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It is a very good time to introduce baby-led weaning meals once your baby has weaned and started eating solid foods. Baby-led Weaning, or BLW, is an alternative approach to weaning by using solid foods instead of pureed foods. In BLW, you will not be the one spoon-feeding him but rather let him himself be holding and taste soft foods.
Baby-led weaning is going to endow your baby with good oral and hand motor skills, along with independence. Besides, this type of weaning teaches children curiosity-they explore various kinds of food activities, which turns mealtime into a more interesting activity.
However, in BLW, many parents worry about the choking hazard it may bring about, especially new parents. So, Babies Parent is here to accompany you on this BLW weaning journey. The following article will depict 21 safe and simple baby led weaning menus to make for your little angel. Don’t go anywhere, take pen and paper because you really don’t want to miss these amazing ideas.
Top 7 Ideas Baby Led Weaning Meals for Breakfast
First, let’s get to breakfast. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, providing energy for the whole day. However, breakfast also needs to be prepared quickly because time is quite limited, especially for busy parents. Here are 7 simple breakfast ideas for BLW babies:
1. Scrambled eggs, sauteed sweet potatoes and some blueberries
The first breakfast recipe is very simple: only 3 ingredients and about 10 minutes of preparation are required. You should only beat the eggs, put them into a non-stick pan, and stir until they are cooked.
For potatoes, you should wash and peel them, then dice them into small cubes your baby can take. In the pan, add only a little olive oil or butter and stir-fry them until they become soft. It is advisable to stir-fry them for some time so that the potatoes may become soft and easy for your baby to eat.
2. Banana pancakes, served with fresh strawberries and avocado
If you have too many ripe bananas to eat, then this banana pancake breakfast menu is for you. You can mash two bananas, add an egg, a little cinnamon powder, and mix well with gluten-free flour. Then, pour the batter into the pan and fry until golden brown on both sides. You need to wash the avocado and strawberries and cut them into bite-sized pieces for your baby.
3. Toast with avocado, served with omelet and steamed broccoli
The next menu for a nutritious breakfast is toast with avocado, fried eggs, and steamed broccoli. You can put the bread in the toaster and toast it. The advice is not to toast it for too long to limit the bread from being hard. We quite like to use Base Culture Keto Bread for this recipe because it is safe and healthy for babies. After the bread is toasted, you can mash the avocado and put it on top. Fry some soft eggs and add some steamed broccoli to provide a variety of nutrients for your little one!
4. Frozen waffles, papaya and blueberries
Are you busy and don’t have much time to prepare breakfast for your child? Then don’t miss this waffle + papaya + blueberry recipe. All you need to do is reheat the frozen waffles and prepare papaya and blueberries. We recommend you use Avieta Belgian Pearl Sugar Waffles because it is convenient. You can freeze it in the refrigerator and take it out to bake whenever needed. The cake is free from preservatives, coloring, and GMOs so you can completely rest assured when feeding it to your child.
5. Breakfast bake, served with banana and plain yogurt
One of the most versatile baby led weaning meals is breakfast bake + banana + plain yogurt. To prepare breakfast bake, you will need some simple ingredients such as sausage, potatoes, eggs, milk, and cheese. First, you need to cut the sausage and potatoes into small cubes that are easy for your baby to eat.
Next, you can mix the milk, eggs, and cheese and pour it into the mold. Then, just add the sausage and potatoes and bake at 375 degrees until the eggs are cooked. It usually takes about 20 – 25 minutes for the cake to be completely cooked.
6. Oatmeal with strawberries, blueberries and mashed banana
The other easy breakfast you may refer to is oatmeal with fruits like strawberries, blueberries, and mashed banana. You simply cook the oatmeal according to the instructions on the pack and add the fruits in it after washing and chopping them. We recommend the use of Beech-Nut Organic Baby Cereal. It is a USDA-certified organic cereal; hence, it is fully safe for babies.
7. Yogurt with apple, pear, and cereal
If you need to prepare a baby led weaning meal as quickly as possible, try the yogurt, fruit, and cereal recipe. This recipe is straightforward. All you need to do is prepare yogurt (preferably unsweetened), add some diced fruit like apple or pear, and add some cereal.
Top 7 Ideas Baby Led Weaning Meals for Lunch
Next, let’s explore a varied week’s lunch menu.
1. Tomato soup and cheese toast
For a delicious lunch for your baby, you can start with tomato soup and cheese toast. You need to cook tomatoes until soft, puree, add spices such as salt, pepper, and basil. For the bread, you can sandwich cheese between two slices of bread, and toast it in a pan or oven until the cheese melts. We recommend using 365 by Whole Foods Market’s Organic Whole Wheat Mini Toasts. These mini sandwiches are suitable for the portion size and safe for your baby.
2. Mac n’ cheese, tomatoes and bell peppers saute
The second recipe and one of the BabiesParent favorites is Mac n’ Cheese + Tomato + Sauteed Bell Peppers. You can use Annie’s Mac n’ Cheese to save more preparation time. Just cook the Mac n’ Cheese according to the package instructions, saute some bell peppers, chop cherry tomatoes and you’re done. It’s simple and quick, yet still incredibly delicious. Annie’s Mac n’ Cheese also comes in a variety of cheese flavors so you can add variety to your baby’s meals.
