Snag this awesome list of food for 1 year olds to toddlers, and the 9, 10, and 11 month old babies in between learning to eat table and finger foods. Includes a free printable list too!
Wondering what types of food to feed give your baby or 1 year old? As a pediatric occupational therapist and mom, I’ve got your covered. You’ll find that most of the ideas I am sharing are for babies 10 months and up, but it really depends on how well your baby or toddler is chewing foods. You could be introducing these a little earlier or later.
In general, these are perfect foods for 1 year olds and those a little younger!
Wait, I’m worried about my baby or toddler choking on solid food!
If you’re worried about your baby choking make sure you check out our guide on baby gagging. Understandably, this is a common concern. Keep in mind that gagging and choking are two different things. It’s quite common for babies and toddlers to gag occasionally.
If your baby or toddler gags a lot with new foods they might be getting used to the texture. Or, they may need help learning to chew.
However, if it’s happening a lot you’ll want to talk to your doctor and for sure head to that guide. This is something I’ve seen a lot as an OT and the sooner you address it the better.
Of course, any concerns at all about your child’s eating or variety of foods should be brought up with your child’s pediatrician.
And, if you’re wondering when you should first serve the ever popular crunchy breakfast cereal, Cheerios, then head to When Can Babies Eat Cheerios.
Are these Food Appropriate for My Baby or Toddler?
These guidelines are based on my experience as a licensed occupational therapist and the 17 years of experience working with hundreds of families. The suggestions are also in alignment with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendations.
If your baby hasn’t started eating yet, learn how to transition them to table foods, or if they’re constantly refusing please head to our 7 step guide for when baby won’t eat.
To be honest, I wanted to have a resource for myself, since Isaac (10 months old) is right in the middle of this transition and I am struggling to make sure he has enough variety.
I do have to admit that Isaac isn’t (hmm, need to choose my words carefully here,) the best eater.
He chews and manages food very well, but unless the texture isn’t right, he isn’t very interested. Of course, this is very frustrating! To make sure I optimize my chances at success (aka: he actually eats something other than Gerber Puffs or Cheerios), I need a go to a list with all of my ideas (plus some new ones), so I am not scrambling in the craziness of meal prep.
If you’re in the same boat, check out our free workshop to help your toddler learn to eat a wider variety of foods.
The list is organized into three categories:
- fruits/vegetables
- carbs
- proteins
When putting together meals, plan for at least one food in each of these three groups. Also, keep in mind that if you mash up a casserole or lasagna, all three categories may be covered in one shot. For example, with the lasagna: spaghetti sauce= protein, noodles= carbs, and meat or cheese= protein.
Let’s get started…
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Tips for Feeding Table Foods to Babies
- Make sure everything you give your baby for the first time is closely monitored. Chew a small piece in your mouth first and pay attention to how hard it is to chew. If it doesn’t break down easily and quickly, it probably isn’t a good choice.
- Stay calm if your baby coughs or chokes a little, it will happen. If you freak out, they will freak out. If they are coughing or choking on a food frequently, stop giving it to them and re-introduce at a later date.
- Cut food into small pieces so they can chew it easily. Cut beans in half and make sure meats are soft and moist. Help your baby with foods that are difficult to pick up, don’t make the pieces bigger until you are sure they can manage them.
- This is a list of table foods, not necessarily finger foods, although many of them are. For example, spread hummus on crackers or serve cottage cheese.
- Have your baby or toddler eat with the rest of the family. It’s the best way for them to see other’s eating a variety of healthy meals and food groups. They learn so much from watching YOU eat!
- If your baby is under 1 they’ll still be drinking formula or breast milk. You can serve some during the meal in an open cup, straw, or sippy cup. Children at this age typically don’t need fruit juice, but water is a great option. Once a child has their first birthday they can be transitioned to cow’s milk.
- At every meal offer a fruit or vegetable, carb, and protein for a balanced meal. Snacks don’t have to include a protein. Baby food is optional, but by this age focus on moving them towards all table food at a meal.
- Cutting foods into small pieces can be a pain, but offer small pieces that are easy to pick up and small amounts so they aren’t overwhelmed. This also helps prevent choking hazards of overstuffing and too large pieces that they can’t manage. You can also cut food into stick shapes if your child is able to manage that well.
- This suction mat is also my favorite if your using a chair that pulls right up to the table or if your going to a restaurant. Check out the little pocket to catch the food, brilliant. I used this with all three of my kids, and it’s held up amazingly! Seven years of use, not too shabby.
- If you use a high chair, these suction bowls are awesome for trays!
