C.H.
The best way to get kids to eat is to give them as much control over it as possible. We see images of a lot of spoonfeeding in the media, and so we think that is what we are supposed to do, but children want and should have control over their feeding - even at 1 year, even at 6 months. Always offer choices of a few things that your child can feed himself. It sounds like you're doing that if you're letting him practice his pincher grasp on Cheerios and Puffs. (Be careful, though of processed foods and added sugars. Even whole grain cereals have those and are hard on baby digestive systems and often cause food sensitivities/allergies which in turn can lead to chronic infections, such as ear infectiosn.) Let him make a mess. It's all an important part of his process of learning.
Best wishes!
C. at Loving Hands Family Child Care