Moving your baby onto family meals

The key to healthy eating for babies and toddlers is variety! No one food can give them every nutrient they need, and a wide range of food tastes and textures experienced now will help ensure they have a healthier diet as they grow older. There are so many different foods readily available to us these days that, even if your baby has likes and dislikes, it should be possible to provide your baby with a varied, wholesome diet. Don’t worry if they go through phases of only wanting the same foods; this sometimes happens, but keep offering more different tastes along the way.

A healthy diet is one made up of a mixture of the 4 main food groups shown below:

There is another food group, which is ‘Foods high in fat, salt and sugar’ – these should only be given in limited quantities. You should avoid giving your baby too many ‘free’ or added sugars found in foods such as biscuits, pastries or cakes. Too much sugar can lead to problems such as obesity and tooth decay. And make sure you don’t add any salt to your baby’s meals – they don’t need it and it can do harm!

As your baby reaches the end of their first year, they should have come a long way with their eating and should be having a wide range of different foods. This varied diet alongside their milk feeds and a vitamin supplement (containing vitamin A, C and D) should ensure they have all the nutrition they need, but if you are at all concerned, then have a chat with your GP or a healthcare professional.