20 Months Old Baby Food Ideas

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Your little one will be stepping into their 20th month soon, and they may begin to throw food tantrums more often. Therefore, keeping some 20 months old baby food ideas handy could help relieve some of your worries. As toddlers approach their second birthday, their food habits and interests keep changing. Also, your little one is undergoing rapid physical and mental growth and development during this time. Therefore, you must make appropriate food choices to support their growth and maintain their nutritional requirements. Read on as we bring some important foods to include in your 20 months baby’s diet, tips, and helpful techniques to feed your fussy eaters.

Must-Haves For A 20 Months Old Baby Food

The food for a 20-month-old baby should be nutritious and rich in vital nutrients such as iron, calcium, and vitamins. Your toddler’s diet should include the following (1):

• Staples such as rice, breads, and pasta
  

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• Protein-rich foods such as meats, eggs, pulses, and cereals
• Dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and cheese
• Water and juices
• Fruits and vegetables
• Fats and sugar within limits

Toddler’s meals can be homemade, or ready-made baby foods, or a combination of both. Your selection should ensure that his meals contain adequate nutrition.

All About Serving It Right

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If you want to ensure your toddler has nutritious meals, you can follow these portion recommendations.

• Serve them one cup of vegetables daily.
• Include a daily serving of one cup of seasonal fruits or approximately six ounces of fruit juice.
• Ensure that they eat three servings of ½ cup of rice, bread, or cereals, or a slice of bread daily.
• Add two daily servings of an egg or an ounce of meat or lentils to their balanced diet plan.
• Give them two daily servings of a cup of milk or yogurt or two ounces of cheese (natural or processed).

Introducing healthy eating habits from an early age can prove to be a positive step toward raising a healthy and strong child.

Experts say

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, on average, a healthy toddler-sized meal should comprise beans (two to three tablespoons) or meat (an ounce), fruit (one to two tablespoons), vegetables (one to two tablespoons), and bread (one-quarter of a slice) (7).

Tips To Make Your 20-Month-Old Baby Eat Better

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As your baby tends to be fussy about eating, creating a pleasant mealtime experience can help them be healthier and happier. Advance meal planning can help you offer a variety of food items to your child. Adding baby-led weaning foods to your toddler’s platter can also help develop their taste, preferences, and interests better.

Texture exploration can help to improve the mealtime experience for your picky eater. Experiment with different nutritious ingredients and new recipes to tantalize their tiny taste buds and ensure optimal nutrition for the baby.

• Mealtimes should be fun and not a battle. You should not force or bribe your child to finish his meals.

• Portions should be just right. Do not indulge your baby by serving what he likes in excess, as it can lead to a feeling of bloating and indigestion.

• Do not lose heart if your child has not had enough at lunch. Offer them a small portion of healthy snacks. Vegetable sticks with hummus, rice cereal or oatmeal, and fruit yogurt are nutritious snacks for toddlers.

• Dinner time should be the perfect time for the family to bond together. The ambiance should be cheerful, and you should establish a routine for mealtimes. It should be an event that your baby looks forward to and enjoys.
• As your baby grows, you have to try and be a good role model for him. As a parent, if you follow healthy eating habits then your toddler too will learn to eat right soon.

Quick tip

Involve your child in meal preparation. Include them in buying the veggies and fruits, washing them, putting chopped vegetables in bowls, peeling boiled potatoes, or garnishing a dish. It will help them build a healthy relationship with food (8).

Points To Remember

Here are some handy tips to feed your toddler (3):

• Your toddler continues to grow and develop, mealtimes can also serve as an opportunity to encourage developmental milestones. He can now sit up in his chair and enjoy mealtimes with the family. At this stage, toddlers can eat mashed food and are capable of chewing food as they have a few milk teeth. So you should allow him to mess around with a bowl and spoon or grasp tiny portions of finger foods and enjoy.

• When introducing a new food item to your toddler, only serve him a small portion to watch out for any allergic reaction or digestive discomfort. It is wise to avoid foods that commonly trigger allergies, such as shellfish, peanuts, eggs, or certain types of cereals. Also, remember your family’s history of food allergies while meal-planning and go for allergy-friendly options.
• You can prevent choking by offering foods in different forms such as semi-solid and pureed mashed. You may also chop them into bite-sized pieces to make it easier for your toddler to eat.

Food Recipes For 20-Month-Old-Babies

Below are some simple, tasty, and nutritious recipes for a 20-month-old baby’s diet.

1. Oatmeal With Banana

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You Will Need:

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup almond milk
• 1 banana (sliced)
• 1tbsp cinnamon powder

How To:

1. Add oats to a pan and cook them with almond milk, stirring occasionally.
2. Once oats are well-cooked, add cinnamon powder.
3. Transfer to a bowl, top with sliced banana, and serve warm.

2. Pumpkin Mac And Cheese

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You Will Need:

• 1 cup canned pureed pumpkin
• 1 cup whole wheat macaroni pasta (cooked)
• ½ cup cheddar cheese (shredded)
• ½ cup whole milk
• ½ cup broccoli florets (boiled)
• Pepper powder as per taste

How To:

1. In a blender, combine the pumpkin puree, milk, and cheese. Blend it until you get sauce consistency. Add more milk if needed.
2. Add the sauce in a pan, and add the pasta, broccoli, and pepper. Cook it for three to five minutes.
3. Take it out in a bowl and serve warm.

Infographic: Food Options For 20-Month-Old Babies

Babies and toddlers should be given diverse foods to support their mental and physical development. So, are you looking for healthy food options for your baby? Go through the infographic below to know what you can feed your 20-month-old baby.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Illustration: 20 Months Old Baby Food Ideas

Image: Dall·E/MomJunction Design Team

Create a daily routine and food chart for your 1-2-year-old toddler through an informative video guide. Discover complete diet plans and nutritious baby food recipes, along with valuable tips for your child’s well-being.

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Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Dr. Dur Afshar AghaMS

Dr. Dur Afshar Agha is a consultant pediatrician with around 26 years of experience in various medical facilities both in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. She has headed the Department of Preventive Pediatrics at the prestigious, Children’s Hospital and Institute of Child Health in Pakistan and is a life member of the Pakistan Paediatric Association.

Read full bio of Dr. Dur Afshar Agha

Jessica AlbertBE

Jessica Albert is a passionate writer who seeks to connect with her readers through wit and charm. Her work aims to invoke curiosity and keep the readers engaged through and through. She has two years of experience working with magazines and e-commerce establishments as a content marketer and editor.

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Swati PatwalM.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA

Swati Patwal is a clinical nutritionist, a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) and a toddler mom with more than a decade of experience in diverse fields of nutrition. She started her career as a CSR project coordinator for a healthy eating and active lifestyle project catering to school children.

Read full bio of Swati Patwal

Vidya TadapatriMSc (Biotechnology)

Vidya did her post-graduation in Biotechnology from Osmania University, Hyderabad. Her interest in scientific research and writing made her pursue a career in writing, in which she now has over five years of experience. She has done certified biotechnology-related training programs under renowned organizations such as Centre For Cellular & Molecular Biology and Department of Biotechnology.

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