Homemade Food for 12+ Month Olds: Toddler Table Time

Welcome to the exciting world of toddlerhood, where little ones are increasingly curious and eager to participate in family life – and that includes mealtimes! At this stage, homemade food is no longer just about purees; it's about gently transitioning your child to the delicious and diverse foods the whole family enjoys, while ensuring their unique nutritional needs are met.

This is where the beauty of adapting homemade meals truly shines:

✅ Family Food Focus: Offering smaller, appropriately textured versions of your own meals encourages toddlers to embrace a wide range of flavors and textures, moving away from separate "baby food."

✅ Nutrient Power-Up: Concentrating on calorie-dense, nutrient-rich portions with healthy fats provides the energy toddlers need for their active explorations and supports ongoing brain development.

✅ Building Healthy Habits: By offering a variety of food groups and allowing for self-feeding, you’re laying the foundation for a lifetime of positive eating habits and independence.

Homemade empowers you to control the ingredients, ensuring lower levels of salt and spice while packing in essential nutrients. Grownsy can still be a valuable tool, especially for quickly whipping up nutritious sauces or dips that make trying new foods more engaging for your little one.

Inside this guide, you’ll discover:

🍎 Creative and adaptable meal ideas inspired by family favorites

🔪 Tips for safely chopping and preparing foods for little hands

🥑 Strategies for incorporating healthy fats and diverse food groups dipping fun!

These months are a wonderful opportunity to foster a positive and inclusive eating environment. Let's explore how to bring your toddler to the family table with delicious and nutritious homemade food!

 

1. Whole-Grain Toast with Almond Butter & Banana "Nice" Cream

Ingredients:

• 1 slice whole-grain toast
• 1 tbsp unsweetened almond butter
• ½ ripe banana, sliced and frozen
• 1 tbsp breastmilk or whole milk (optional, for blending)

Instructions:

1. Toast the whole-grain bread and cut it into small, manageable finger-sized pieces. Spread a thin layer of almond butter on some or all of the pieces.
2. For the "nice" cream: Place the frozen banana slices in the food maker. Blend until smooth and creamy, adding a tablespoon of breastmilk or whole milk if needed to reach a soft-serve consistency.
3. Serve the almond butter toast pieces alongside small spoonfuls of the banana "nice" cream for dipping or eating separately.

Tip: This recipe offers healthy fats, whole grains, and natural sweetness. The "nice" cream is a fun, no-added-sugar treat.

 

2. Mini Meatballs with Hidden Veggies & Tomato Dipping Sauce

Ingredients (Meatballs):

• ¼ lb ground lean beef, turkey, or chicken
• ¼ cup finely grated zucchini
• ¼ cup finely grated carrot
• 1 tbsp breadcrumbs (whole-wheat if possible)
• ½ tsp dried Italian herbs
• 1 small clove garlic, minced (optional, if your toddler is used to flavor)
• 1 tsp olive oil

Ingredients (Dipping Sauce):

• ½ cup ripe tomato, roughly chopped
• 1 tbsp water
• A tiny pinch of dried oregano (optional)

Instructions:

1. For the meatballs: In a bowl, combine the ground meat, grated zucchini, grated carrot, breadcrumbs, Italian herbs, and minced garlic (if using). Mix gently until just combined.
2. Form the mixture into small, bite-sized meatballs (about the size of a marble or slightly larger).
3. Lightly heat the olive oil in a small pan over medium heat. Cook the meatballs until browned and cooked through, turning occasionally (about 8-10 minutes). Alternatively, you can steam the meatballs in the food maker until cooked through (about 10-12 minutes).
4. For the dipping sauce: Place the chopped tomato and water in the food maker. Steam for about 5 minutes until softened. Then, blend until smooth. Stir in the oregano (if using). Let cool slightly.
5. Serve the mini meatballs with the tomato dipping sauce.

Tip: Grating the veggies helps them "disappear" into the meatballs. The dipping sauce encourages self-feeding.

 

3. Deconstructed Tacos (Beans, Cheese, Avocado & Soft Tortilla)

Ingredients:

• 1 small whole-wheat tortilla
• 2 tbsp cooked black beans or pinto beans, lightly mashed
• 1 tbsp shredded mild cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack)
• 1-2 slices ripe avocado, diced or mashed
• A tiny dollop of plain yogurt or sour cream (optional)

Instructions:

1. Lightly warm the tortilla in a dry pan or in the food maker's steaming basket for a few seconds to soften. Cut it into small, manageable pieces or strips.
2. Lightly mash the cooked beans with a fork, leaving some texture.
3. Dice or mash the avocado into small, soft pieces.
4. Arrange the warm tortilla pieces, mashed beans, shredded cheese, and diced/mashed avocado on a plate. Offer a tiny dollop of yogurt or sour cream for dipping (if using). Let your toddler self-feed, choosing what to combine.

