Breakfast Ideas for One Year Olds

Oatmeal

• Oatmeal is an excellent choice for a one-year-old's breakfast, but it's better to make regular oatmeal rather than the instant kind, which tends to be flavored and have a lot of sugar. It's also better to make the child's oatmeal with milk instead of water. Infants at this age should be given whole milk instead of reduced fat varieties because they are growing quickly and need the calories, according to MedlinePlus, the website of the National Institutes of Health. To sweeten oatmeal, add applesauce, other fruit puree or bananas. You also can add raisins, but it's best to soak these first and mash them with a fork.

Eggs

• Eggs are highly nutritious for one-year-olds and a good source of protein. Some toddlers are allergic to eggs, but the egg white, not the yolk, contains the allergens. It's best to serve egg yolks boiled, poached or scrambled to a one-year-old. After boiling or poaching the egg, just separate the yolk and mash it in a little milk, yogurt or applesauce. For an egg yolk scramble, crack the egg and separate the yolk, then beat the yolk slightly with milk and cook it in a frying pan coated with olive oil or butter. Make sure the yolk is thoroughly cooked. For extra nutrition, add a little pureed vegetable.

Yogurt

• Yogurt is easy to digest for a one-year-old and beneficial for healthy growth, especially when made with whole milk. Use plain yogurt to avoid sugar and to allow flexibility when adding flavorings. Good choices include applesauce with cinnamon or cut up peaches, bananas or berries. You can also add wheat germ, which packs a nutritional punch by supplying protein, iron, vitamins B and E, and folic acid to the child's breakfast. Make a yogurt smoothie with any of the above ingredients or experiment with others, such as carrot juice or pumpkin.

Vegetables

• Vegetables may not be a traditional breakfast choice for a one-year-old; but when prepared and flavored properly, veggies can be a tasty addition to a young child's morning meal. Sweet potatoes are high in vitamin A, beta carotene and potassium, among other vitamins and minerals. Steam chunks of sweet potatoes and apples, then puree them together, adding a little water if necessary. Surprisingly, many small children also like avocados, which contain more potassium than many other fruits. Cut ripe avocados into small chunks or mash them with applesauce or pear sauce.