Before we move on, if your baby is 9-10 months old and struggling to eat table foods, be proactive. They can learn to eat with some specific strategies.
Check out the free workshop that will help you get your baby or toddler on the right track: 5 Easy Changes Parents Can Make To Help Babies & Toddlers Eat Table Foods Well!. Includes a free workbook:)
Food Ideas for 10-11 month and 1 Year Olds
Protein Ideas
Tofu
Meatballs (gluten and dairy free optional with this link)
Meatloaf
Cheese shredded from a hand grater (it is thicker and easier to grab this way)
Salmon
Chicken (make sure it’s a soft texture)
Homemade mini Chicken Nuggets (gluten and dairy free option)
Turkey (ground or breast cutlet)
Hard-boiled egg
Scrambled egg
Hummus
Black Beans
Cheese Spreads
Cottage Cheese
Ricotta Cheese
Crumbled Goat Cheese (or use as spread)
Plain Pulled Port (make sure it’s extra soft)
Shreds of Pot Roast (make sure it’s extra soft)
Yogurt
Tzatziki Sauce (may need to puree if there are large pieces of cucumber in it)
Peanut Butter (now safe to give to babies/toddlers, spread thin or thin out with water)
Olive oil (great healthy fat, drizzle on top of carbs or veggies)
Carb Ideas for Baby and Toddler
Toast
Plain or Buttered Bread
English Muffin
Bagel
Cheerios
Barley
Corn Grits/Polenta
Brown Rice
Short Pasta
Graham Crackers
Town House Crackers
Pancakes
Crepes
French Toast
Tortilla
Pita
Oatmeal
Quinoa
Cream of wheat
Fruit and Vegetable Breads (ie: Zucchini, banana)
Muffins
Fresh Fruit/Vegetable Ideas for Baby and 1 Year Old
Peaches
Watermelon
Plum
Mango
Banana
Avocado
Potato
Sweet Potato
Applesauce
Pears
Peas
Cooked Diced Apples
Cooked Diced Carrots (great to use pieces from soups)
Cooked Diced Celery
Pureed Soups (ie: tomato, butternut squash)
Inside of Baked Potato
Mashed Potato
Mashed Sweet Potato
Broccoli (make sure it’s extra soft)
Cauliflower (make sure it’s extra soft)
Puree Fruits
Butternut Squash
Zucchini
Strawberries
Blackberries
Blueberries
Raspberries (many babies will find these too tart, but still give it a try)
Spinach (use in casseroles or foods you’re mashing up)
*If your baby is struggling with the taste or texture of fresh fruits you can also try freeze dried varieties. They’re also great as quick health snack while you’re traveling.
Baby Meal Plans
Below, I am outlining some various meal plans, just to give you some ideas. Many of the meals would suit a toddler or big kid as well. Again, depending on how your child is managing foods, you may need to dice or mash foods more. I would encourage you to think of what you are eating and if you could modify it for your baby. Ideally you want your baby (soon to be toddler) to be eating what you are eating.
This may mean some planning ahead.
Mash up or chop up what you are eating into small pieces. Once you get into this frame of mind, you will be surprised to think of all the foods your baby can enjoy, too!
Also, I try to vary textures at each meal. Meaning, I want one kind of food that need to be eaten from a spoon and at least one that is finger-fed. It doesn’t always work out this way, but that’s the goal. especially as they are transitioning off of all pureed foods.
Breakfast Ideas for 10 -11 Month and 1 Year Olds
- English muffin with cream cheese and chopped strawberries
- Cottage cheese (depending on age, may need to chop coarsely in food processor), diced pear, and graham crackers
- Diced hard-boiled egg, diced toast with butter, and applesauce
- Cream Of Wheat with pureed berries and plain whole milk yogurt (yes, mix this all together)
- Pumpkin waffles and diced banana
Check out toddler breakfast ideas for more inspiration.
Lunch Ideas for 10-11 month and 1 year Olds
- Tortilla folded in half (quesadilla style) with a little melted cheese inside and mashed avocado
- No sugar added applesauce, zucchini bread, and shredded mozzarella pieces
- Tomato soup with black beans and blueberry cornbread
- Hummus spread on pita with diced fruit salad (or whatever fruit you have on hand)
- Shreds of pot roast in tzatziki sauce and pureed mango-banana sauce (blend pieces of mango and banana together, leaving it a little chunky)
Head over to toddler lunches for 17 more easy and healthy ideas perfect for 1 and 2 year olds!
