6-9 months
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PLAYING: Mini Meals For Mini People

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Mini Meals For Mini People

Focus on your baby’s nutrition by offering smart eating choices in between mealtimes.

4 mins to read Aug 30, 2022

The food that you offer your baby, and the ways you offer it, introduce eating patterns that can continue into later life. This can affect both their nutritional intake and weight as your child grows older. For this reason, it’s important not to think of the foods you offer your baby outside of traditional mealtimes as snacks or treats, but as essential mini meals or ‘in-betweeners’. Every bite counts toward good nutrition for your baby so try to provide nutrient-rich food and avoid high-sugar or high-salt ‘snack’ foods.

What should an ideal mini meal include?

A healthy mini meal consists of nutritious foods in the appropriate texture for your baby. It might include small pieces of foods that they can pick up and put in their mouth themselves. A small serving of soft, diced fruits or vegetables, alongside a protein-rich food, such as cheese or yoghurt, is a great combination. These mini meals include foods from any of the main food groups to give your baby a range of important nutrients throughout the day: 

The five food groups animation

1. Fruits

Fruits contain many essential nutrients, such as vitamin C, folic acid, potassium, and fibre. Vitamin C helps body tissues grow and repair. Oranges, mango and berries are great sources of vitamin C. Avocado and banana are good sources of folic acid, potassium, and vitamin C too!

Babies between 7-12 months should aim to have ½ piece of fruit a day (one serve of fruit is equivalent to 20g).

2. Vegetables

As well as being high in many essential nutrients, vegetables (and fruits) are naturally low in fat and calories. Vegetables such as broccoli, pumpkin, carrots, and peas are a good source of vitamin A, vitamin C, fibre, potassium and folate. Vitamin A is an important nutrient that helps keep eyes and skin healthy and protects against infections. Sweet potatoes, carrots, and spinach are all rich in this vital vitamin.  

Babies between 7-12 months should aim to have 1.5-2 serves of vegetables a day (one serve is equivalent to 20g).

3. Dairy

Dairy foods contain calcium, vitamin D, and potassium—all of which are important for your baby’s growth and development. Calcium and vitamin D work together to build strong bones and teeth.  Low-sugar yoghurts and cheese provide valuable sources of calcium and potassium.

Babies between 7-12 months should aim to have 1/2 serve of dairy a day (one serve is equivalent to 20ml yoghurt or 10g cheese) in addition to their usual breastmilk or infant formula.

4. Grains

Grains are an important source of fibre and B vitamins such as niacin and riboflavin. Niacin and riboflavin play an important role in releasing energy from foods, great for a baby on the move. Iron-fortified infant cereals, soft crackers, soft, cooked pasta and rice are grain foods that are perfect for your baby.

Babies between 7-12 months should aim to have 1 fortified infant cereal serve (20g) and 1.5 serves of other grains per day (1 slice of bread is an example of one serve)

5. Meat/fish/protein foods

Foods from this group are rich in protein, and also supply your baby with many other important nutrients, such as iron. Proteins work as ‘building blocks’, essential for growth and development of our little ones, and iron helps blood carry oxygen to your baby’s organs and muscles. Red meat and cooked eggs are packed with protein and iron. Beans, such as chickpeas, are a good non-meat source of protein. 

Babies between 7-12 months should aim to have 1 serve of meat or other protein source a day (one serve is equivalent to 30g)


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