Table food ideas

Ashley - posted on 05/20/2009

cut up chicken tenders are great. and also when your making dinner put a little to the side before you season it for your little one. they love it, they like eating what your eating, at least my daughter does it works for us.

Chrissy - posted on 05/20/2009

Thanks ladies, this post was super helpful to see what other mom's are doing these days. My son turned 11 months today, and my problem with dinner is that i don't get home until 7 and i'm relying on my mother in law to feed him dinner. It's tough making suggestions for her if i'm not home to see how he reacts to different foods. I try to change it up on the weekends so i can get more meals into rotation.

Kristina - posted on 05/20/2009

My son loves cheerios (actually I give my son Purely O's from Cascadian Farms), very ripe banana pieces, chopped sweet potato (you can buy them cubed, cooked and frozen, so you only have to microwave them for about 40 seconds), cooked carrot bites, whole grain gold fish, earth's best organic teething biscuits (they count as a serving of grain)...he also loves veggie burgers cut into little pieces and chik'n strips from morningstar farms (again, you only have to microwave for about 45 seconds, and then cut into pieces...easy way to get protein AND veggies into the meal). I also have tried cutting firm tofu into little cubes and pan frying it with a little mild salsa...it may sound weird, but he LOVES it, it's healthy and it's easy for him to pick up and eat!

Samantha - posted on 05/18/2009

Don't feel bad, it seems like a lot of us feel the same - lost about what to feed our babies! My baby is 11 1/2 months and i know let her try most things as long as it isn't too spicy, not nuts, and can be cut up smll enough for her. She loves a beef sausage, potato and peas boiled with mint and mashed, topped with a tiny bit of gravy. She also loves traditional beef lasagna but i add a layer of mashed pumpking and sliced zuchinni to get some veggies in there. You can try vegemite and cheese sandwhiches and fish fingers if they like finger food. Risotto is also another good one. Another new favourite is bolognaise sauce on top of a baked potato. Even though writing this has made me think 'she does eat a variety of things' i still always think im feeding her the same stuff too. Bu i guess when i think of my own food intake i have things on a fairly frequent rotation too. A good tip when you are out at a cafe and want a peaceful lunch - order something with a side of chips for baby to share (minus the salt of course). They will only actually eat a couple of chips but it helps you have a peaceful lunch!

Nicole - posted on 05/18/2009

my daughter is 10 1/2 months and she eats everything! She likes lil crunchies, puffs, earths best organic cookies, nutragrain bars, cheerios cover in yogurt, cheese, pb and j, grilled cheese, hamburgers, hot dogs, pickles, stawberries, grapes watermelon, tangelos, veggies, pasta. We eat almost everything organic, so I dont feel bad about the hot dogs, and things I would normally consider "junk". Basically anything we eat she tries! She loves soup, rice and beans. Food is fun! Let them try everything!

Tara - posted on 05/18/2009

my daughter is almost 11 months and so far eats about anything we've gave her. she still eats her baby food good, but we do often give her bites of what we have. she's had cooked carrots, green beans, potatoes (mashed, baked and small cooked chunks), small chunks of chicken, ground beef, vanilla wafers, goldfish (we buy the baby ones and she loves them), pasta's, any breads, pancakes, waffles. she actually eats a good amount of what we eat i just make sure that it's in small pieces. she loves yogurt.

Julia - posted on 05/18/2009

I know how you feel!! Someone suggested veggie fritters (shredded veggies mixed with a little fritter/pancake batter and lightly fried). I also used small cubed cheese, peas, green beans, pasta spirals with parm cheese, rotisserie chicken (already cooked and plenty of leftovers), grilled cheese, fruits (bananas, strawberries, blueberries, pears, peaches), cheerios/kix cereal, ham, meatballs, canned/steamed carrots and sweet potatoes, banana pancakes, french toast, grilled salmon....... My daughter refuses any kind of babyfood. I guess she does get a lot of different things, just not that often!! I try to make sure she gets her protein, plus some veggies and dairy.

Nina - posted on 05/17/2009

Quoting Natalie:

hey! my 11 month old doesnt chew he has teeth partly but doesnt chew anything!!!!!

I can understand a lot of babies are different, they have there own way of learning how to eat. Try steeming vegitables to the point were they can just turn into mush as soon as its in the mouth, also try eating in front of him while he's eating this will allow him to see that your chewing and will try to copy you. at this point they do as you do or at least try to "Monkey see, Monkey do". It is more or less trial and error, if you also steem the vegitables so that they are supper soft but have to have the movement in the mouth to brake it down a little that would also encourage him to chew. He will begin to notice that he can't just swallow all of his food, he may gag a little but then realize what he has to do. This is how I taught my daughter to chew her food and it worked for me. I hope that it too works for you.

Sencerly; Nina 

Caroline - posted on 05/17/2009

i feel the same almost feeding my twins the same never knowing if im doing right or wrong but they are thriving so i must be doing ok,

Natalie - posted on 05/17/2009

hey! my 11 month old doesnt chew he has teeth partly but doesnt chew anything!!!!!

Nina - posted on 05/14/2009

My daughter just turned 11months and we allow her to try everything that we eat. She now almost has all 4 front teeth so it is a bit easier. As long as they are chewing the food and they don't have really big pieces in front of them then there should not be any problem..... Although there are the high allergitic foods. Which I'm still keeping away from her. I know how you feel about the same thing every day, my daughter got to the point were she actually refused to eat her jar foods anymore because they were all the same things over and over again, that's how we got into the sold food aspect. But it is a lot of fun expecially with pasta because they manage to were it every were, including in their dipper. Don't ask how or why because I'm still yet to find out :P Best of luck it is fun

Marisa - posted on 05/14/2009

I totally understand what you mean about it feeling like you're feeding your child the same things. It's hard to find new recipes.
I've recently made my daughter who is also 10 1/2 months old. Mash potatoes mixed with ground turkey and cauliflower. Tastes great and freezes well in the ice cube trays.
Also, mac and cheese (not Kraft but homemade) very easy to make, just boil the pasta (extra long so they're extra soft) add some cheese until it melts. Super easy, you can make that in 15 minutes.

Nicole - posted on 05/14/2009

I am having trouble getting my son who is 10 1/2 months to eat his veggies, fruits or pasta. Some purees are fine, but not all. He loves meat and carbs but I am afraid he's not going to get enough of his nutrients.

Annouchka - posted on 05/13/2009

hi - here is an example of what i give to my daughter:
morning: yo baby yogurt + rice cereal
snack: 1/2 cup of smal chunck of pears
lunch: pieces of salmon + sweet potatos puree + apple sauce
snack: cheerios with milk
dinner: zucchini, carrots, beans with small pieces of chicken and 5 grapes cut in small pieces
hope this helps.

Lindy - posted on 05/03/2009

Hi - my daughter is almost 11 months and we've also been trying to experiment with a lot of different foods. She eats a ton of fresh organic fruits and veggies - pears, bananas, apples/applesauce, avocado, green beans, peas, carrots, zucchini, squash. Also waffles, english muffins, oatmeal, crackers, puffs, yogurt, pasta, cottage cheese, string cheese, cheerios. I have a hard time with meats as well but have had luck with ham, chicken, turkey (even deli turkey). I try to give her a little variety at each meal. Today, for example, she had a waffle and a banana for breakfast, yogurt and crackers for lunch and pasta, ham and peas for dinner. We're lucky because she loves food and eats pretty much anything! Good luck to you!