Healthy Baby Food Recipe Ideas For 8-12-Months Infants

There is a constant requirement for a change in baby foods being served to growing babies. By 8-12 months your kids would have gotten bored of the puree and the porridges. They will also start showing signs of dislikes and preferences. Always remember to give a variety of healthy baby foods and try not to repeat the same food recipes at least a week. Ideally, children of this age group should have 3 solid feeds in a day accompanied by 3-4 milk feeds. Children in 8-12 months age group can also be introduced to fortified cereal with the right texture to encourage chewing. As per the schedule of the family, these meals can be planned throughout the day. [Must Try: Initial Solid Food Recipes for 6-12 Months Baby]

Here our pro-parent Nandini Gnana shares some good baby food ideas for your children that are both healthy, tasty and easy to make. Read this blog to learn how to make the following.

• Egg dosa
• Fruit fingers
• Upma
• Rice semiyan and more 

Baby Breakfast Recipes for 8-12 Months Infant

By the time your little one is 8-12 months old, he or she would have gotten bored of the purees and the porridges. Try these recipes instead.

#1.Upma

In a pan, add a little ghee, 3 small onions chopped, one small tomato, jeera powder, turmeric powder, finely chopped carrot, beans, potato, and any other vegetable of your choice. Saute it well. Add three cups of water and once the water boils well and the vegetables are cooked, add one cup toasted rava and mix well. Close the pan for a minute and turn off flames once the rava is cooked.

#2. Egg Dosa

In a bowl, take only the egg yolk and stir it well with the spoon. Better to avoid egg white until your baby turns one. In a pan, pour the dosa batter, set it a little thick like set dosa, close it with lid, and after a minute pour the egg yolk over the dosa and close the lid. Sprinkle pepper powder only if your little one likes.  All this to be done on a low flame. Remove lid and check if the egg is cooked well and then serve.

#3. Rice Semiya

In a pan, add a little ghee, three small onions chopped, one small tomato, jeera powder, turmeric powder, finely chopped carrot, beans, potato, and any vegetable of your choice. Saute it well. Add two cups of water, once the water boils well and the vegetables are cooked, add one cup of rice semiya and mix well. Close the pan for a minute and turn off the flame once the semiya is cooked.

#4. Aval Upma( Beaten Rice)

Important: Add lime juice only if your little one is not allergic to citrus fruits.
Soak one cup beaten rice in a bowl of water until it becomes soft (max ten minutes). In a pan, add a little ghee, three small onions chopped, one small tomato, jeera, turmeric powder, lime juice, and add the soft beaten rice and mix well. Close the pan for a minute and turn off the flame. [Read More: Easy Breakfast Ideas/Recipes for Toddlers]  

Baby Lunch Ideas/Recipes for 12 months Baby

Pongal/ Khichdi is one of the best foods to give for lunch to your child. We can try different variations by adding various vegetables and sprouted grams.

#1.Plain Pongal

In a cooker, add a little ghee, jeera, peppercorns, washed boiled rice one cup, washed moong dal half cup, five cups of water. Keep it for four to five whistles. 
In a kadhai, add ghee, mustard, karvapillai, grated ginger and to this add the pongal. Serve.

#2. Vegetable Pongal

Follow the same steps above, just add carrot/ beans /potato/beetroot or any other vegetable of your choice along with rice.
For a variation, you can add different vegetables. [Read More: Baby Lunch Ideas/Recipes]

Snacks Recipes Ideas/Recipes for 12 months Child

Few ideas for baby food snack recipes that are easy, healthy for babies you can offer.

#1. Egg Omelette

Whisk only the yellow part of the egg. Add little pepper powder if you have already introduced it to your baby. Pour on a dosa pan. Cook on both sides. Make sure egg is completely cooked.

#2. Fruit Fingers

Cut fruits into shapes of fingers. Steam them slightly in the pressure cooker ensuring they don’t become mushy. Encourage your baby to pick it up and eat on their own.
Fruits that can be boiled and given: Apple, pear. Read More: Healthy Snack Recipe Ideas for kids

#3. Veg Soup

Boil water, add small cubes of carrot, beans, beetroot, potato, coriander, pudina, jeera, pepper powder. After the veggies are cooked, either mash the vegetables or if your little one has already learned to chew with his/her gums then mashing is not required. Flavor with a little butter and feed warm. [Suggest More: Homemade Baby Foods Recipes]

Remember, when babies grow, there is a constant requirement for a change of food being served to them.

Disclaimer: Exclusive Breastfeeding is best for babies for the first 6 months. Breast milk provides the ideal balanced nutrition and protection. However there maybe individual instances where introducing first foods maybe required depending on the child's needs and issues related to mother's milk supply. Please consult a pediatrician to make a more informed choice.