Welcome to this month’s Munchkin Meals! If you are new, you can see my book here.
Kaitlyn is nine and a half months old and eating is in full swing. She eats three meals a day, though how much she eats at any particular meal varies greatly. Sometimes it’s hardly a bite, while other times she will have seconds or even thirds. I’m trying to focus on getting more high-density foods/fats in her since she is so busy and needs the calories. I’m also doing my best to introduce a wide range of vegetables, fruits, meats and textures. Right now she seems to be a carb-lover (who can blame her?!) and has been know to discard her cheese on the floor. However, she surprises me with what she likes sometimes, most recently grapefruit.
At this point, she has no known allergies. We’ve done eggs and dairy, though no strawberries, shellfish or peanut butter yet. I am planning on introducing peanut butter soon (well, introducing it officially, as I’ve already caught her once wrist-deep in a peanut butter jar that Koda was licking clean… poor second child).
Ok, enough jibber jabber, here are 10 meals she’s eaten recently via baby led weaning…
Oh, and if you are considering going the baby led weaning route, I highly recommend snagging a couple of our favorite bibs! Now onto the food!
1. Chicken meatball (premade from Whole Foods) with steamed green beans with olive oil and lemon juice.
2. Spaghetti squash with olive oil and a little salt with cheese cubes.
3. Shredded chicken with squash and onions that were cooked in butter (we love Kerrygold salted butter).
4. Eggs scrambled with grape tomatoes, a tortilla and orange slices.
5. Applegate Farm’s organic beef hotdog with blueberries.
6. Rice and avocado.
7. Pot roast with potatoes and carrots.
8. Homemade meat sauce with added olive oil and chopped spinach topped with bread cubes. (This meal must be eaten in only a diaper and immediately before bath time)
9. Fried egg yolk, shredded chicken and sliced peppers.
10. Pan roasted mahi-mahi with rice and broccolini in olive oil.
So far Kaitlyn seems to be most excited about bread, foods with a lot of flavor (meat sauce), fruits (grapefruit and blueberries) and sweeter vegetables (peas and pepper sticks). She is not so crazy about bananas and cheese. I am really excited for spring and summer to arrive so I can start grabbing some of the more unique/seasonal farmers market find for all of us. Bring on the sunshine!
You may also enjoy:
Baby-Led Weaning: First Food Ideas
and
Baby-Led Weaning: 8 Month Old Meal Ideas
Jeanne says
Awesome eats!
Do u season the potatoes or rice for her? I ask bc my son won’t eat those. Wondering what seasoning u use?
Also what brand bread do u use for her?
Ty!!
Brittany Dixon says
I really have been trying to add seasoning because she likes it so much better! The potatoes (and carrots) above were cooked with the pot roast in the slow cooker with cream of mushroom soup and onion soup seasoning pack so they were really flavorful! As for rice, I cook it in broth to add a little flavor, but sometimes will also add butter, dried herbs or a little salt. I don’t worry much about her salt consumption because I use so little and she doesn’t eat many processed food (where most sodium sneaks its way in).
As for the bread, I’ve been making it at home (love my bread machine!), but I did buy Ezekiel breads with Hailey (usually in the frozen section). Hope this helps! 🙂
Brynn says
so excited for all of these posts as we are starting food in three weeks. How do you know how much to give your babe? Is it a set amount or based off their personal needs?
Brittany Dixon says
It’s always a guessing game! Sometimes I load up her tray and she eats nothing and other times she clears it. If she clears it, I always offer more until she turns to playing with it or throwing it off her tray, in which case I know she’s done 😉
Kelli D. says
My daughter is almost two months older than K and I swear they might be the same baby. She is an incredibly sweet, sensitive teether, and a tiny peanut that is always on the move! She took her first steps at 10 months and is full on walking at 11.5 months! I too am trying to give her higher calorie foods… she eats a 1/2 an avocado a day. The only difference is my E can’t tolerate dairy 🙁 I had a question about the green beans… do they ever seem too rubbery? Neither of my kids seem to like the texture of them (my son is 3) and I think it’s bc when I steam them they aren’t crispy but they also aren’t too soft…??? Thanks for the ideas! I am always trying to come up with new foods to try with her 🙂
Brittany Dixon says
Aw, love that our babies are so crazy active! H was not so this is totally throwing me for a loop 🙂 Yes, sometimes they are a little rubbery, but it helps if I blanch them, then saute them in a little oil with lemon and garlic powder. I’ve cooked (boiled) them more thoroughly before too and that helps of course (turns them mushy ;))
Allison says
Hi Brittany — all your meal ideas are great! You mentioned not introducing allergen foods but egg, dairy (cheese,butter), and wheat are all top 8 food allergens — so it’s great that she is tolerating those! My little one and I have been top 8 allergen free since he was 2 months old — hoping to start adding them back in one at a time now that he is 8 months old– therefore his meals (and mine! ) have been mostly fruits and veggies
Brittany Dixon says
I just smacked my forehead- you’re totally right! I’ll go back and edit it. I guess I was thinking strawberries, peanuts, shellfish so I forgot those other ones!
Laura @FitMamaLove says
With the exception of oatmeal and plain yogurt, my kids always liked seasoned foods better too. Funny how savory foods the liked seasoned, but I could get away without adding sugar to foods that we as adults like sweeter.
