Food- what, when, how much, etc etc. Does anyone else get overwhelmed by all things food? When to start? What to feed them? They are two questions that I came across a lot as we approached the time to start solids.

I asked a set of questions to a number of mums with babies and/or toddlers about what they feed their kids. The answers below show that there is no correct text book answer as to when or what you should feed your child. Always seek medical advice if you have any concerns before feeding anything to your child. 

Penny

• Child’s age? 1
• How many meals do they have a day? 3-5
• Are they still on breastmilk/formula or another form of milk? breastmilk and cows milk
• What do they have for breakfast? toast
• What do they have for lunch? ricecakes
• What do they have for dinner? whatever the family is having
• What do they have for snacks? yoghurt, fruit, smoothies, cold carrot
• When did they start solids? 5 months

 

Trista

• Child’s age?  14 months
• How many meals do they have a day? 3 main with snacks in between
• Are they still on breastmilk/formula or another form of milk? Still having breast but cows milk for breakfast
• What do they have for breakfast?  Porridge or weetbix with fruit
• What do they have for lunch? A piece of cheese and a sandwich with peanut butter or vegemite or nutella
• What do they have for dinner? Same food as us. Chicken, veg, rice, steak, spaghetti etc…
• What do they have for snacks? Fruit, cheese, yoghurt, biscuits.
• When did they start solids? About 5 months

 

Chantal

• Child’s age? 20mths
• How many meals do they have a day? 3 meals 2 snacks
• Are they still on breastmilk/formula or another form of milk? cows milk in cereal but don’t drink milk as a drink usually only water
• What do they have for breakfast? 2 weetbix and piece of fruit
• What do they have for lunch? pick a plate: usually half a sandwich, fruit pieces and cheese/yoghurt
• What do they have for dinner? spag bol, mild curry with meat and veggies, tuna quiche
• What do they have for snacks? bliss balls, fruit, yoghurt, cheese sticks, dry biscuits with dip
• When did they start solids? 4.5 months

 

Ishita

• Child’s age? 14 months
• How many meals do they have a day? 3 meals and 2 snacks
• Are they still on breastmilk/formula or another form of milk? Breastmilk and a bit of cows milk with weetbix for breakfast
• What do they have for breakfast? weetbix with milk or cerelac
• What do they have for lunch? some rice, veggies mash with lentil and chicken
• What do they have for dinner?  pasta with mince meat and veggies/ rice with chicken and veggies
• What do they have for snacks? Fruits( apple/banana/pear), yoghurt pouches, noodles
• When did they start solids? 6 months

 

Ash

• Child’s age? 20 months
• How many meals do they have a day? 3 and snacks
• Are they still on breastmilk/formula or another form of milk? Cows milk only
• What do they have for breakfast? Weetbix is the favourite
• What do they have for lunch? Sandwhich/toast/left overs from dinner
• What do they have for dinner? Pasta is the favourite
• What do they have for snacks? Fruit/yoghurt/rice crackers
• When did they start solids?  5 months

 

Sami

• Child’s age? 7 months (in a few days)
• How many meals do they have a day? food meals maybe 1-2, breastfed meals 7-10
• Are they still on breastmilk/formula or another form of milk? breastmilk yes
• What do they have for breakfast? breastmilk
• What do they have for lunch? breastmilk, purée (pumpkin, sweet potato)
• What do they have for dinner? breastmilk, purée (pumpkin, sweet potato)
• What do they have for snacks? breastmilk, carrot sticks to chew, rusk stick
• When did they start solids? 5.5 months we started trailing different foods

 

Kylie

• Child’s age? 2
• How many meals do they have a day? 3 plus snacks in between
• Are they still on breastmilk/formula or another form of milk? Full cream milk occasionally
• What do they have for breakfast? Cereal/toast/eggs/fruit
• What do they have for lunch? Sandwiches/fruit
• What do they have for dinner? Whatever we have – meat/veggies/pasta/salad etc..
• What do they have for snacks? Fruit, yoghurt, sultanas, biscuits
• When did they start solids? 4 months – once a day

 

Tegan

• Child’s age? M-5      O-3       A-1.5
• How many meals do they have a day? All- 3 solid meals and 2-3 snacks
• Are they still on breastmilk/formula or another form of milk? M & O- glass of cows milk with breakfast and one before bed of a night. A- 180 mls cows milk 3 times a day.
• What do they have for breakfast? All- porridge, pancakes, toast, cereals (whole grain Cheerios, nutrigrain or weetbix) or muesli &a yoghurt.
• What do they have for lunch? All- sandwiches, banana & egg pancake, tuna pasta bake etc
• What do they have for dinner? All- whatever we have, generally thermomix meals or vegetarian based meals.
• What do they have for snacks? Zucchini slice, fruit, homemade muesli/oat bars, muffins or cheese and crackers.
• When did they start solids? M- 4 months O- 7 months A- 4 months

