Lunch/Dinner Ideas

Lesley - posted on 11/13/2012

What about home made soup? As well as being a mum I am a childminder and I have always found soup a really good way to introduce veg to any child who is a bit penickety

Carmen - posted on 05/17/2010

Thank you for all the suggestions!

Rachael - posted on 05/15/2010

I started just offering what my husband and I have for lunch and dinner. My little one loves sitting up at the table with us eating the same. All I've had to do is monitor the amount of salt in the dishes I cook. One this my son loves is hamburgers. I just pop a little of each item (meat pattie, tomato (without the skin), pineapple slice, cheese, egg, bread) into a bowl and he eats it by himself.

Nicole - posted on 05/11/2010

My daughter loves black beans, which are a good protein. I also dice up cheese for a protein as well as chicken or meatballs. When I make meatballs, I make little ones for her and freeze them. When I need a quick lunch I defrost a few and cut them in half. I also make the little ditiline noodles (the little O shaped ones) and mix them with peas and butter. I hope that helps!

Misti - posted on 05/11/2010

My little guy loves diced peaches, greenbeans, mac&chese. I give hime just about anything that we eat. He loves scrambled eggs for breakfast and also grits. He loves carrots and just about anything he can pick up with his fingers he has four teeth now and I give him diced potatoes cooked soft so he can chew them. His new thing he loves is the mini ravioli that comes in the small microwavable container it is very soft and he chews it well. Or should I say Gum's it well. I think he likes making a mess of himself the most. As long as you cook the foods soft and give him small pieces you can try alot of differnt things like vegies, pasta, fruits.

Jane - posted on 05/11/2010

For lunch I often give my son egg yolk scrambled eggs, with some carrot and zucchini pieces cooked in. The texture is nice and soft for gumming, but he can pick up some of the pieces himself. I also just tried a sweet potato pancake recipe and he loves them. I made a batch of mini pancakes and froze them. Very quick to pull out, toast and break into pieces. Other faves of his are blueberries, banana and mango, he loves cheese cubes and cottage cheese, toast... I'll often steam some of the frozen veggie mix with carrot, peas, beans, corn, etc. We just tried lentils and chickpeas and he loves those (I pureed them, but the lentils are small enough he could probably eat them by hand). Cottage cheese... I once boiled up a batch of pork, sweet potato and apples, pureed and froze. He went to town on that whenever it was served. He also likes white fishes, it has a nice soft texture, and asparagus is one of his favourite veggies.

I suggest making batches of things once you know what your son likes and freezing it. That way it's as simple as thawing the food and serving. A big time-saver! My favourite website for meal ideas and food combos is www.wholesomebabyfood.com. Such a great resource.

Melissa - posted on 05/11/2010

My little man loves to eat thankfully, as did my daughter! For lunch, I like to give him three things as well as its colorful and gives him a variety :) Things such as peas, broccli, cucumber, carrots, cheese either shredded or cut into tiny little cubes, watermelon,strawberries, grapes (all cut very tiny). I find since he's almost 11mos., he rathers things that he can pick up as opposed to things that I have to feed him from a spoon. I still do feed him some things from a spoon however...sweet potatoe, apple sauce etc.

Bridget - posted on 05/10/2010

Invest in a slow cooker - amazing inventions!!! You can chuck in just about anything - any meat and any combo of veges, pasta, rice, whatever. Some crushed tomatoes or slow cooker flavour packets (I know they are full of spices, flavours, etc and that is why he doesn't get the broth and the veges and certain meats don't soak up much) and then just pick out what you think your little one will eat. I just discovered today at my mums group that my little one likes pumpkin and sweet corn soup! Soup? He has never had it before and couldn't get enough! The other thing was cheesy vegetable muffins - full of veges and eggs for protein! He scoffed them down!!

Alyssa - posted on 05/10/2010

My daughter LOVES tofu. She also likes cottage cheese and peaches. I haven't tried avacado yet, that is a great idea. I have never been a cook, "to-go" was always my specialty. This mom experience has helped me get into a better groove so that I can offer healthier options for my baby. Lots of good ideas posted here too.

Melissa - posted on 05/10/2010

Hi Carmen,
I make up separate food for my daughter who has just turned 11 months. I will either use chicken or beef and then add a huge variety of vegetables such as carrot, pumpkin, broccoli, beans, creamed corn, cauliflower or whatever you have. You can even use frozen vegetable mixes. Then I cook then up and mash them so it has a lumpy texture. I then freeze the meals in icecube trays and heat about three or four when I need them for her meals. I provide variety by mixing them with some cheese or leave them as is. I will add rice or pasta or mashed potato sometimes as well so she has some starchy foods too. Sometimes I will give her baked beans with some grated cheese . Hope that helps. Good luck.

