Baby-Led Weaning Recipes: Nutritious and Easy Meals for Your Little One

It can be a daunting task at first. But if you know just the right baby-led weaning recipes, you’ll know what to try and what to skip. Baby-led weaning is kind of a celebration and a step ahead in your baby’s life. They are trying something new to their taste buds and digestive system, and the process is more fun. In fact, baby-led weaning helps babies develop their motor skills.  

Traditionally, people share their family favorites and comfort food for baby-led weaning. But, if you’re up for little knowledge that’ll make this whole journey easier, read this article – 

What is Baby Led Weaning?

Baby-led weaning is where you let your baby enjoy food the way they want. It’s time to stop feeding them using spoons and letting them enjoy pureed food alone. 

It usually involves making dishes using soft food ingredients as per the baby’s digestion capabilities. These foods are also nutritious and easy for them to handle.  

Usually, mushy cereals chopped soft fruits, and purees make up the best baby-led weaning recipes. Below are some of the best ingredients to make baby-led weaning recipes. Continue to read.  

Easy Ideas for Baby-Led Weaning

Before you choose any recipe for baby-led weaning, let’s look at some ingredients you can use. We have picked the most healthy and yummy options that your baby will enjoy – 

Avocado

Avocado is a tasty and healthy option for babies aged between 6 to 9 months. You can  prepare a plate with large pieces of avocados or mash the flesh and serve it with a spoon. This fruit contains healthy fat, which is good for your baby’s brain. Plus, it’s a no-brainer while prepping baby-led weaning recipes. It’s easy and takes too little time to get ready.  

Mango

If your baby is getting started with their first solid meal, you can give them mango. Ripe mango is sweet and addictive to babies. You can serve a whole mango or peel the skin off and serve it. It’s a healthy and safe food option, helping babies build their oral motor skills. In addition, fiber-rich fruit promotes babies’ digestive health and keeps them hydrated.  

Chicken Drumstick

The idea is to get your baby started on a solid meal.  They can’t eat the entire thing, but that’s okay. You can pick chicken drumsticks as a healthy food option for baby-led weaning recipes. It’s also satisfying to see babies munching on chicken drumsticks. It’s okay if the baby is chewing and spitting it out. They are also working on their reflexes not to choke while trying new yummy foods to munch.  

Broccoli

You can choose broccoli as an option for a baby-led weaning recipe. Cut broccoli into pieces (large enough for your baby to grab). Roast them in olive oil and season with a minimal amount of roasted veggie spices. Remember not to add salt to the broccoli. Once it cools down, serve it to your baby and let them take over.  

Omelet Stripes

Your baby’s taste buds would appreciate it if you chose eggs for baby-led weaning recipes. Well-cooked omelets cut into small stripes are easy for your baby’s paws. They can easily pick the stripes and eat them.  

Beans, once soft-cooked, are great for babies just starting to eat solid meals. You can serve tender beans after smashing them gently in between your fingers. This iron-rich food is a good option if you are thinking of baby-led weaning.  

Cereal 

Finally, let’s remember the obvious. Cereal is the most common food for babies starting their solid food. You can prepare cereal regularly and serve it before your baby so they can self-feed. Use a small spoon or a bowl and let the baby dirty their hand on yummy cereals.  

5 Baby Led Weaning Recipes to Try

As suggested above, you can take little to no time to start with those finger foods I mentioned. But, it’s best to make something. After all, you want to see your baby try out something new for the first time. Here are some recipes for baby-led weaning.

1. Haddock, Cauliflower & Potato Puree 

Prep Time: 10 minutes  

Cooking time: 1 hr & 25 minutes  

Ingredients

• One medium-baking potato 

• One small piece of haddock filet  

• ½ small cauliflower ( cut them into florets)  

Recipe

• Put the potato in baking foil and roast it for 1 hour and 15 minutes on a baking tray inside an oven heated at 200C. Use the same foil to wrap the haddock fish and cook for another 10 minutes till it’s cooked through and through 

• Next, steam the cauliflower for 8 minutes till it’s tender. 

