Busy families are always looking for new recipes and meal ideas to keep things simple and easy. When there is a baby in the house, it’s often assumed you have to do a whole other round of food prep in addition to the normal family meals.

Baby led weaning is a great option for introducing solid foods to your new baby. It allows the baby to develop healthy and strong eating habits while enjoying baby led weaning foods that the rest of the family can also enjoy. I’d like to share some very simple, family-friendly meals that we made a lot while my kids were very little. We still make a lot of these soft foods for babies today actually and my kids are 3 and 6 years old. Eating meals as a family is a very important part of our day. Especially right now, during times of high stress and uncertainty.

Studies have proven that eating family meals together promotes healthy eating habits and overall improved psychological well-being. While most of these studies have been focused on children and adolescents, there is no reason to think a baby should not be joining their family during regular meals. It is easier on the parents not having to designate another period of time from their busy day for feeding the baby. Plus, it’s safest for a baby to eat alongside other people to ensure they are eating correctly and not choking.

Baby led weaning recipes: What to keep in mind

Here are a few things to keep in mind while preparing baby led weaning recipes for the whole family. While babies can enjoy a lot of the same foods we do, some regular cooking habits should be avoided during infancy:

• Omit salt. Small babies should have a low-sodium diet and avoid adding salt to their food. As an adult, you can always add salt to your dish on your own.
• Always cut the food into baby-friendly sized pieces and be sure it’s soft. You should be able to “chew” or break apart each bite with your own tongue. That is a good gauge for seeing if it’s safe for baby.
• Avoid added sugars and honey. We do not need to sweeten our baby’s food. We want them the develop healthy eating habits and avoid craving sweet foods. Honey is also not safe for babies under the age of one year.
• Use lean proteins and foods rich in iron and fiber. Lean beef and chicken are great options for baby recipes. Beans are also a great source of iron and fiber and are soft enough for babies to enjoy.

Baby led weaning breakfast recipes

Two ingredient pancakes with fruit sticks

This pancake recipe with fruit cut into strips can be put together in just a few minutes and will satisfy all of the kids in the house. The big kids might even be able to start making it independently.

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Frittata with avocado

A Mexican-style dish packed with protein and good-for-you veggies. A perfect make-ahead option for parents and caregivers.

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Baby led weaning lunch and dinner recipes

Green mac and cheese

Green food packed with added nutrition. Perfect for sneaking vegetables into your kid's food.

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Beef and bean taco platter

Kids love to build their own plates and choose what they want to eat. We love to create a self-serve platter for dinners as well. This recipe is interactive and gives everyone a choice in what goes on their plate. We can’t go wrong if we are giving them nutritious options to choose from.

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Greek wraps

This is another great meal that the kids can help with or build themselves and a great option for adults to make into a salad.

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Baby meal prep does not need to be a separate, daunting task. Starting easy with these simple recipes is a great way to introduce baby led weaning menu planning into your weekly regimen.