Ann - posted on 05/10/2010

Wow it just amazes me how every child is so different. My son started refusing his baby food at about 8 months... and wanting what we were having... it started with not wanting the mashed avocado... we then threw in a bowl and added tomato, lemon, garlic and a little salt and proceeded to give him something different and he eyed what we were having... Then we took a piece of bread dipped it in the guacamole and he ate it and wanted more. He has since then become fiercely independent wanting to feed himself. The only thing he lets us give him is yogurt and unsweetened fruit sauce.
Now onto the things that might work for lunch.. sandwich fixing sliced meat, bread, cucumbers, soup... loves soup cause the veggies are soft and easy to eat, loves whole wheat gnocchi with tomato sauce, veggie lasagna, will suck on pizza cut into little strips, pinto beans, taco fixings(low spice), crustless quiche (with or without egg whites), cheese, pasta, spaghetti, butternut squash soup.
Oh and I found he was having trouble with grilled cheese so i poured some tomato soup over it to soften it up.. and he had a much easier time with it (this might work for those little ones without teeth). Yesterday he loved tomato pieces...

And if he's refusing everything we go to the fruit sauce or yogurt.. which is often once a day. He tends to have one good meal a day and couple so so ones.. with snacks in between... And what he eats one night with enthusiam then next day the left overs might be well received or refused. It has made life much easier since he's been eating what we have... and if something is too hard or difficult we give an alternative... and for those that have no teeth a little food chopper can work wonders! Hope this helps!

Mazy - posted on 05/10/2010

My son (almost 11 months old) has a lot of teeth (6 and three coming in), and thankfully hasn't been much of a picky eater. Now he eats whatever the rest of us are eating for supper, just cut up in smaller pieces. And I do mean ANYTHING. He loves food! And can eat pretty much anything by himself, though he does like to use a spoon for some mushy stuff. For lunch he often has a sandwhich (love PB&J, or turkey sandwhiches). I cut his sandwhiches up in "sticks" instead of triangles so there is less of a mess. He'll also have some friut like oranges, apple (he can eat it whole if I take a bite first) or some grapes. Sometimes we have grilled chicken cut up, pasta or leftovers. Really, as long as they will eat it, just let them have waht you are having. My son ate a lot before teeth as well...so you may be suprised what she can actually gum :)

Krystal - posted on 05/10/2010

My son also loves the apple cinnamon dips! They take just like french toast. and the wagon wheels. Now I need to try and give him more foods that I eat. Good luck to me! :]

Renee - posted on 05/10/2010

My girl loves to eat steamed veggies (from frozen is easiest). Any of the veggies/meat pieces from homemade soup. Diced fruit, blueberreis, ripe melons, etc. An easy "packable" lunch idea is to take fresh whole grain bread, and put either tuna and cheese or lunch meat and cheese (thin slices) and then fold the bread in half and use your open palm to squish it into a flat pancake. Then cut it up in thin strips or cubes and let them self feed.

Erin - posted on 05/09/2010

I am having the same problem. My daughter stays with my mom during the day while I work. I run out of ideas to bring to Grandma's for lunches. She loves canned peas, green beans, and carrots. She eats mac & cheese, and the Gerber spaghetti o's. She also eats chicken nuggets, bananas, diced pears and diced apples. Sometimes I will make her a grilled cheese sandwich. I try to give her what we are eating for dinner, but if I am making something she can't eat, then I give her one of the Gerber Graduate meals. She doesn't really care for them, but she'll eat them.

Tanya - posted on 05/09/2010

My son will be 11 months old in a week, and he eats tons! He loooves bread, buns, toast, pizza crust! He eats spagetti noodles, rotini noodles, cereals (starting to dislike the baby kind, going to try the instant oatmeal) likes the gerber puffs, gerber veggie dip cheesies, rice cakes, breton crackers, goldfish, watermelon, apples, strawberries, grated cheese, deli meat, pretty much anything now! Havent tried any eggs or fish yet with him, but he loves his six month baby foods (veggies or pureed meat with veggie and all the fruits). He will not eat the eight month foods from any line, but looooves if I take what we are having for dinner (his fav is roast beef with potatoes, carrots and gravy) and blend it up with my hand blender for him.

Krystal - posted on 05/09/2010

Oh my my son is 10 months and i had no clue he could eat foods like these yet! He just gets jar foods and mashed potatoes. I am scared to give him what I eat, but i will give it a try!

