food variety at meals for new eaters

How many different foods do you offer them per meal? I don't give them what we eat yet because they are still learning to chew, to deal with different textures, etc. So I have to prepare their stuff separately anyway. I find that they will eat a little of something and then on to the next thing and before I know it, they have eaten 5-6 things per meal, a little of each. And when I look back, I feel like that is too much huh?

 

Usually 3 things:

protein, starch, veggie (then their dairy with their milk)

They eat what we eat, and we normally have all 3 of those things plus milk as well. Usually 1-2 times a week I give them a treat afterwards, pudding is the big hit right now.

I'd not give 5 or 6 options, that's too much work for you and too many options for them.

 

I try to do each food group,

For example, for breakfast, a cereal, a fruit and milk. For lunch we have quite a wide variety of things but their fav is omelette (made with cheese, ham, a veggie etc), 1/2 piece toast and some fruit and juice. For dinner, a protein, a starch and a veggie. Their fav is fish, pasta and peas. They normally get a dessert too, yogurt, pudding, arrowroot cookie, tapioca, etc.

my two are pretty good eaters and will eat pretty much anything I give them. Max has started to refuse his veggies so I have resorted to "The Sneaky Chef" for some help. I made them a grilled cheese today for lunch that had a spread of 'Orange Puree) in it (made of carrots and sweet potato). They loved it!


I also give one thing at a time so they don't get overwhelmed with too many things on their tray.

 

Like pps, I tried to do a starch, a protein, and either a veggie or fruit.