To not cook for just weaned baby?

[Heavyrainforecast]

DD is 7 months. She’s very slowly getting the hang of eating but isn’t eating anything really significant in the way of solids.

Monday, Tuesday and Friday (and weekends) I have her brother too so I make a child friendly meal and she can just have some of that. But on Wednesday and Thursday he is at nursery and eats there. AIBU not to make her a special meal and just give her a bit of toast or crumpet?

At that age I used to batch cook and freeze loads of different fruits and vegetables.

Definitely batch cook and freeze or give her some of yours if it’s appropriate.

Sorely she just eats a bit of what the adults eat? As long as it’s not processed fast food stuff

We are very limited on space and only have a small freezer, which is full to bursting as it is. I have to admit I’ve never got on very well with freezing food. My own parents were champions of it! I’m definitely better just making something there and then.

Do you mean dinner or just lunch? Toast etc is fine with peanut butter/scrambled egg/cream cheese etc on some days. But she can also just have bits of whatever you’re having for dinner etc. I also batch cooked some bits for the freezer like banana pancakes, muffins etc and just grabbed those out when needed for lunch etc.

Also instead of trying to make child friendly meals, make family friendly meals e.g no added salt or sugar and then you can all eat the same unless it’s got hot chillis in 🤣

It doesn’t take a lot of effort to cook for your child whilst weaning, make a batch and freeze in pots.

I’m currently dieting so no go for me. When I say child friendly there’s no reason adults can’t eat them as well, it’s just that as you say no hot spices or similar (not that we eat particularly spicy food anyway.)

She is literally just having pea sized portions. So for today I was thinking she could have a crumpet at lunch time and possibly try her with avocado on toast for tea.

I really don’t have any space to be freezing and I am just not very good at it. I always forget it is there!

I'd start giving her all sorts of different foods (look at BLW) so she doesn't become a fussy eater. You don't need to give her anything specially made, just any food. Definitely not just toast or crumpets though, not to mention that's probably zero nutritional value too

That’s what I am doing, admittedly not really by choice as she won’t let me feed her. However she isn’t very good with her aim and so she doesn’t eat much. It seems a bit pointless to cook a proper ‘meal’ that won’t be really eaten.

Use pouches.

I can’t - she won’t let me feed her!

We are in very early days so not worried about nutrition. I think I’m probably being subconsciously influenced by instagram.

Mine just ate what we ate, we just make sure we cooked without salt and added it at the table. Eating together with your baby is part of what helps them explore food and develop healthy eating habits rather than eating alone which is pretty boring for a baby.

Plus it means when they have a pea sized appetite you literally give them a couple of chunks of carrot and a few peas from your plate or a tablespoon of stew rather than cooking separate stuff.

That doesn’t sound great TBH for both meals. It’s fine for a one off but not great to plan to do this and don’t underestimate how important it is for kids to try as many different things as possible at that age. I still don’t really understand why she can’t eat what the adults are having- maybe you could explain? The avocado sounds fine but maybe you could do something like a boiled egg, grilled chicken strips, baked potato with some cheese or tuna or sticks of roast veg (if baby let weaning) with it instead of toast.

And in terms of freezer space, you’d probably only need to get rid of one thing (like a tub of ice cream or pack of chips) to freeze a weeks worth of portions, as they are so small.

Baby food doesn't take up much room though. Just look up some annabel karmel recipes and freeze them in ice cube trays then pop those in a freezer bag. Or you can buy tiny freezer boxes. Once you get in the habit it's really easy and so much cheaper than pouches. You don't need to be religious about it though..just offer variety.

Rather than more bread what about a poached or boiled egg and some avocado?
I would get into the habit of just eating as a family tbh it's not just about the food consumed

Mine had mashed banana quite often when weaning. An occasional organic jar isn't the end of the world for quickness. You are going to have to teach yourself how to batch cook and freeze, even if its just a bit of carrot and mashed potatoes put aside from family meals. Icecube trays are ideal for holding small portions.

You don’t need a lot of room in the freezer for a batch of pancakes or muffins. If you don’t freeze things as you say then what is your freezer full of? Perhaps don’t replace one of those things after it’s used and use the space for some food for her. Makes it a lot easier and saves you giving toast everyday.

@Heronwatcher - I am having diet food, the meal replacement things. Which obviously wouldn’t be appropriate for her.

I honestly have never got on with the ice cube system. It isn’t a problem five days out of seven, and she isn’t eating anything of significance. For example, this ‘meal’ from the other day pretty much all ended up on the floor, but she had a tiny, pinhead sized taste of the broccoli.

I don’t mind letting her try a bit of fruit or veg but the idea of actually cooking or making a ‘meal’ seems pointless at this stage -
obviously not long term but right now.

At that age, a one egg omelette cut into strips, a couple of broccoli florets in the microwave for a minute, and some cucumber sticks would have taken less than five minutes.

Could try her with an egg. She doesn’t seem to manage banana very easily.

Why not do something like a bit of scrambled egg, some steamed carrot or chopped fruit? Hardly takes longer than making toast.

@DrearyLane that’s what I’m saying. Perhaps we are all misunderstanding one another? But I am not planning to eg make chilli or pasta bakes or whatever.