Tip: Deconstructing the taco allows toddlers to explore different textures and flavors independently.

 

4. Veggie & Egg Muffins (Steamed)

Ingredients:

• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 tbsp finely diced cooked vegetables (carrots, peas, bell peppers - steam them in the food maker until soft)
• 1 tbsp grated cheese
• A tiny drizzle of olive oil

Instructions:

1. Steam the vegetables in the food maker until very soft and finely dice them.
2. In a small bowl, whisk the egg. Stir in the cooked and diced vegetables and grated cheese.
3. Lightly grease small silicone muffin cups or ramekins with olive oil.
4. Pour the egg mixture into the prepared cups.
5. Place the muffin cups in the food maker's steaming basket and steam until the egg is set (about 10-15 minutes, depending on the size of the cups). Let cool slightly before serving.

Tip: These are great for self-feeding and packed with protein and veggies. Steaming ensures they are soft and moist.

 

5. Chicken & Sweet Potato Croquettes (Soft)

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup cooked chicken, finely shredded (steam then shred in the food maker)
• ¼ cup cooked sweet potato, mashed (steam then mash in the food maker)
• 1 tbsp breadcrumbs
• A tiny pinch of herbs (parsley, thyme)
• 1 tsp olive oil

Instructions:

1. Steam the chicken and sweet potato in the food maker until cooked. Finely shred the chicken using the food maker's pulse function if needed, and mash the sweet potato.
2. In a bowl, combine the shredded chicken, mashed sweet potato, breadcrumbs, and herbs. Mix well.
3. Form the mixture into small, log or disc shapes.
4. Lightly heat the olive oil in a small non-stick pan over medium-low heat. Cook the croquettes until lightly golden and heated through on all sides (about 5-7 minutes). Ensure they are soft enough for easy chewing.

Tip: These offer a different texture and are easy for little hands to hold.

 

6. Cheesy Broccoli & Cauliflower Bites (Steamed & Mashed)

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup broccoli florets
• ¼ cup cauliflower florets
• 1 tbsp grated cheese
• 1 tbsp breadcrumbs
• 1 tsp water or breastmilk/whole milk

Instructions:

1. Steam the broccoli and cauliflower florets in the food maker until very tender (about 8-10 minutes).
2. Transfer the steamed vegetables to the food maker's blending jar. Add the cheese, breadcrumbs, and water or milk.
3. Use the pulse mode to create a slightly chunky, mashable mixture.
4. Form the mixture into small bite-sized pieces or spread it thinly on a lightly greased baking sheet.
5. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for about 10-12 minutes, or until lightly golden. Let cool before serving.

Tip: This is a good way to introduce more vegetables in a cheesy format.

 

7. Salmon & Pea "Fish Cakes" (Flaked)

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp cooked salmon, flaked (steam or bake then flake)
• 2 tbsp cooked peas, lightly mashed (steam in the food maker)
• 1 tbsp mashed potato (steam and mash potato)
• A tiny squeeze of lemon juice (optional)
• A tiny drizzle of olive oil

Instructions:

1. Steam or bake the salmon until cooked through and flake it with a fork. Steam the peas in the food maker and lightly mash them. Steam and mash a small amount of potato.
2. In a bowl, gently combine the flaked salmon, mashed peas, and mashed potato. Stir in the lemon juice (if using).
3. Form the mixture into small, flat "cake" shapes.
4. Lightly heat the olive oil in a small non-stick pan over medium-low heat. Cook the fish cakes for a few minutes on each side until lightly golden and heated through.

Tip: Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Ensure all ingredients are soft and easily chewable.

 

8. Mini Frittata with Spinach & Sweetcorn (Steamed)

Ingredients:

• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 tbsp finely chopped spinach (steam in the food maker until wilted and then chop)
• 1 tbsp cooked sweetcorn kernels (fresh or frozen, steam in the food maker until tender)
• 1 tbsp grated cheese
• A tiny drizzle of olive oil

Instructions:

1. Steam the spinach in the food maker until wilted, then finely chop it. Steam the sweetcorn until tender.
2. In a small bowl, whisk the egg. Stir in the chopped spinach, sweetcorn kernels, and grated cheese.
3. Lightly grease a small oven-safe dish or ramekin with olive oil.
4. Pour the egg mixture into the dish.
5. Place the dish in the food maker's steaming basket and steam until the egg is mostly set (about 12-15 minutes). You can finish it briefly under a broiler in your oven if you want the top slightly golden, but ensure it remains soft. Let cool slightly before serving.

Tip: Frittatas are a versatile way to combine eggs and vegetables. Steaming keeps it soft and moist.

 

Remember to always cut foods into appropriately sized pieces for your toddler to prevent choking.

Supervise them during mealtimes and continue to offer a variety of healthy food choices. 

Read more tips for making homemade food for your baby here.

Enjoy this stage of exploring more complex flavors and textures!