3 recipe ideas for your 12-month-old baby

At 12 months, your baby’s food diversification is already well underway. Your child can now eat the vast majority of foods. How can you make sure they have the richest diet possible with the most varied ingredients?

From classic purée to fruit pancakes and cereals, here are our recipe ideas for your 12-month-old baby.

What are the nutritional needs of a 12-month-old baby?

Foods all provide different nutritional benefits. As your baby becomes more active, their energy needs increase. The main challenge is to establish a diet that supports your child’s health and harmonious growth while varying ingredients as much as possible. To do this, your baby’s diet should mainly consist of fruits and vegetables, protein-rich foods, dairy products, and cereals.

For example, you can vary sources of starches by offering rice, quinoa, lentils, or dried peas, which provide energy and fiber.

Since your baby’s immune system is not yet fully developed, you should be cautious when giving foods that carry risks of food poisoning such as eggs or raw fish (salmon, tuna…). Also watch out for foods that present a choking risk, such as nuts or raw hard vegetables (carrots, celery, fennel…).

Your baby has specific nutritional needs that are essential for their development. It is important to remember that foods complement each other and that no single food provides all nutrients on its own. With varied recipes and diverse ingredients, you can help your baby eat in a healthy and balanced way. This also allows them to discover different flavors and textures and refine their tastes.

Good to know: at 12 months, your baby is still too young to cook alongside you. Around 18 months, they can start helping by stirring or transferring ingredients. This helps develop your child’s cooperation and creativity!

Want to learn more? Feel free to download the May app, where you’ll find plenty of resources to support and guide you throughout your journey as a new parent.

How much food should you give a 12-month-old baby?

At 12 months, your baby’s diet continues to evolve and gradually becomes structured around four meals per day: breakfast, lunch, snack time, and dinner.

What should your 12-month-old baby eat for breakfast?

At 12 months, solid foods are increasingly part of your baby’s daily routine even though breast milk (or infant formula) still plays an important role in their diet. For breakfast, it is recommended to give 210 to 250 ml of breast milk/toddler milk, which you can accompany with cereal or a piece of bread. You can also add a raw or cooked fruit if you notice that your baby is still hungry.

What should your 12-month-old baby eat for lunch?

For lunch, a plate containing 2/3 vegetables, 1/3 starches, and 20 g of protein is recommended. Remember to add 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil or a small knob of butter to provide essential fatty acids. For dessert, you can offer a dairy product or cheese and a fruit or a fruit compote.

Warning: the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) recommends avoiding raw-milk cheese for young children before the age of 5. Instead, choose pasteurized cheese.

What should your 12-month-old baby eat for snack time?

For snack time, it is recommended to give babies 150 ml of breast milk/toddler milk or a dairy product along with 1 fruit or 1 fruit compote. A small piece of bread or a biscuit can occasionally be offered.

Warning: children naturally have a strong attraction to sweet flavors from birth. This preference is partly biological: sugar provides energy and reminds them of the taste of breast milk.

However, it is important to limit added sugars because children often already consume enough through everyday foods (fruit, milk, cereals, processed foods). Excess sugar can promote cavities, hyperactivity, and in the long term, health problems such as overweight or diabetes.

Before age 3, very sugary products should remain occasional. After that, they can be consumed in moderation. The key is to establish healthy eating habits early on, avoiding using sugar as a reward and prioritizing a varied and balanced diet.

What should your 12-month-old baby eat for dinner?

Baby dinners are generally lighter than the other meals of the day. Most often, vegetables and starches cooked with 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil are recommended. For dessert, you can choose a dairy product, a breastfeeding session, or a bottle of breast milk/infant formula of about 180 ml.

Protein intake should be measured so as not to exceed 20 g per day during the second year of life.

Our 3 delicious recipe ideas for your 12-month-old baby

If you’re running out of inspiration, here are some recipe ideas for your 12-month-old baby:

Banana pancakes for your 12-month-old baby’s breakfast:

To change things up from cereal, here is a delicious pancake recipe:

• Blend two very ripe bananas (if your child doesn’t like them, you can try the recipe with other fruits).
• Add 125 g of flour, 100 ml of milk (cow’s milk or almond milk), and 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil to the mixture.
• Mix everything until you obtain a smooth, even texture.
• Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat. Pour two tablespoons of batter and let cook for a few minutes on each side. The appearance of bubbles will help you know when to flip the pancake.

Shepherd’s pie for your 12-month-old baby’s lunch:

Not sure what to make for meals? Here is a homemade shepherd’s pie. For the mashed potatoes:

• Peel the potatoes.
• Cook the potatoes in a steamer with spinach.
• Once cooked, blend everything while adding a small knob of butter and a serving of powdered baby milk.

For the ground meat:

• Clean and finely chop one onion.
• Sauté the ground meat and onion with 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil for 2–3 minutes.
• Then add small diced tomatoes, garlic, and basil.
• Let cook over low heat with the lid on for 5 to 10 minutes, then mix the mashed potatoes and the meat together.

Tomato crumble for your 12-month-old baby’s dinner:

Preparing the tomatoes:

• Wash and peel 3 tomatoes, making sure to remove the stems.
• Cut the tomatoes into small pieces and remove most of the juice.
• Cut a clove of garlic and chop it.
• Sauté the garlic in a pan with a small amount of water for a few minutes, then add the tomatoes.
• Let cook over low heat for about ten minutes and preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) in the meantime.

Preparing the crumble topping:

• Start by washing the basil and finely chopping it.
• Mix 10 g of softened butter, flour, breadcrumbs, and parmesan in a bowl. Then add pepper and basil and mix everything with your fingers until you obtain a slightly crumbly dough.
• Place the tomatoes in a buttered dish and cover them with the crumble topping.
• Bake everything for 20 minutes and it’s ready! Your child can now enjoy their crumble.

In summary, your 12-month-old baby is discovering an increasingly varied diet while still continuing to consume breast milk or toddler milk. This period is ideal for introducing new flavors, textures, and food combinations while ensuring meals remain balanced and suited to their nutritional needs. Fruits, vegetables, starches, proteins, and dairy products gradually find their place in their daily routine.

Simple, homemade recipes are often the best for helping them gently discover new foods. Fruit pancakes, shepherd’s pie, or vegetable crumble: these easy preparations can help develop your child’s curiosity about food while sharing enjoyable moments together.

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Crédits photos : edb3_16 | vladdeep

This text was translated from French by an artificial intelligence. The information, advice, and sources it contains comply with French standards and may therefore not apply to your situation. Make sure to complement this reading by visiting the May US/UK app and consulting the healthcare professionals who are supporting you.