Feeding - 12 months old

How much should a 12-months old eat - solid food?

Zo Ee started liking having rice since 11 1/2-months old. At first, daddy was unsure of this idea but little Zo Ee refused to accept other food than rice. So this left us with no other choice but to give her rice.

Since we are having brown rice at home, I always give Zo Ee a smaller portion of brown rice for her meal than the normal white rice. This is based on my own experience as I always eat a smaller portion of brown rice too, because brown rice ’s high fiber content means that the grain slows down digestion, leaving me feeling fuller for longer.

A Typical dinner for Zo Ee

• 1/2 bowl of brown rice with chicken, mushroom and carrots.
• fruits
• water

She usually take less than 15minutes to finish this and will show me her disbelief face whenever I say "finished", not until I showed her the empty bowl itself. Then, she will have some fruits but lately she is having half of her usual amount due to self-feeding. (half an apple instead of one)

What is puzzling me now is that usually about an hour later, she will ask for her milk. Is she under-fed on solid food?

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A Typical lunch for Zo Ee

It will be either rice-cereal, oats, bread, pasta or rice with vegetables and one type of protein (meat, fish or bean curd)

• 1/2 bowl of brown rice
• spinach
• beef

Unfortunately, brown rice and beef a too tough combination for Zo Ee, so she refused to finish it. (not her usual self)

So mummy gave her a substitute, Zo Ee's favourite "yogurt". And again, she finished the one kid serving in less than two minutes. Must be too small a serving for Zo Ee's big appetite.

Next, will be fruits.

Zo Ee wanted to self-feed so mummy gave her 2 slices of pear to chew-on and she happily finished them.

But Zo Ee still want more food after that. So mummy gave her Heinze's baby biscuits. When the first one was beyond her chewing size, she called for mummy with her impatient voice, asking for another one. She had one more before finally wanted to leave her high-chair.

Is she finally full and satisfied?

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Simpler meal

Whenever mummy is lazy, Zo Ee will have a simpler meal like this multi-grain mixed fruits. A bigger serving for her but guess how long does it take Zo Ee to finish all this? Only about 5 minutes. : )

(And of course, fruit and water is a must after each meal.)

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Is Zo Ee a fussy eater?

She will accept most of the food offered to her provided that they are not the same food in that day. Meaning she wants variety; food for lunch and dinner should not be the same. Else, little Zo Ee will refuse to open her little mouth.

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Now (12-months old) and Then (6-months old)

This is sure a big-leap from her first solid food at 6months old - rice cereal.