Hi everyone! I'm Jazz, the Content & Community Manager at Team Tots (currently on maternity leave!) and mama to my two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Bluebelle, and seven-month-old, Drew.
At the moment, it honestly feels like my whole day revolves around food. Wake up, breakfast. Snack time. Goodness, it’s lunchtime already. “Can I have a banana?”. Spends time researching weaning ideas. Cleans the highchair. Oh, another snack. I need to do a food shop. What am I going to cook for dinner?”. And even before I can relax, it's time to catch up on the endless washing up!
Now my son has entered the wild world of weaning, conveniently as my toddler is going through a fussy eating stage, mealtimes can feel a little overwhelming. To lighten my mental load, I've created a rotation of simple, nutritious meals that work perfectly for different ages and stages. Let me share some fresh foodie inspiration with you!
How do you like your eggs in the morning?
For my two-year-old: Scrambled egg, banana and spinach pancakes, cherry tomatoes and orange slices.
For my seven-month-old: Scrambled egg, banana pancake and an orange slice.
- Making these pancakes is my love language, but if you are short on time, Pots for Tots offers a range of pancakes that take seconds to defrost in the microwave!
- Scrambled egg is always a winner in our household - it's the perfect texture for my son to grasp while practising his pincer grip.
- A quick note on the cherry tomatoes - I serve mine whole to my daughter, as I am confident in how she bites them and she never puts them in her mouth whole, however, it is recommended to cut up tomatoes as they are considered a choking hazard.
Easy peas-y pasta dish
For my two-year-old: Pots for Tots Simple Pasta Bolognese, peas and sliced mango.
For my seven-month-old: Pots for Tots Simple Pasta Bolognese, smashed peas and mashed mango.
- While my daughter isn't a fan of my homemade spaghetti bolognese, she loves the Pots for Tots version! The Simple range is ideal for her as it’s smoother in texture, so she doesn’t spend her time picking out little bits of onion, plus it’s great for my son, who is exploring lots of different textures on his weaning journey!
- Peas are a freezer fave of mine - it’s an easy side dish for any meal. Did you know that just a 40g portion contains about 10% of a toddler’s daily iron requirement?
Avo load of this!
For my two-year-old: Pots for Tots Simple Med Veg Orzo, half an avocado, orange slices
For my seven month old: Pots for Tots Med Veg Orzo, avocado slice, wedge of orange.
- This orzo dish is another that goes down so well with Bluebelle and Drew, and I love that one pot is the perfect size for both of them to share alongside other sides!
- I love to sprinkle milled flaxseeds on their food for some extra nutrients - I add it to avocado, porridge, and Greek yoghurt. Plus, it helps make it easier for my baby to grip onto avocado slices.
Sunday brunch club
For my two-year-old: Bagel with cream cheese, scrambled egg, salmon, sugar snap peas, cherry tomatoes and greek yoghurt.
For my seven month old: Scrambled egg, salmon, and greek yoghurt.
- I don’t know what I would do without greek yogurt - it’s such a staple in our house! I usually serve with milled flaxseeds sprinkled on top, and also squeezy peanut butter.
- Sugar snap peas have been a new addition to our rotation - Bluebelle can't get enough of them! They make such a great on-the-go snack, too.
Curry in a hurry!
For my two-year-old: Pots for Tots Simple Korma, corn on the cob, red pepper slices
For my 7 month old: Pots for Tots Simple Korma
- This Korma is SO good, I’m always secretly hoping there will be leftovers for me! But, it’s probably Bluebelle and Drew’s favourite out of all the Pots for Tots meals, so usually I’m not so lucky…
- Like me, if you don’t feel comfortable giving your baby a whole corn on the cob (as the loose kernels can be a choking hazard), I instead give me son an ‘eaten’ cob! Whilst he won’t get much food from it, the holding, munching and gnawing will support his oral motor skills, and it can help strengthen jaw muscles!
A question you might be wondering - why are you giving your seven-month-old meals when the packs say 9m+ or 1year+? Well, every baby’s weaning journey is different and the ages on pack are just a guide. I feel comfortable with the textures of the meals, and as they are filled with ingredients I myself use at home, I have no concerns about offering these to my son. You can find our more about Pots for Tots age suitability and meal ranges here.
Well there you have it, I hope my menu of meals gives you a little foodie inspiration! Make sure to follow me on Instagram as I often share what I've feeding Bluebelle and Drew on my Instagram Stories. Plus, if you are looking for more snack and meal ideas, I have a huge list here!
Love, Jazz x