Dinner Ideas for 10-11 Month and 1 Year Olds
- Ricotta or cottage cheese, spaghetti sauce, spinach, and whole wheat noodles chopped coarsely through a blender or food processor. Also, give some pieces of noodles to finger feed
- Tilapia, steamed and slightly overcooked broccoli, and polenta
- Meatballs, barley, and diced carrots
- Mashed sweet potatoes, tender turkey breast or cutlet, and pieces of buttered bread
- Canned salmon (I always use wild Alaskan), quinoa, and diced apples/butternut squash
Find even more food ideas for babies and toddlers in Ultimate List of Baby/Toddler Meal Ideas and if you’re looking specifically for high calorie foods, click on over to High Calorie Foods for Baby and Toddlers.
Want a Free Printable Food List for 10-11 Month and 1 Year Old’s?
Yup, you heard me right, grab our Mega List of Toddler Foods and Meal Ideas Printable full of tons of finger food ideas for toddlers and babies, with Bonus High Calorie Foods. You can print this out and hang it right on your fridge. I’ll send it right to your inbox!
More for Babies and Toddlers
How to Transition Your Baby to Table Foods
Toddler Portion Sizes: How Much to Serve
How to Teach Your Baby or Toddler to Feed Themself
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Alisha Grogan is a licensed occupational therapist and founder of Your Kid’s Table. She has over 19 years experience with expertise in sensory processing and feeding development in babies, toddlers, and children. Alisha also has 3 boys of her own at home. Learn more about her here.
So glad I found this list! My 13.5 month old son, Henry, us doing well with table food and drinking milk. But right now will only really eat bread, cheese, cheerios, peas and sometimes fruit. His favorites really are any kind of bread/cheese combination – or tortilla/cheese combo. I feel bad giving him this over and over but he really likes it – I have tried tofu, fish, etc. He does get a variety ar daycare so he’s getting choices during the day and at home. Can only hope he starts accepting more and more new foods in the coming months.
Thanks!
Thanks for your comment Melanie, be careful not to cater to him too much. Give him some of what you are eating even if he refuses it and try to set a good example. See my Basics to Eating in the tab at the top of the page for more information.
Thank you!! So glad I found this!
Tasty ideas. I like the taste of those foods and when some are mixed with cheese and sauce, they should be memorable. Plus, those kinds of foods are supposed to be good for colds and overall health- at least, the fruit, meat and vegetables are. Thanks.
These meal ideas has definitely given me some insight. I have been so stressed about what I should be feeding my child. He just turned a year and was born at 27weeks. I’ve been trying to transition him for the last month, but we just moved across country and still trying to get settled so we have not been cooking healthier meals like we normally would. Some days I’m just not sure what to fix for him and revert back to the baby food cause like you said it’s easy. I want him to learn healthy eating habits and he does eat a variety of foods, he’s not too picky. We are also just now transitioning him off the bottle. Most of my stress I feel like just comes from being a first time mom and not knowing what I should be doing. But thanks for the advise, I have my grocery list ready! 🙂
Thanks so much Candyce! It is difficult navigating all of this when it is your first! Let me know if you need more help!
Great ideas for food. I am having a tough time with my one year old right now. He refuses to eat sometimes, but am wondering if I am trying to feed him too much. Do babies this age need snacks? Also, what kind of portion sizes should I be aiming for? I should mention he still gets formula in the morning and evening, but milk all other times. Any advice is appreciated!
Hi! Kids at that age won’t eat sometimes. I would think about weening him off the bottle totally- take it slow, but move in this direction. Also, see my basic strategies in the menu bar at the top- I think that will be really helpful, follow those steps and you will know your on the right track:)
Thank you! This is SO helpful I have a nine month old and I have a hard time remembering she can eat real food! I’m so used to only puréed foods and cut up fruits and veggies. She is such a picky eater too, she won’t eat the same thing twice!
Thanks! Just keep trying those foods and keep everything positive:)
Question here….how do you store it all without it going bad. I cooked a normal amount of rice/noodles etc and she is going through it so slow that I am afraid it will spoil. Any good tricks to keep it fresh and accessible?
Ya, that can be a bit tricky. I freeze what I can and make stuff in small batches. Of course, it is great to eat what she is eating to, so eat some with her:) She will be eating more before you know it, and this won’t be so much of an issue.
