Complete Baby Food Recipes Guide

The transition stage (12-24 months) is when your baby moves from purees to table foods. These recipes help your little one experience a variety of textures and flavors.

Transition Stage Overview

• Age: 12-24 months
• Texture: Soft rice → regular rice (rice:water ratio 1:1.5-2)
• Frequency: 3 meals + 2 snacks daily
• Portion: About 1/4 to 1/2 cup rice/grains + sides per meal
• Size: 1/4 to 1/2 inch pieces, easy to chew and swallow
• Seasoning: Light seasoning okay (about 1/3 of adult amount)

Beef Vegetable Fried Rice

Ingredients: 1/2 cup cooked rice, 1 oz ground beef, 1 tbsp diced carrots, 1 tbsp diced onion, 1 tbsp peas

Instructions

1. Finely chop the ground beef
2. Dice carrots and onions into 1/4 inch cubes
3. Heat a pan with a small amount of sesame oil and cook the beef
4. Add vegetables and cook until tender
5. Add rice and stir-fry until well combined
6. Season with 1/4 teaspoon low-sodium soy sauce (optional)

Chicken Curry Rice

Ingredients: 1/2 cup cooked rice, 1 oz chicken breast, 2 tbsp diced potato, 1.5 tbsp diced carrots, 1 tbsp diced onion, baby-friendly curry powder

Instructions

1. Cut chicken breast into small pieces
2. Dice potato, carrots, and onion into 1/2 inch cubes
3. Add vegetables and 2/3 cup water to a pot and bring to a boil
4. Once vegetables are soft, add the chicken and cook through
5. Stir in baby-friendly curry powder and simmer until thickened
6. Serve over rice

Tip: Use additive-free baby curry powder. Many brands make mild versions specifically for toddlers.

Salmon Rice Balls

Ingredients: 1/2 cup cooked rice, 1 oz salmon, pinch of seaweed flakes, dash of sesame oil

Instructions

1. Bake or steam salmon, then flake into small pieces
2. Mix rice with salmon and a tiny bit of sesame oil
3. Form into bite-sized balls
4. Roll in seaweed flakes

Feature: Perfect for self-feeding practice!

Mini Beef Meatballs

Ingredients: 2 oz lean ground beef, 1 tbsp mashed tofu, 1 tbsp minced onion, 1/2 egg yolk

Instructions

1. Press water out of tofu and mash well
2. Mix ground beef, tofu, onion, and egg yolk together
3. Form into small balls (about 1 inch)
4. Steam or boil until cooked through
5. Or pan-fry without oil, rolling to cook evenly

Veggie Egg Custard

Ingredients: 2 eggs, 2 tbsp finely diced zucchini, 1 tbsp finely diced carrots, 1/3 cup water or low-sodium broth

Instructions

1. Beat eggs well
2. Finely dice zucchini and carrots
3. Mix eggs with water (or broth) and vegetables
4. Pour into a heat-safe dish and steam for 15-20 minutes
5. Let cool slightly before serving with a spoon

Chicken and Potato Stew

Ingredients: 1.5 oz boneless chicken thigh, 1.5 oz potato, 1 tbsp diced carrots, 1/3 cup low-sodium broth

Instructions

1. Remove skin from chicken thigh and cut into bite-sized pieces
2. Cut potato and carrots into bite-sized pieces
3. Add broth, potato, and carrots to a pot and bring to a boil
4. Once potato is half-cooked, add chicken
5. Add 1/4 teaspoon low-sodium soy sauce and simmer on low heat

Tofu Veggie Pancakes

Ingredients: 2 oz firm tofu, 1 tbsp grated carrots, 1 tbsp minced onion, 1/2 beaten egg, 1 tbsp flour

Instructions

1. Press water from tofu and mash well
2. Finely grate carrots and mince onion
3. Mix tofu, vegetables, egg, and flour together
4. Heat a pan with a small amount of oil
5. Drop spoonfuls of batter and cook on low heat until golden on both sides

Beef Seaweed Soup with Rice

Ingredients: 1/2 cup cooked rice, 1 oz beef, 2 tbsp rehydrated seaweed (chopped), dash of sesame oil, 3/4 cup water

Instructions

1. Soak seaweed in water and chop finely
2. Mince the beef
3. Heat sesame oil in a pot and sautee beef and seaweed
4. Add water and bring to a boil
5. Season with a tiny bit of low-sodium soy sauce (optional)
6. Serve as soup with rice or mix together as a rice bowl

Finger Food Ideas

• Cheese cubes: Cut baby cheese into small cubes
• Fruit: Halved grapes, blueberries, banana slices, strawberries
• Steamed veggies: Broccoli florets, sweet potato sticks, butternut squash pieces
• Toast: Whole wheat bread with mashed avocado or banana
• Pasta: Fusilli, penne, or other easy-to-grab shapes

Safety note: Always cut round foods (grapes, cherry tomatoes, hot dogs) lengthwise to prevent choking.

Sample Daily Meal Schedule

Tips for This Stage

• Family meals: Serve the same food as the family, just with less seasoning
• Self-feeding: Encourage use of spoon and fork
• Variety of textures: Offer crunchy, soft, and chewy foods
• Minimal seasoning: Use about 1/3 of adult seasoning amounts
• Honey is now safe: Can be introduced after 12 months, but minimize added sugars
• Whole milk: 16-24 oz per day (about 2-3 cups)

Transitioning Tips

As your toddler approaches 24 months, they can eat almost everything the family eats. Here are some tips for a smooth transition:

• Gradually increase texture: Move from very soft to regular table food consistency
• Introduce new foods regularly: It may take 10-15 exposures for a child to accept a new food
• Make mealtimes positive: Avoid pressure or forcing food
• Model good eating: Eat together as a family when possible
• Be patient with mess: Self-feeding is messy but important for development