Jenn says
My daughter is almost 10 months now and she still has a hard time with non-purees. I try with her everyday and it always ends up with her gagging so hard that she pukes (no matter what food it is) The only thing she can successfully get down are those puffs. Any suggestions?
Brittany Dixon says
Hm, that’s tough! I won’t pretend do know exactly what to do in that situation since I haven’t faced it and I’m sure gagging until puking is so scary! If it were me, I’d try simple soft foods like baked sweet potato sticks, that essentially are like sticks of puree. I’m sure over time she will get the hang of it!
Heather says
I really love how you arrange the food on her tray. I think I need to do something similar with my own kiddos… they’re older, but maybe they’d appreciate something more aesthetically pleasing to the eyes. Granted, they’re toddlers so it seems to be hit or miss every day in terms of what they feel like eating. 😉
Kari says
Reading this made me so excited to start BLW with my second in a month. Thanks for sharing and love all the ideas!
Jen says
Color me impressed, as always! Do you/did you introduce a new food every four days? It seems like Amelia’s variety still isn’t that huge since it takes so long to get through every food. She’s had most of the top allergens (dairy, wheat, eggs, peanut butter, etc.), already, so I’m starting to think I may be a little more lax about that.
Brittany Dixon says
I don’t recommend everyone follow this, but I never paid attention to the three day rule. We have no history of allergies and (stupid or not) I wasn’t overly concerned with a reaction, so I just fed her food as I pleased, starting with softer, simpler foods and working up from there. I think every parent should do what they are most comfortable with 🙂
Christine says
I love your website and all these baby meals! You have so many great ideas! Our little guy just turned 4 months old today and I cannot wait to introduce foods to him. For these types of meals is it best to wait 6 months to try? We meet with his pediatrician next week so I will be sure check then as well. How old was Kaitlyn when you introduced food? Thanks!
Christine says
I found your previous post where Kaitlyn started at 6 months! Looks like our little guy has 2 more months to go! I will start book marking these posts! ;-D
Nikki says
My son started at 4 months with purees. If your pediatrician says it’s okay, starting early was the best decision I made so far!
Helen says
Great ideas! Thank you so much for sharing. We are loving baby-led weaning. However, does anyone else’s baby really enjoy doing the windshield wiper? I am so happy we have a dog to clean up after dinner 🙂
Brittany Dixon says
Haha, YES!! Thank goodness for the dog 😉
Katie Harding says
I always love your food posts, you give me so many awesome ideas for my little guy and what to try with him. I hope Kaitlyn appreciates your presentation, I know I do. 🙂
Emily says
Hi Brittany,
Hi Brittany, have you heard of the most recent research on peanut allergies? Introducing peanuts early has been found to significantly decrease the likelihood children will develop an allergy. Article–>(http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1414850#t=article)
I know you’re planning on giving her peanuts soon, but I thought this was important information to share in case other parents are thinking of delaying. 🙂
As usual, I think your kids eat better than I do!
Emily says
Oops, didn’t mean to write your name twice!
Brittany Dixon says
I have seen this and think it’s great that you shared the link- thank you so much! I am planning on peanuts soon and hopefully this research is correct and will help decrease the prevalence of peanut allergies. Thanks for the comment!
Liz says
I’ve only recently introduced P to raw vegetables which I’m kind of kicking myself for since they are so healthy, that’s great that she loves the peppers!
Margo says
Thanks for the ideas! Love these posts!
Nikki says
My son is a few days away from being 9 months old. Do you give Kaitlin the whole egg ever when you make scrambled eggs? I was thinking of trying that out. Does Kaitlin ever eat anything with a spoon anymore like yogurt or oatmeal or applesauce? Do you give her water to drink?
McKenna says
Great ideas! I have 9.5 month old twins and have been trying to give them more solids and less baby food. Usually we mix them, a jar of green beans mixed in with some baked potato etc. One question – how many teeth did your little one have at this point? One of mine has 4 and the other just has her bottom two. Just wondering if it makes a difference in what they can/should eat.
Thanks! :):)
Brittany Dixon says
I can’t remember exactly how many teeth the girls had at this age, but I’m guessing 4-6. No molars though!
Cheyanne Tauke says
My 8 and a half month old is a teeny tiny little thing and doesn’t seem to gain much weight but eats all of the time. She can basically eat any solid food and prefers that over baby food purees any day. The only concern I have is that she never seems full and whines every time she is out of food on her tray. Do you have any suggestions for serving sizes?
Thanks!
Brittany Dixon says
I always suggest talking to your doctor with any real concerns but focusing on calorie-dense foods (avocado, olive oil on grains, etc) and letting them eat until they choose to stop has worked well for us!
Allyson says
I’ve been looking at all your post about BLW. My LO is almost 8 months. We have done the mesh feeders and mashed foods. I’m really interested in the BLW approached but the “finger size/length” food makes me nervous. Is it necessary to do finger size or could the food be chopped real small for eating? Any advice would be appreciated!
Brittany Dixon says
At 8 months you would be fine starting with small, pea-sized pieces of food. If a baby hasn’t had much experience yet though it may take a little time as s/he works on the pincer grip. Do whatever you are most comfortable with!