Hi! My daughter is 15.5 mo and up til about a mo ago was still eating purees-granted the thicker ones, but she had no interest in table foods or finger foods. Finally I had enough and started putting mashed berries into her yogurt and breakfast pouches (purees) to give it some texture. it wasn’t an easy transition, but now it is easy! We also add cheerios. Now for lunch and dinner she eats mashed potatoes with veggies (I cut them in very small pieces) and instead of putting a gravy on it to make it moist, I do put some carrot and broccoli puree bc it is healthier, but she is eating chunky mashed potatoes! She loves ravioli mac and cheese, could live on yogurt with fruit etc. My prob is she can pick up food, big pieces, small pieces, whatever, and foods she eats, foods she LOVES, puts them up to her mouth, then just is like EH and throws it to the dogs or just smooshes it in her hands! She wont eat puffs, cheerios or any other snacks (crunchy). She loves finger painting, playing in sand and all of that stuff. Any idea how I can get her to eat with her hands?? She does show interest in a spoon. We now feed her with a spoon she will eventually use to feed herself and she grabs it and sometimes takes the food off of it and we have even seen her put it in her mouth upside down. She is a far way off from using it by herself, but she does show interest! Any advice would be wonderful!
Hi! Thanks so much for this! My daughter just turned one 2 days ago. She’s still on pureed foods, but have slowly been giving her a few solid foods (some fruits, puffs, scrambled eggs). I just transitioned her from formula to milk. She’s drinking about 20 oz of milk, 5 oz 4 times a day. Should I be changing when I give her milk? Her schedule is as follows:
Formula when she wakes at 6:45/7 am
Breakfast at 8 am
Nap
Formula at 11 am
Lunch at 12 pm
Nap
Formula at 3/3:30
Dinner at 5:30
Formula at 7:30
Sleep for the night at 8:00 ish
Any advice would be great!!! I’m very excited to start trying some of your meal plans!
Yes, ideally you want to get her away from bottles and into drinking milk from some type of cup. Give her the milk with her meals. Start by eliminating one bottle, at a time, which ever is easiest. Also, make sure to give her 2-3 solids on her tray at each meal. If you run into more difficulties getting her off of baby food I am available for consults- no pressure, just wanted you to know:) Good luck, let me know, how it goes!
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this is wonderful!!!!!
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. You are a life saver. I could kiss you right now 🙂
Hi 🙂 This lust looks really promising for us. I have a 9 month old daughter who previously would eat anything. Now she refuses the spoon and just wants bread and bready-type foods. I am offering a variety, and letting her have a go with her own spoon and bowl, but very little is going down. We have gone from bf’ing just mornings and evenings to maybe 5 times a day. I love to bf, but I am concerned that she’s not getting enough ‘real’ food.
OMG! Thank you so much. It’s been a long time since I did this. I’m taking care of a friend’s baby while she’s in the hospital unexpectedly and boy, I had no idea what I was letting myself in for. This list was really helpful and especially the picture showing what size! everything should be. Awesome and very helpful.
Well, I’m glad I could help:) Good luck!
Thank you for providing this list. I have 18 mth old boy/girl twins. My daughter does well with everything but veggies and my son struggles with everything. I’ve even resorted back to baby jar foods like sweet potatoes, squash and green beans just so they can get some veggies. Hadn’t thought about making zucchini bread or something similar and love the idea of freezing it and using it when needed. I will definitely try that this weekend. Another problem I’m struggling with is that if I place more than one item on my son’s tray, he will automatically pick up what he likes and eat one of them and then proceed to throw everything else on the floor. Once his tray is clear of the foods he doesn’t like, he will then continue to eat his favorite until its gone. Sometimes, he will stop when I tell him “no”, but then proceeds to mash it between his fingers until its unrecognizable. My daughter eats way too fast and tries to cram everything in her mouth and when I block her mouth with my hand and tell her to “wait”, she tries to move my hand so she can cram in more. She hasn’t choked yet, but my fear is that she will one day. She finishes eating in half the time of my son. I’ve considered feeding them one at a time so I can focus on each of them, but the idea of prolonging meal time sounds torturous to me. Besides, last week my pediatrician recommended I butt their highchairs up to one another so that my son can see my daughter eat the foods he doesn’t like in hopes that it will change his mind. Doesn’t appear to be working yet and not sure how long I try this method. Any suggestions would be great. Thank you!!!
The throwing can be so hard at this age- I know from personal experience! Try to stay on top of him about it and when he starts to mash between his fingers change it up in some way- give him a dip, make it fun and exciting. Make sure you demonstrate. If a dip doesn’t work then see if you can get him to interact in some way, can he pretend it’s a car driving around his plate? Eventually I’d imitate smelling the car and giving it a kiss. Try to get him to imitate you. Check out more on this Exploring New Foods with Your Picky Eater- see the article index at the top. Also, I offer consultative services, see the top menu. Lastly, if you are in the states, you will qualify for free in home state early intervention services. Hope that helps- let me know how it goes!