BLW lunch ideas

[weepingwillow22]

My LO is 7.5 months and eats a mix of pouches, home cooked and finger foods. I do try to give him a bit of what I am having but am finding lunches are becoming a bit repetative as much of what I have for lunch I am unsure about giving him.

For example I often have a ploughmans type meal for lunch. Today it had salad leaves, hard cheese, crackers, anchovies, olives, salami, fried broad beans and nuts. Of the above I was unsure what I could give him as most things sound like a choking hazard? I ended up doing him some toast with hummous but he ends up having this a lot and I am wondering if ellas veggie pouches would be healthier?

Any ideas for lunchtime fingerfoods that are quick? When can he have hard cheese? Can I give him salad leaves now? I assume things like salami, ham and anchovies are off limits because of the salt?

Babies can eat pasteurised full-fat cheese from 6 months old. This includes hard cheeses, such as mild cheddar cheese, cottage cheese and cream cheese. -NHS website
I personally would wait until he was a little older to offer salad leaves

you could try making things like: (will include recipes)
banana mini pancakes
sweet potato fingers
cheese and mushroom cakes
tuna fishcakes

most of the above can be frozen too

all the best x

Many thanks for the suggestions. I thought he might choke on hard cheese, do you think this would be ok? Maybe if I thinly sliced or grated it?

I don't have much time atm to prepare him specific things like fishcakes although will if the rest of the family will eat them. He always shares things like spag bol and curry with us at dinner time.

Is there any thing else buffet style that you might find in the fridge that I could give him for lunch. Sorry lazy mum here.

Mine ate cheese in finger sized strips from 6m without choking. But yes grate if you're worried. Mine also ate crackers from that sort of age, but you could add toast. Cucumber / cherry tomatoes / grapes / banana cut up. A rice cake? A yoghurt?

Mine are 2 and 4 now and still have this kind of lunch most days - a slice of ham, some strawberries and a baby bel were added today.

I did blw and my little pne ate everything i ate so would eat cheese bread pickles i used to cut up grapes long ways grated apple for first week but then just gave her apple didnt have any choking

Thanks both. I tried the cheese and grapes with his dinner and he was fine. I just find it really hard working out what he will be ok with. What age do you think I can try him with cooked meat, ham or salami?

He should be ok with most things.

To could cook some carrot sticks, broccoli florets, etc up and leave them in the fridge to give him if what you're having isn't suitable (too salty/sweet etc)

Boiled egg
Omelette fingers
Avocado
Tinned tuna chunks (although don’t get the one with brine) and cooked white fish
Cooked pasta shapes
Cooked chicken breast strips
Butter beans straight from the tin (just rinse first)
Unsalted mini rice cakes
Toast and a smear of peanut butter

@weepingwillow22

Meats are fine from 6m. I'd suggest tearing / cutting into small pieces to being with (esp if no teeth) so they don't have to chew it.

Honestly, the "rules" of BLW are no honey or nuts. Yes to everything else. In reality you'll have food you're scared of giving, but nothing is banned. Except honey and nuts.

Thanks all. I do worry that blw can be a bit unhealthy in our case as my LO gets upset when I am eating something and wants to join in.

I have given him some of my crumpets and hot cross buns which he has wolfed down but often I have to hide when I am eating things like crisps and biscuits so he does not steal them! I really need to work on improving my diet.

With blw I am wondering how much the baby regulates their intake? My LO would keep eating and eating if I let him. I normally just let him have what I deem a reasonable portion. He always has a breastfeed first but seems to have a huge appetite and is pretty chubby. With purees I let him feed himself with pre loaded spoons but always stop offering before he stops naturally. Is this ok?

If you want easy shop bought picky stuff falafels are a really good low salt option

At his age, let him eat as much as he wants (but you control what he has to pick from). Despite the mantra about food being for fun, the purpose of weaning is to get him eating food and dropping milk.

Careful with apple. It's one of the main causes of choking in blw. You can skin and steam things like that to make them easier for baby. Otherwise I just give mine what I eat

Organic tofu straight from the pack is a great source of calcium and protein. The texture is the same as egg.