She CAN have almost everything you eat, as long as it's cut into small pieces. Infants actually learn to eat by mashing food with their gums, so even toddlers who don't get their first tooth until they're a year old do fine with soft pieces of grown-up food. I find that one-year-olds love eating small pieces of steamed veggies (such as carrots and sweet potato), whole grains (pasta, cereal and bread) and chicken. Take whatever you eat, cook it a bit more if needed or mash it slightly so it's soft, cut it into small pieces and serve it as finger food. Thick yogurt works well when it comes to learning to use a spoon, and most infants and toddlers love it.
Remember that whole nuts, grapes, hotdogs, raw carrots and popcorn are a serious choking hazard so avoid these foods until she is older.
It was previously recommended to hold off on highly allergenic foods such as fish, egg whites and peanuts (or peanut butter) until 2 or 3 years of age depending on your family history of allergies. More recent research has shown that holding off on these foods will not decrease a child's risk of becoming allergic. Talk to your pediatrician if you do have a strong family history of food allergies. Otherwise, go ahead and offer her pieces of scrambled eggs or fish from your plate and see how she likes it.
Healthy food habits are formed at a young age, so make sure you expose her to lots of fresh fruit and veggies, dairy products, lean poultry, fish and whole grains. It may take a dozen tries before she develops a taste for a particular item. And don't forget that you are your child's best role model for her future eating habits.
Tanya Remer Altmann
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Remember my mother's favorite standby, the baked potato. Most babies love them!