 

Miriam 

• Child’s age? 3.5 yrs and near 9 months
• How many meals do they have a day? 3 for the 3 yr old and very little solids for the 9 months old
• Are they still on breastmilk/formula or another form of milk? 3 yr old still breastfeed 1-2 times a day, 9 months old countless times
• What do they have for breakfast? Toast, porridge mainly for 3 yr old, 9 months old a bit of toast and fruit
• What do they have for lunch? Anything and everything almost for the 3 yr old, random bits and pieces for the 9 months old
• What do they have for dinner?  same as lunch
• What do they have for snacks? Fruit, crackers, occasional biscuits for 3 yr old. Random stuff for the baby
• When did they start solids? 6 months

 

Elle

• Child’s age?  8 months
• How many meals do they have a day? 3-4
• Are they still on breastmilk/formula or another form of milk? Formula
• What do they have for breakfast? Wheatbix
• What do they have for lunch? Yogurt
• What do they have for dinner? Potato, vegetables and meat
• What do they have for snacks? Milk arrowroot biscuits and fruit gel
• When did they start solids? 5-6 months

 

Lindsey

• Child’s age?  9 Months
• How many meals do they have a day? 3 meals a day and milk in between
• Are they still on breastmilk/formula or another form of milk? Breast milk through the night and formula through the day.
• What do they have for breakfast? Nestle baby cereal
• What do they have for lunch? Toast or banana or jar of baby food
• What do they have for dinner? Vegetables blended: sweet potato, pumkin, carrot, peas and corn
• What do they have for snacks? Arrowroot biscuits, strawberries, rusks
• When did they start solids? 4 months

 

Lauren

• Child’s age? 14months
• How many meals do they have a day? 3-5 little ones
• Are they still on breastmilk/formula or another form of milk? Breastfed & cows milk
• What do they have for breakfast? Usually porridge with mummy, daddy gives him toast
• What do they have for lunch? Peanut butter sandwich and some fruit (favourites are blueberries or mandarin)
• What do they have for dinner? Usually what we have. Meat, rice, potato, beans, lentils or pasta.
• What do they have for snacks?  Loves dates, rice crackers, cheese
• When did they start solids? 6 months

Cassy

• Child’s age? 14 Months
• How many meals do they have a day? It varies but offered at least 3
• Are they still on breastmilk/formula or another form of milk? Breastmilk and formula
• What do they have for breakfast? Whole meal toast followed by either breast or bottle milk
• What do they have for lunch?Steamed veggies or fruit
• What do they have for dinner? Baked beans, Pasta
• What do they have for snacks? Rice crackers, berries
• When did they start solids? 1 year – Food offered from 7 months but baby not very interested in food. She is slowly eating more each day. 3-4 bottles a day after meal times while food intake is still minimal.

 

Miss A’s food intake:

• Child’s age? 13 months
• How many meals do they have a day? 3 meals and 2-3 snacks a day
• Are they still on breastmilk/formula or another form of milk? Breastfed before bed of a night. Offered cows milk but isn’t overly interested in a bottle (of any type) but will drink heaps of water from a sippy cup.
• What do they have for breakfast? Either- Toast, Fruit, Yogurt in a Sinchies pouch, pancakes or Hot breakfast (eggs, toast, spinach, mushrooms, avocado etc). Sometimes she will have Toast, fruit and yogurt.
• What do they have for lunch? Dinner left overs, peanut butter sandwich, fruit, finger foods (cheese, carrots, meat, fruit, crackers, avocado, etc).
• What do they have for dinner? What ever we are having unless its going to be too late. Vegetables, curries, stir fry, meat and veg, pastas, salads, quiche, etc.
• What do they have for snacks? Yogurt, fruit (blueberries and banana are a favourite), rice crackers, water crackers, jelly, cheese, vegetable sticks, healthy fruit muffins etc.
• When did they start solids? Pureed at 6 months and introduced whole foods at 9 months

 

As mentioned on our Facebook Page recently we found this awesome website with SO many great food ideas that are family friendly.

Check it out and try some of the recipes! mylovelylittlelunchbox

 

If you would like to provide input please share your answers by copying and pasting the questions into the comments box or on our Facebook Page.

 

• Child’s age?
• How many meals do they have a day?
• Are they still on breastmilk/formula or another form of milk? 
• What do they have for breakfast?
• What do they have for lunch? 
• What do they have for dinner?
• What do they have for snacks?
• When did they start solids?

 

By Clare at Relaxed Parenting

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