Top lunch & dinner ideas for 12+ months

Your 12 month-old baby needs lots of nutrients to grow up strong! But, introducing new foods can be tricky for you as a parent as your baby may not want to eat what you’re offering.

That’s why it’s important to make meals for your little one that are healthy and tasty; it’s all about finding the right mix of nutrients and flavours.

For breakfast, lunch, and dinner, choose foods that are full of good stuff. Using a variety of weaning foods and recipes is key so that your toddler gets all the vitamins and energy they need. Plus, it helps them enjoy eating healthy foods!

• Provide a varied and balanced diet for growth and development
• Focus on nutrient-dense breakfast, lunch, and dinner ideas
• Incorporate a range of weaning foods and baby food recipes
• Encourage healthy eating habits through delicious flavours and fun textures
• Support your toddler’s rapidly growing body and mind with the right nutrients.

Here are some yummy foods your 1 year-old baby will love…

Finger foods for easy self-feeding

Teaching your baby to feed themselves is great for their skills and independence. Try soft fruits like banana slices or peeled pear wedges. Cooked veggies like steamed broccoli or roasted sweet potatoes are also good as are tender meats like shredded chicken or flaked salmon.

These foods help your baby learn to use their pincer grasp. Plus, they get to explore different tastes and textures at their own speed.

Baby-led weaning recipes

Baby-led weaning lets your baby feed themselves soft foods. It’s a fun way for your little one to join family meals. Why not try mini frittatas, soft pasta with tomato sauce, or slow-cooked meat with mashed potatoes?

Flavourful purees and mashes

Even as your baby gets into finger foods, smooth purees and mashes are still important. Try new flavour mixes to keep meals exciting…

• Roasted butternut squash and apple puree with a pinch of cinnamon
• Creamy avocado and pea mash with a hint of fresh mint
• Carrot, sweet potato, and lentil puree with a dash of mild curry powder
• Blueberry, banana, and Greek yoghurt smoothie for a nutrient-packed snack
• Beetroot and Carrot Dhal
• Avocado, Broccoli and Kale Puree

Introduce new foods one at a time and watch for signs of allergies or sensitivities. This helps you spot any reactions quickly.

Don’t forget healthy snacks between meals. Try sliced cucumbers with hummus, whole grain crackers with mashed avocado, or homemade energy balls. 

As a busy parent, finding time to cook healthy meals for your 1 year old can be a challenge! But, with some planning and creativity, you can make balanced meals quickly. 

Having healthy ingredients ready can make cooking easy. Be sure to keep your kitchen stocked with fresh fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.

If your little one is picky with their food, stay patient and keep offering new foods with familiar ones. It might take a few tries for your little one to like new tastes and textures so let them try finger foods and enjoy playing with their meals.

To save time, think about making meals ahead or pick simple recipes instead…

As your little one grows, balanced meals are important to support their growth and overall health. 

Balanced meals for your baby’s growth

A 1 year-old’s diet should contain proteins, carbs, and fats as well as vitamins and minerals…

• Lean proteins: Chicken, fish, eggs, tofu, and legumes
• Complex carbohydrates: Whole grains, fruits, and vegetables
• Healthy fats: Avocado, nut butters, and olive oil
• Calcium-rich foods: Milk, yoghurt, and cheese
• Iron-rich foods: Red meat, dark leafy greens and legumes 

Nutrient-dense ingredients

Using nutrient-dense ingredients in meals is great for your toddler. Foods such as spinach, sweet potatoes, and blueberries are packed with vitamins and minerals and are perfect for your 1 year-old.

Incorporating superfoods

Superfoods are foods that are full of nutrients. Think avocado, chia seeds, kale, and quinoa…

1. Avocado: Healthy fats, fibre, and potassium
2. Chia seeds: Omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and calcium
3. Kale: Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and calcium
4. Quinoa: Protein, fibre, and iron

Mealtime should be fun for your 1 year-old as this helps them to love food from the start. Use colourful baby food, fun shapes, and themed meals to make it exciting…

Fun shapes and colours

Make meals fun by using fun shapes and bright colours. Use cookie cutters for sandwiches, fruits, and veggies, turning them into stars, hearts, or animals. 

Put cherry tomatoes, steamed broccoli, and mango slices on your little one’s plate to make a rainbow or smiley face and use moulds for rice, mashed potatoes, or fruits to create cool designs. 

Themed meals for excitement

Themed meals can make mealtimes exciting! Pick a theme your toddler loves, such as their favourite animal or colour. For example, make a teddy bear breakfast with pancakes, banana slices, and blueberries.

Or, have an underwater lunch with fish sandwiches, seaweed-wrapped rice balls, and cucumber waves!