3. Quinoa, scrambled egg and watermelon
The next healthy lunch suggestion for your little angel should be quinoa with scrambled eggs, ending with watermelon for dessert. Quinoa is rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals and is very easy to digest; hence, it fits well in your baby’s lunch. Organic White Quinoa from 365 by Whole Foods Market can be used. This is a famous brand of organic food, so you can be completely assured when using it for your baby led weaning meals.
4. Pizza made from rice cakes, served with bell peppers and plain yogurt
You can make your baby’s first pizza with rice cakes. Because the rice cakes are thin, they are easy to eat and not too dry for your baby. You can top it with tomato sauce and a little cheese and bake it in the oven until the cheese melts. Don’t forget to prepare some sliced bell peppers and yogurt for your baby to eat with.
5. Quesadilla and some bananas
Quesadilla and some bananas are another quick and easy lunch you can try if you don’t have much time to prepare. Simply fill a tortilla with meat or vegetables and cheese and grill it until the cheese melts. You can use Mr. Tortilla 60 Calorie Wraps because they are low sodium, made with healthy avocado oil, and low in calories.
6. Turkey rolls with cherry tomatoes and raspberries
Turkey rolls with cherry tomatoes and raspberries are a great choice for a nutritious lunch. I often use Mission Protein Plant Powered Tortilla Wraps for this recipe because of the soft and healthy ingredients. Just add meat, a thin slice of cheese, roll them up, and slice them into pinwheel shapes. You can add a little mayonnaise for extra flavor for your baby. Don’t forget to cut the cherry tomatoes in half and prepare the raspberries!
7. Tuna salad, bread, and some cucumber
Another suggestion for a simple but nutritious lunch for your baby is tuna salad + bread + cucumber. You need to mix tuna with a little mayonnaise and vegetables such as carrots, peas, and sweet corn. Cut a few small slices of bread and cucumber to fit your baby’s mouth. That’s it, a delicious lunch is complete.
Top 7 Ideas Baby Led Weaning Meals for Dinner
Dinner is the time for the family to eat together. So the following 7 menus can be applied to the whole family dinner. Take out a pen and paper and write them down!
1. Grilled chicken with tomato sauce, tomatoes and plain yogurt
To start the dinner menu, we have a delicious tomato chicken dish. You just need to bake the chicken in the oven with Rao’s Homemade Tomato Basil Sauce, then shred the meat to make it easier for your baby to eat. You also need to prepare some tomatoes to add fiber and yogurt to your baby’s dessert.
2. Chicken meatballs, pesto pasta and grapes
Chicken meatballs, pesto pasta, and grapes is a hearty dinner recipe that are suitable for the whole family. First, you can chop the chicken and mix it with chopped vegetables to make meatballs. Then, you need to fry or bake the chicken meatballs until golden brown. Finally, prepare some pasta with pesto sauce to eat with.
3. White rice, served with tender curry chicken, carrots and peas
You can also serve your baby a dinner of chicken curry, white rice, and peas. You want your curry to be soft enough for your baby, right? Let it simmer a little longer. Another tip is that peas can be a bit big and a hazard for choking, so you can mash them up a bit.
4. Grilled pork, pan-fried zucchini and baked potatoes
Next up for a rich, well-balanced evening is roast pork, sauteed zucchini, and roasted potatoes. Just marinate the meat with a little flavor and grill. You can also saute the zucchini in a pan with a little olive oil. We recommend using Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil to ensure a healthy meal for your baby.
5. Meatballs, mashed potatoes and cherry tomatoes
Don’t skip a delicious and succulent meatball with creamy mashed potatoes and cherry tomatoes for a weekend dinner. Steam the potatoes and make mashed potatoes that your baby can also enjoy. The soft, creamy mashed potato will make your baby take more interest in the intake of solid foods.
6. Grilled salmon, sauteed zucchini and steamed sweet potatoes
Salmon is one of the healthiest and the richest foodstuffs for a baby’s development. Salmon is rich in omega-3, which nurtures your baby’s brain and eyesight. So, a dinner of grilled salmon, stirred-fried zucchini, and steamed sweet potatoes would give a lot of protein and fiber to our little angel. You can just marinate the salmon with a little salt and grill it. The zucchini can be stir-fried, while the sweet potato is best steamed. This variety will be good for your baby to get accustomed to a variety of foods.
7. Meatballs, french fries and steamed broccoli
Another simple suggestion for baby led weaning meals for dinner is meatballs served with French fries and steamed broccoli. You can vary the meatballs from pork, beef or chicken to change the meal for your baby. Don’t forget to prepare some French fries and steamed broccoli for your baby!
Final Thought
With the collection of 21 baby led weaning meals above, you will not need to worry about not knowing what to prepare for your baby. The above recipes are all selected by BabiesParent experts to ensure the safety of babies and ease of implementation for parents. With diverse and colorful recipes, we hope you have found useful suggestions to start your baby’s BLW weaning journey. Be creative, combine different ingredients to create unique and attractive meals for your baby.
