Growing up I was an extremely picky eater. I lived on chicken nuggets and mac and cheese until high school, and the most adventurous thing I tried then was mild Thai fried rice. It wasn’t until marriage and travel that I began trying new foods, and I discovered I actually enjoy a wide variety of flavors—I had just never given them a chance. When Theo came along and we started approaching solids, I was determined he wouldn’t grow up unfamiliar with many foods. Below are some of my favorite baby-led weaning (BLW) meal ideas that have worked well for Theo. This is what Theo eats.
BLW Meal Ideas
When we started exploring solids, we found baby-led weaning (BLW) and decided to include it in our routine. We began with a mix of BLW and purees around six months. Since then Theo has tried many different foods, improved his utensil skills, and learned to drink from a cup. In this series I’ll share our journey so far, what has worked well for us, and four meals for inspiration that you can try with your little ones. These are some of Theo’s favorite BLW meal ideas.
Avocado Toast
Theo absolutely loves avocado. It was the first food he tried and remains a top favorite. For older kids or adults I have a more grown-up Caprese Avocado Toast, but for Theo I keep it simple: toast a slice of whole grain bread, remove the crust, mash half a small avocado and spread it on top. I serve fresh mozzarella and sliced grape tomatoes on the side, and I often add fruit—here I offered cherries, grapes, and pear. For small round fruits like grapes, quarter them for safety. Theo consistently eats every bite of this meal, so I make it often because it’s quick, nutritious, and reliable.
Naan Pizza Sticks
Naan pizza sticks are another favorite and a family hit. They’re incredibly simple and ready in about 10 minutes. I usually use pre-packaged naan, spread a bit of marinara, sprinkle with mozzarella, and bake at 350°F for about 10 minutes. Once baked, I cut the naan into strips so Theo can pick them up easily. I often make this for dinner and save leftovers for his lunch. I typically pair the pizza sticks with mixed vegetables to balance the meal.
Peanut Butter and Banana Quesadilla
This idea comes from my own childhood sandwich version, but I prefer a quesadilla for Theo because the triangular pieces are easier for him to hold and the meal is less bulky. I make these for both breakfast and lunch and pair them with fruit, Greek yogurt, or veggies. For the quesadilla I use half a whole wheat tortilla, spread a thin layer of butter on the outside, add a thin layer of nut butter inside and about half a mashed banana, then toast both sides in a skillet until warm and lightly browned. It takes under 10 minutes from start to finish.
Naan Bread and Hummus
This is one of the simplest BLW meals. Naan is versatile and makes meal prep easy. I usually cut half a piece of naan into triangles and spread a small amount of hummus on each piece so Theo can eat them like chips and dip. I pair this with fruit and veggies—on this day it was honeydew, grapes, and veggie nuggets. Hummus was something he discovered on his own by sampling mine and has loved ever since. Using a plate with suction can help keep things in place during mealtime, especially for kids who like to throw plates.
I hope these ideas inspire some easy, nutritious BLW meals for your toddler or child. If you have questions about how I prepare these, feel free to leave a comment.
Happy eating!
~Caitlyn
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