Karianna - posted on 05/09/2010

My daughter is 11mths and has been a picky independant eater for a while now so i know the frustration! I try most of whats mentioned in blogs below but i have another trick up my slieve that you may find helpful. I like to call it meat/veggie patties or risoles which are very easy to prepare. Chop up a mix of veggies that steam well like celery with courgette (small amount of onion and garlic) you can add tomatoe and things like grated carrot or fennel... any veggie basically and make a combo of a few... steam or cook in a tiny bit of water till almost cooked then toss the lot in the blender along with a little olive oil, some bread crumbs and some minced meat like turkey or chicken or beef. If ur little one is already eating egg then add an egg yolk. Ur looking to have a relatively smooth sloppy blend depending on ur babe's level of comfort with pieces... if already biting and chewing/sucking then you can add the meat at the end and keep the proportions of slop to a minimum so it turns out more burger like... So when blended smooth it into a pyrex so it's about a centimeter or more thick and bake -doesn't take long in a hot oven. U can then divide it into pieces as big or as little as you like with knif or pizza blade, wrap individually in clingfilm to freeze. I have a bag of these in the freezer and they are a wholesome easy snatch quick to heat finger food that do lunch or dinner by themselves or with other things like couscous, rice or pasta... anyway hope this helps~!

Mindie - posted on 05/09/2010

I have been struggling with this issue as well b/c my little one (who will be 11 mos on this week) still does not have any teeth. She is very independent and loves to feed herself and is rapidly becoming bored with the same old thing. Any advice for my toothless angel would be most welcome!

Andrea - posted on 05/08/2010

well my baby girl is almost 11 months and she loves to eat kraft dinner, crackers, cheese, yogurt, any kind of fruit, dora pastas, etc and for supper she loves to eat chicken, spaghetti, which is her favorite!! and i usually feed her what ever i cook.. and toast is a good snack or shreaded cheese and crackers..etc

Jessica - posted on 05/08/2010

My LO loves spaghetti! I make him Angel Hair pasta, because it is really really thin, and cook it longer than "al dente". Be careful with the spaghetti sauce you get though, one with a lot of garlic/onions might hurt their tummies! I try to buy one of the cheaper brands, like Prego/store brand plain 'ol spaghetti sauce. I've also read about tofu, I haven't tried it yet, but I'm going to buy some at the store this week; it's especially difficult for us to figure out meals bc my LO is severely allergic to milk and eggs. We are pretty much a dairy/egg-free household now, but of course the husband has to drink his work-out shakes--he just won't give them up. So we do a lot of things you already listed, like sweet potatoes, bananas, avocados, applesauce...I have also done ground chicken or turkey with mashed cauliflower mixed in-he really likes that. Did your son like the salmon? I've been wanting to try fish, haven't had an opportunity yet.

Mudhita - posted on 05/05/2010

Ruth Yaron's book Super Baby Food has lots of recommendation for baby food variety. I get stuck too sometimes with what menu I should give to my baby for lunch and dinner.

Bridget - posted on 05/05/2010

Lunch usually includes watermelon, toast, grated cheese, baked beans, mandarin, tuna, macaroni and cheese, anything really. My little one likes to have 3 things to eat and play with (hmmmmm). For dinner it is usually some fruit pieces, a carbohydrate (like toast, rice or pasta) and some of what we are having - pasta bake, lamb shank soup (he likes the soft lamb meat and the chunky vegies, not the broth), fish, chicken noodle soup, spaghetti bol, lamb cutlets (he loves the handles but doesn't eat much meat - only has 2 teeth), etc. He also has some slightly pureed vegies that I try to feed him whilst he is eating his finger foods as he is a very independent eater but doesn't eat his vegies if they are whole!

Have a look at your local bookstore or newsagents or online for some really good baby cookbooks - the ones which have adult meals are the best and tell you what you can do to make it baby friendly (if your bub has simple tastes like mine). I just have to take some out at certain points when I am cooking for us so that we are all eating the same thing and we can still have some interesting foods! Have fun experimenting!

Kate - posted on 05/05/2010

How about black beans, shredded cheese, tomato, and tortilla? If he likes sweet potato fries, maybe he'd like squash, too, for another veggie. My son loves each equally and could do away with most other vegetables most of the time... Anyway, good luck. I have been starting to offer bits and pieces of whatever we're having if I think my son will be able to manage/chew it...

Kat - posted on 05/04/2010

my son wont eat very many things, he's really picky. i get him the gerber graduates meals and he loves them. otherwise, he only wants mac&cheese, mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes. i cant get him to eat meat at all, or beans either. i havent tried avocados tho. i'll have to. i think i'd like some ideas, too.