Let's Get Started

Sharing a meal or snack is one of the easiest ways to keep your baby engaged with starting solids - they're interested in what YOU eat!!  But what's for dinner?  Or lunch? Or snacks? I only know because I have to meal plan.  If you don't have time for that, you're in the right place.  Let me share my meals* of choice with you.

Below you will find links for recipes, any modifications I recommended to make it baby-led weaning friendly, and pictures of how I would and/or do offer.  The pictures might not include what serves your baby best, and if you have questions about how to meet your child's mouth skills where they are at now, let me know!!

My goal of this blog is to share recipes of meals I've cooked that could be easily turned baby-led weaning and shared with the rest of the family.  I am a busy mama myself with a private practice - simply put I help families feed their babies easily and safely.  The more complex description of what I do is that I work with families with prenatal consults, through lactation and/or formula feeding, onto starting solids, and through the transition away from breastmilk/formula to just solid foods.

I used to just be called when things got challenging, but if you've worked with me or just know me, I'd rather you actually not need intervention, let's just get it going well for you from the beginning.  While that's not always the case with the first few months, staying out of feeding therapy can happen when you know what to do.

Turkey Chili Mac-and-Cheese: 

https://www.thereciperebel.com/wprm_print/turkey-chili-mac-and-cheese

>>I love my slow cooker, oh yes I do, and it's freeeeeeezing where I live (like most places at the moment).  This is a good take on regular chili if you need an alternative.  My son likes his noodles plain (sometimes) so I cooked the pasta separately, making it easy to see how you can deconstruct this meal to offer to your kiddo without much extra work.  I also used 85%/25% ground turkey to keep the meat easily chewable.

As you can see the beans are smashed to help keep the skins safe and easily consumed.  I usually recommended refried beans for little ones who aren’t skilled with chewing skins yet, but you could really fork smash these to reduce the gagging risk.

Veggie and Fruit Oat Bran Muffins:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CtPVy1xJYpB/

>>I make these monthly and change the fruit up as needed.  They are soft, easily chewable, and filling… and even though I don’t promote doing this regularly, you can’t taste the carrots.  If your child is able to take bites without putting too much in their mouth, offer mini muffins as is.  You could also cook as regular-size muffins and slice.

Homemade Chicken Nuggets: 

https://www.instrupix.com/easy-baked-chicken-nuggets-made-with-canned-chicken/

>>Easily shaped into something that will work for your kiddos' hand-and-mouth coordination.  I recommend using cheeses that melt easily, like mozzarella or a plant-based brand if you're looking for an alternative.  If you overcook them, no worries - the insides are still super BLW friendly and you can offer on a spoon.  Uszing frozen chicken nuggets is also completely acceptable - I often recommended chicken fries as a handheld stick-shaped food for kiddos able to chew multiple times before trying to swallow.

Cheesesteak Stuffed Shells: 

https://ohsnapmacros.com/wprm_print/philly-cheesesteak-stuffed-shells

>>This was my first time making these, and they were a huuuuuuge hit!!

Ideas for serving: offer slices of bell pepper while you’re cooking or prepping!!  If your little one has teeth, make sure you’re watching because bell pepper skin can sometimes be very tough to chew.

Make sure the shell pasta you’re offering has been cooked through, no al dente if it can’t be handled!!  You could also try a chick-pea pasta and make it a casserole dish.

I love putting the small pieces of meat into these Nuk forks, and just about any shielded spoon is a win with me for new eaters.  I have a whole guide to utensils I love here: https://my.compassfeeding.com/registryresourceoi

That’s it for this week, but I’m already prepping next week’s menu including something with tofu and am excited to share it with you!!

-Marie

Infant Feeding Specialist

Speech-Language Pathologist

International Board Certified Lactation Consultant

Certified Infant Feeding Educator

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*I am sharing recipes I have found from others' blogs.  I encourage you to explore their blog for notes and more information!!