hummus, risotto is great, pierogies cut up small when he get a llittle more chewing ability, and trader joes turkey meatballs cut up small. We were in feeding theraoy as well and all these things were recommended, Also, although I'm not a huge fan of it a lot of the canned beans, vienna sausages, etc are such soft texture and have flavor. They are good for kids to work up their way through in graduating texture.
In order to improve chewing strength ability, our oral motor specialist did some of the following--used a lot of sour gummy candy for our DS to chase around his mouth (didn't eat it but would suck sour flavor). It helped with tongue placement before he acquired a rotary chew. Also, when he got a little bigger she would stick cheerios/ puffs on his lips and he would have to try to use his mouth muscles to get the cheerio. It is incredibly hard for some kids with feeding difficulties to do that. Feeding therapy really, really helps long-term with speech articulation. |
Anonymous
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What about quiche? You can blender a lot of stuff and stir it into the quiche. Here's a couple of recipes:
Vanilla quiche http://www.food.com/recipe/sweet-vanilla-quiche-439509 Spinach pumpkin quiche http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/spinach-pumpkin-swirl-quiche/detail.aspx |
Anonymous
| banana |