Part 2 of introducing solids to your baby.
Let me start by keeping your baby safe and growing well. Avoid nuts and other hard foods to reduce risk of choking, and keep the texture developmentally appropriate. Now here’s for some ideas:
#Store bought #Portable #Storable.
Every single one of these foods were store bought i.e. no fancy recipes required, and yet provide a healthy spread of flavours and textures.
The vegetables can be whatever you are planning for your own dinner, cut and cooked to a soft texture, then used as finger foods. This may be at dinner time too, or may be put into a container and saved as a snack for the next day. Providing it’s a safe texture, let your baby experience the range of different vegetables that you do.
The pasta world provides plenty of opportunity for self-feeding different textures. From penne as a great finger food starter to the more complicated spaghetti and small risoni when your baby’s skills are developing.
The rice I have pictured is in a lump that a baby can easily hold. It is regular rice, simply cooked, cooled and then a spoonful has been squished together to form a lump perfect for little fingers.
And don’t forget the vegetarian range for perfect little pieces – here I have egg and butter beans. I would have put in a falafel ball, had I thought of it yesterday!
Kid-friendly meat ideas are chop bones, soft fish chunks, meatballs and sliced cold turkey or chicken.
Finally, here is some inspiration for variety to the good old sandwich. While the main ingredients are the same, the subtle changes in texture within this picture will keep challenging your baby’s feeding skills. Including some crusts or spread on top is a perfect way to develop tongue and mouth muscles.
Menu Planning
There are sooooo many different ways to eat and feed your baby, which is why I usually hate prescribing a meal plan. But if you would like some inspiration on structure then feel free to use the parts of this that you like.
Mornings
A good time for an iron-rich cereal such as Weet-Bix/Farax or some cooked oats.
Finger fed babies may like some toast with avocado or cottage cheese.
Middle of the Day
Different types of bread products (see picture above) or some cooked rice or pasta.
Finger-food vegetables.
Egg or smooth peanut butter or hommus.
Evenings
Rice, couscous or pasta with fish or meat and cooked vegetables.
Snacks
Snacks usually come in only when breastmilk or formula is going out so it’s a good time to have a dairy option such as yoghurt, custard or cheese sticks.
Fruit makes a convenient snack too. No need for commercial products at this age.
Kids don’t care what time of day it is so if your baby is more inclined to eat snacks than a meal try cold chicken, cold cooked vegetables, sushi or a hard boiled egg at this time.