Same ole' lunch? Healthy Food Ideas for Baby

This post is seventh in a series:

Note:

It was important to me from the start to instill a love of fruits, veggies and whole grains in my baby, and avoid all things artificial, sugar and salt.  I really loved Dr. Greene's book Feeding Baby Green.  For times when I was in a rut or stumped on what I'd feed my baby for a meal, I kept this printout on hand.  (It also came in handy when making out my grocery list.)

Purees:

Puree lentils with brown rice – together they make a complete protein.

Puree cauliflower with veggies like spinach, carrots, asparagus or green beans.

Finger Foods:

½ of a banana slice

Steam or lightly grill green beans with olive oil and garlic.  Could also add sautéed mushrooms or roasted red peppers.

Steam broccoli, green beans or asparagus.  Can season with butter, garlic and herbs.

Slices of green, red, orange and yellow bell peppers with hummus, cottage cheese, or guacamole for dipping.

Quartered cherry tomatoes with hummus, cottage cheese, or guacamole for dipping.

Small pieces sautéed/steamed/grilled broccoli, peas, carrots, green beans (keep frozen on hand).

Applegate Farms Organic Hot Dogs – quarter lengthwise

Sweet potato fries

Diced mango

Pieces of string cheese

Diced kiwi

Diced carrot (soft-cooked)

Avocado slices

Grilled cheese sandwich torn into pieces

Diced seedless watermelon

Pieces of muffin

Diced strawberries

Mashed cooked beans

Pieces of whole-wheat pita

Shredded cheese

Pieces of veggie burger

Bite-sized pieces of cheese ravioli (or squash ravioli, etc.)

Whole-wheat waffles torn into pieces

Treasure trays:

Fill a compartmentalized tray/plate/muffin tin/ice cube tray with a dipping sauce (such as applesauce, yogurt, jam, pureed fruit/veggies, hummus or guacamole) and foods such as:

Steamed cubed sweet potatoes

Diced pears

Half slices bananas

Half slices soft-cooked carrots

Diced soft-cooked green beans

Shredded apple

Diced kiwi

Shredded carrot

Cubed cheese

Diced avocado

Diced peaches

Quartered grapes

Bite-sized pieces wheat toast

Cheerios

TIPS:

Always include 1 green veggie, a second veggie, a whole grain, a protein and a fruit.

Good green veggies: salad, broccoli, peas, green beans, spinach

Put baby in high chair and let feed self.

 

Beyond Finger Foods:

Salad with dressing on the side for dipping

Small burritos/quesadillas

Elbow macaroni in spaghetti sauce (easier than spaghetti noodles)

½ ear corn on the cob

 

Get creative at restaurants!

Sushi – like single-ingredient maki rolls with cucumber or avocado.

Mild, coconut-based curry soup or over rice.

Falafel dipped in tzatziki sauce.

Make faces on pancakes with cut-up fruits and on sandwiches with cut-up veggies.  Or cut them into shapes.

Choose a color theme for each meal:

Red – tomatoes, red bell peppers, watermelon, strawberries

Orange – carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, cantaloupe

Yellow – yellow bell peppers, bananas, yellow tomatoes

Purple – beets, plums, berries

Dessert Ideas:

Berries

Pitted cherries

Pineapple sorbet (puree ripe pineapple and freeze)

Zucchini bread

Strawberry frozen yogurt

100% frozen fruit bars

Baked fruit with oats and brown sugar

Fruit and yogurt parfait

Healthy cookies/minimuffins

Fruit breads (wheat flour)

Graham crackers and wafer cookies (natural ingredients)