• Scoop out the potato filling and flake the fish, removing the bones and the skin.  

• Blitz the potato and cauliflower with some splash of milk.  

2. Chicken Meatballs

Chickens are always on the list if you think of tasty baby-led weaning recipes. Here’s how to make it – 

Prep Time: 15 minutes 

Cooking time: 10 minutes  

Ingredients

• ½ celery stick ( cut into small chunks)  

• 1 carrot (cut into chunks) 

• Boneless chicken thighs ( cut into chunks) 

• Oil for greasing 

Recipe

• Blitz the chicken, celery, carrot, and chives using a processor till they are finely chopped. Heat your oven to 200C. 

• Shape the chopped mix into meatballs. 

• Put them on a baking tray lined with greasing foil. Bake the meatballs for 10 minutes till they are cooked through and through. 

• Once done, you are ready to serve it with rice.  

3. Celeriac Carrot & Apple Puree

Prep Time: 10 minutes 

Cooking time: 20 minutes  

Ingredients

• ½ celeriac (peeled and cut into chunks) 

• 3 medium carrots (peeled and cut into chunks) 

• 2 eating apples (peeled, cored, and cut into chunks) 

• splash of baby’s milk 

Recipe

• First, put the celeriac, apples, and carrots on a steamer over simmering water for close to 15 minutes.  

• Next, blitz all of them into a puree using a food processor. Add in the splash of milk to get the smooth, puree-like texture. Blitz it until you get a smooth consistency throughout the mix.  

• Well, you’re good to go and serve it to the baby.  

4. Pancakes

Prep Time: 10 minutes 

Cooking time: 15 minutes  

Ingredients  

• unsalted butter – 4 tbsp.  

• Buttermilk – 2 ¼ cups 

• 3 large eggs  

• all-purpose flour – 2 cups  

• baking powder – 1 tsp.  

• Heavy cream (or applesauce) – ½ cup  

Recipe

• Melt the butter. Once it cools down, use a mixing bowl to whisk in the eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla.  

• Use a separate bowl to whisk the baking powder.  

• Pour your wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk to mix them. Now, you’ll get a batter ready to turn into pancakes.  

• Heat the rest of the butter on medium heat in a skillet. Now, pour one tablespoonful of batter into and flatten it using the back of your spoon. You’ll get a round shape. It’ll take almost three minutes for both sides to bake correctly until golden brown. Once both sides are evenly baked, you have your baby-led weaning pancake recipe.  

5. Muffin 

Zucchini Cornbread Muffin is a good option for baby-led weaning. 

• all-purpose flour – ½ cup 

• Cornmeal – ½ cup 

• baking powder – ¼ tsp  

• baking soda – ¼ tsp 

• 1 whole egg 

• Milk – ½ cup 

• avocado/olive oil – ¼ cup 

• shredded zucchini – 2 cups 

• mozzarella or cheddar cheese – ½ cup  ( optional)  

Recipe

• First, heat the oven to 350 degrees. 

• Spray a muffin tin using a nonstick spray.  

• Whisk the cornmeal, baking powder, flour, and baking soda.  

• Whisk egg, milk, and oil in another bowl and add them to the dry ingredients. While you are at it, add the zucchini and cheese ( if you prefer). Mix it well till everything’s combined.  

• Now it’s time to scoop the whole batter into a muffin tin. Next, bake it for 15 to 20 minutes until you get regular muffins.  

• I’d suggest using a toothpick to check if the muffin is cooked properly.  

These are the five baby-led weaning recipes you can try at home.  

Final Words  

If you plan to start baby-led weaning, you can try the recipes mentioned here in this article. We have mentioned a mix of mushy and slightly dry options to give your baby a variety of texture in their food. You can go with whole fruits as well. But, irrespective of your food choice, ensure that your baby doesn’t choke himself while eating. 

So, which recipe do you like the most? Do share your preferences in the comments. Thanks for reading.

Read Also:

• Baby Grinding Teeth: How To Make It Stop?
• Did You Know About Your Baby’s Witching Hour?