Baby and toddler meal ideas

If you need some inspiration to help you cook healthy and tasty food for your child, try these meal ideas.

These are not suitable as first foods but are fine once your baby is used to eating a wide range of solid foods. Read more about your baby's first solid foods.

When preparing food for babies, do not add sugar or salt (including stock cubes and gravy) directly to the food or to the cooking water.

Full-fat cheese, yoghurt and fromage frais are recommended up to the age of 2 years. But it’s ok to give lower fat options over the age of 2.

You can find more recipes and meal ideas on the Best Start in Life website

Breakfast ideas for babies and young children

unsweetened porridge or lower-sugar cereal mixed with pasteurised whole or semi-skimmed milk and topped with fruit, such as mashed ripe pear or banana

wholewheat biscuit cereal (choose lower-sugar options) with pasteurised whole or semi-skimmed milk and fruit

lower-sugar breakfast cereal and unsweetened stewed apple with plain, unsweetened yoghurt

toast fingers with mashed banana and smooth peanut butter (if possible, choose unsalted and no added sugar varieties)

toast fingers with a hard-boiled egg and slices of tomato, banana or ripe peach

toast or muffin fingers with scrambled egg and slices of tomato

Lunch ideas for babies and young children

cauliflower cheese with cooked pasta pieces

baked beans (reduced salt and sugar) with toast

scrambled egg with toast, chapatti or pitta bread served with vegetable finger foods

cottage cheese dip with pitta bread, cucumber and carrot sticks

Dinner ideas for babies and young children

mashed sweet potato with chickpeas and cauliflower

shepherd's pie (made with beef or lamb and/or lentils or vegetarian mince) with green vegetables

rice and mashed peas with courgette sticks

minced chicken and vegetable casserole with mashed potato

mashed canned salmon with couscous and peas

fish poached in milk with potato, broccoli and carrot

Finger foods for babies and young children

Finger food is food that's cut up into pieces big enough for your child to hold in their fist with a bit sticking out. Pieces about the size of your own finger work well.

soft-cooked vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, courgette, parsnip and sweet potato

carrot or cucumber sticks and avocado

fresh fruits, such as apple (soft-cooked if needed), banana or soft, ripe peeled pear or peach

toast, pitta or chapatti fingers

unsalted and unsweetened rice or corn cakes

strips of meat without bones, such as chicken and lamb

cheese on toast fingers, made with cheese, and cucumber

Healthy snacks for young children

Babies under 12 months do not need snacks; if you think your baby is hungry in between meals, offer extra milk feeds instead.

Once your baby is 1 year old, you can introduce 2 healthy snacks in between meals. For example:

vegetables, such as broccoli florets, carrot sticks or cucumber sticks

slices of fruit, such as apple, banana or soft, ripe peeled pear or peach

pasteurised, plain, unsweetened yoghurt

toast, pitta or chapatti fingers

unsalted and unsweetened rice or corn cakes

Getting your child to eat fruit and vegetables

It may take up to 10 tries, or even more, for your child to get used to new foods, flavour and textures.

Be patient and keep offering a variety of fruits and vegetables, including ones with bitter flavours, such as broccoli, cauliflower, spinach and cabbage.

Try to make sure fruits and vegetables are included in every meal.

To help your child eat more fruit and vegetables:

give carrot sticks, cucumber sticks or slices of pepper with hummus as a snack

give apple slices with smooth peanut butter as a snack

mix chopped or mashed vegetables with rice, mashed potatoes, meat sauces or dhal

add vegetables to classic savoury dishes such as cottage or shepherd's pie, spaghetti bolognese or casseroles

chop prunes or dried apricots into cereal or plain, unsweetened yoghurt, or add them to a stew

for a tasty dessert, try mixing fruit (fresh, canned or stewed) with plain, unsweetened yoghurt

Read more about helping your baby enjoy new foods and fussy eaters.

Drinks for babies and young children

Find out about drinks and cups for babies and young children.