Congratulations! You've successfully navigated the initial stages of weaning with the help of our guide to the first 20 foods for your baby. As your little one continues their journey into the world of solid foods, it's time to further expand their palate and nutritional intake. The next stage is crucial for learning new skills, and a mixture of textures and finger foods will enhance their food exploration journey. Here are 20 more foods and ways in which we like to combine them for this exciting next stage.
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Asparagus: High in fibre, vitamins A, C, E, and K.
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Blueberries: Full of antioxidants and vitamin C.
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Cauliflower: Rich in vitamins C and K.
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Cucumber: Hydrating and full of vitamins K and C.
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Almond Butter: A great source of healthy fats and protein.
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Chickpeas: Packed with protein and fibre.
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Melon: High in vitamins A and C.
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Kiwi: One serving of kiwi contains twice as much Vitamin C than a serving of orange! They are also high in Vitamin K and a good source of fibre.
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Garlic: Adds flavour but also contains vitamins C and B6, manganese and selenium.
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Onion: Like garlic, onion is great for adding flavour and is high in vitamins C and B6.
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Snow Peas: A good source of vitamins C and K.
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Pepper (Capsicums): Rich in vitamins A and C.
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Pasta: Provides carbohydrates and energy.
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Quinoa: A complete protein, meaning that it contains all nine essential amino acids that our bodies cannot make on their own.
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Pancakes: Soft and easy to chew, pancakes can be made with various ingredients to enhance nutrition.
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Strawberries: High in Vitamin C and delicious!
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Salmon: A great source of omega-3 fatty acids and protein.
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Beef Mince: A versatile source of protein
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Tortilla: Soft and easy to chew.
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Tomatoes: Rich in vitamins C and K, potassium and antioxidants.
Tips on serving up the next 20 foods!
Serve up some crudités and hummus dip. This is a delicious and healthy snack that will help develop fine motor skills as babies learn to dip, such and chomp their way through the food.
This is a wonderful breakfast or lunch idea for little ones! The mixture of textures in this combination helps babies explore different sensations and improve their chewing skills.
Certain times of the day, you want to just cook once and the whole family enjoy it. Bolognaise is so easy to introduce early on and is great for the whole family. This introduces more complex flavours to babies but quickly becomes a firm favourite. Embrace the tomatoey mess but protect their clothes with our super soft silicone bib.
Continuing on with a meal that is great for the whole family. This dish makes a perfect balanced meal and it's full of goodness and flavour.
Perhaps finger foods or whole foods aren't on the cards for you or your little one yet. Perhaps they are? Either way, serving purées is a great way to introduce babies to new flavour combinations and smooth textures.
Let's Wrap This Up
Introducing these next 20 foods and combinations will not only provide a diverse range of nutrients but also help your baby develop important motor skills and enjoy a variety of textures and flavors. Remember, every baby is different, so take it slow and observe your little one's reactions to each new food.