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Baby & Toddler Recipes -hero

EDITORS' CHOICEBaby & Toddler Recipes

Starting solids for your baby? Or perhaps you’re after some recipe inspiration for your fussy toddler? Check out these healthy, iron-rich baby recipes to suit all ages and stages to fill up your little one's tummy.

More than just baby food, you can also find nutrition advice for expectant mothers to ensure that you are getting all the iron that you need during pregnancy.

Stage 1: Smooth Puree (babies around 6 months)

Prep: 10 mins |

Cook: 15 mins

Baby's beef mince with kumara

Prep: 10 mins |

Cook: 30 mins

Lamb's liver and vegetables

Prep: 10 mins |

Cook: 2 hrs 30 mins

Iron-rich casserole for babies

Prep: 15 mins |

Cook: 30 mins

Shepherd's pie for kids

Prep: 15 mins |

Cook: 1 hr 30 mins

Casserole lamb

Prep: 10 mins |

Cook: 2 hrs

Lamb soup for young ones

Prep: 15 mins |

Cook: 1 hr 30 mins

Meaty hot pot

Prep: 15 mins |

Cook: 1 hr 30 mins

Moroccan diced lamb

Prep: 5 mins |

Cook: 35 mins

Toddler spaghetti bolognese

Prep: 15 mins |

Mustard roast beef

Prep: 20 mins |

Cottage pie for kids

Stage 2: Mashed/Lumpy (babies around 6 ½ - 7 months)

Prep: 10 mins |

Cook: 2 hrs

Lamb soup for young ones

Prep: 15 mins |

Cook: 1 hr 30 mins

Moroccan diced lamb

Prep: 15 mins |

Cook: 1 hr 30 mins

Meaty hot pot

Prep: 10 mins |

Cook: 30 mins

Lamb's liver and vegetables

Prep: 15 mins |

Cook: 30 mins

Shepherd's pie for kids

Prep: 15 mins |

Cook: 1 hr 30 mins

Casserole lamb

Prep: 5 mins |

Cook: 35 mins

Toddler spaghetti bolognese

Prep: 15 mins |

Mustard roast beef

Prep: 10 mins |

Cook: 2 hrs 30 mins

Iron-rich casserole for babies

Prep: 20 mins |

Cottage pie for kids

Stage 3: Minced and Finely Chopped (babies from 8 months)

Prep: 10 mins |

Cook: 20 mins

Mini Burgers

Prep: 20 mins |

Cottage pie for kids

Prep: 45 mins |

Cook: 15 mins

Toddler meatballs

Prep: 10 mins |

Cook: 10 mins

Family lamb stir-fry

Prep: 15 mins |

Cook: 1 hr 30 mins

Moroccan diced lamb

Prep: 10 mins |

Cook: 1 hr 30 mins

Meatloaf

Prep: 10 mins |

Cook: 2 hrs

Lamb soup for young ones

Prep: 15 mins |

Cook: 30 mins

Shepherd's pie for kids

Prep: 15 mins |

Cook: 1 hr 30 mins

Casserole lamb

Prep: 5 mins |

Cook: 35 mins

Toddler spaghetti bolognese

Prep: 15 mins |

Cook: 1 hr 30 mins

Meaty hot pot

Prep: 15 mins |

Mustard roast beef

Prep: 15 mins |

Cook: 15 mins

Beef fajitas

Prep: 10 mins |

Cook: 30 mins

Lamb's liver and vegetables

Prep: 10 mins |

Cook: 2 hrs 30 mins

Iron-rich casserole for babies

Stage 4: Toddler/Family Food (around 12 months)

Prep: 5 mins |

Cook: 35 mins

Toddler spaghetti bolognese

Prep: 10 mins |

Cook: 55 mins

Family pasta bake

Prep: 15 mins |

Cook: 15 mins

Beef fajitas

Prep: 10 mins |

Cook: 30 mins

Beef twister

Prep: 15 mins |

Cook: 45 mins

Calzone handfuls

Prep: 15 mins |

Cook: 1 hr 30 mins

Cow and gate tart

Prep: 45 mins |

Cook: 15 mins

Toddler meatballs

Prep: 30 mins |

Cook: 15 mins

Mince baskets

Prep: 10 mins |

Cook: 20 mins

Mini Burgers

Prep: 10 mins |

Cook: 20 mins

Mince wraps

Prep: 10 mins |

Cook: 10 mins

Family lamb stir-fry

Prep: 10 mins |

Cook: 2 hrs

Lamb soup for young ones

Prep: 10 mins |

Cook: 1 hr 30 mins

Meatloaf

Prep: 15 mins |

Cook: 30 mins

Shepherd's pie for kids

Prep: 15 mins |

Cook: 1 hr 30 mins

Casserole lamb

Prep: 15 mins |

Cook: 1 hr 30 mins

Meaty hot pot

Prep: 15 mins |

Cook: 1 hr 30 mins

Moroccan diced lamb

Prep: 15 mins |

Mustard roast beef

Prep: 10 mins |

Cook: 30 mins

Lamb's liver and vegetables

Prep: 10 mins |

Cook: 2 hrs 30 mins

Iron-rich casserole for babies

Prep: 20 mins |

Cottage pie for kids

Nutrition Advice: Babies

Nutrition

Babies' First Foods

Registered Nutritionist and mum, Fiona Windle explores the benefits of nutritious foods for baby right from the start, and there might be some you don't expect.

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Nutrition

Nutrition Spotlight: Iron and Baby Food Pouches

Baby food pouches may get the thumbs up from many parents when it comes to convenience, but they failed to impress Kiwi researchers with their iron content. Registered Nutritionist Regina Wypych takes a look at their nutritional value.

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Nutrition

Brainfood for Baby: Adding Offal to the Plate

Did you know that at seven months of age a baby needs more iron than their dad? Babies have high nutrient requirements (especially for iron) yet small tummies, therefore every bite counts. Nose-to-tail foods, namely offal, are great complementary, protein foods that can deliver a lot of nutritional goodness needed for optimal growth and development.

Read more

Tips & Tricks

Adapting meals for little tummies

It can be hard enough feeding the adults and older children of a household, let alone a baby or toddler. Registered Dietitian Katrina Shepherd takes a look at how you can change up a recipe for the youngest members of your family.

Read more

Nutrition

Giving them the best start: Iron for babies

Starting solids alongside your baby’s milk feeds (complementary feeding), can be an exciting time for parents - watching their little one’s eyes widen, hands clap and facial expressions change as they are introduced to the complete unknown. But where do you start? And what foods are important to include in their diet?

Read more

Inspiration

Lamb as a first food: 8 lamb recipes that are perfect for babies and toddlers

Starting complementary feeding can be an exciting time for parents - watching your little ones' eyes widen, hands clap, and facial expressions change as they are introduced to the complete unknown. But where do you start? And what foods are important to include in their diet? Here are 8 lamb recipes that are perfect for little tummies.

Read more