12 Month Old Food Ideas | Easy & Nutritious Meals

Feeding 12-month-olds is very important and exciting, as this feeds off the food-to-the-family transition. At this stage, toddlers want to explore a little texture and flavor. Some fantastic 12-month food Ideas include soft fruits, steamed vegetables, scrambled eggs, small pasta, shredded meats, and yogurt.

Mini sandwiches, oat pancakes, and cheese cubes are perfect finger foods.

Foods should be cut into small bite-sized pieces to avoid choking. Foods should be nutrient-rich and support their growth and development. Variety keeps the meals exciting and gradually encourages the child’s healthy eating habits. Toddler supervision while eating is always paramount.

12-Month-Old Food Ideas

Here’s a comprehensive list of 80+ 12-month-old food Ideas that are nutritious, soft, and toddler-friendly. These ideas include breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and finger foods—perfect for little ones transitioning to solid meals while meeting their nutritional needs.

Breakfast Ideas

1. Mashed banana pancakes
2. Oatmeal with mashed berries
3. Scrambled eggs with spinach
4. Mini whole wheat muffins (banana, apple, etc.)
5. Whole grain toast with avocado
6. Greek yogurt with mashed fruit
7. Cottage cheese with pear cubes
8. Mini waffles (unsweetened)
9. Oat banana cookies
10. Chia seed pudding (mildly sweetened)
11. French toast strips
12. Whole grain cereal soaked in milk
13. Baked oatmeal bites
14. Cream of wheat with fruit puree
15. Applesauce with cinnamon
16. Mashed sweet potato with nut butter (thin spread)

Lunch Ideas

1. Mini turkey or chicken meatballs
2. Grilled cheese sandwich strips
3. Pasta with veggie puree sauce
4. Mashed avocado and black bean quesadilla
5. Tuna salad (mild) with soft crackers
6. Shredded chicken and rice
7. Cooked lentils with soft vegetables
8. Mashed chickpea and yogurt mash
9. Turkey and mashed sweet potato
10. Mini veggie muffins
11. Broccoli and cheese rice bites
12. Creamy mashed peas and pasta
13. Soft scrambled tofu with veggies
14. Quinoa and soft-cooked veggies
15. Whole grain pita with hummus

Dinner Ideas

1. Soft-baked salmon flakes
2. Butternut squash mac and cheese
3. Mashed potatoes with steamed broccoli
4. Rice with ground beef and peas
5. Chicken and veggie stir-fry (very soft, no salt)
6. Baked turkey patties
7. Mild lentil curry with rice
8. Soft-cooked gnocchi with mild tomato sauce
9. Mashed cauliflower with cheese
10. Slow-cooked beef stew (shredded)
11. Veggie and cheese-stuffed pasta shells
12. Mild chicken soup with noodles
13. Sweet potato and lentil mash
14. Tilapia with mashed peas
15. Mini veggie burgers

Fruits (Soft or Mashed)

1. Mashed banana
2. Steamed apple slices
3. Peeled and diced pear
4. Soft kiwi slices
5. Mashed ripe mango
6. Seedless watermelon cubes
7. Steamed peach slices
8. Ripe avocado chunks
9. Soft blueberries (smashed if large)
10. Cooked plum slices
11. Cantaloupe cubes
12. Ripe papaya pieces
13. Cooked cherries (pitted and chopped)
14. Dragon fruit cubes

Vegetables (Steamed or Mashed)

1. Steamed carrots
2. Mashed sweet potatoes
3. Cooked green beans (cut small)
4. Steamed zucchini slices
5. Roasted parsnips
6. Soft broccoli florets
7. Mashed cauliflower
8. Soft pumpkin cubes
9. Steamed beets (cut small)
10. Baked eggplant

Snacks & Finger Foods

1. Cheese cubes (mild cheddar or mozzarella)
2. Whole grain puffs or O-shaped cereal
3. Rice cakes (unsalted)
4. Mini rice balls with veggies
5. Soft-cooked pasta pieces
6. Nut butter on banana slices (thinly spread)
7. Hummus on soft pita triangles
8. Boiled egg slices
9. Unsweetened applesauce pouches
10. Yogurt melts
11. Teething biscuits (low sugar)
12. Mini cucumber sticks (peeled & soft)

Recipe

1. Mashed Banana Pancakes Recipe 

Ingredients:

• 1 ripe banana (mashed)
• 1 egg
• ¼ tsp cinnamon (optional)

Instructions:

1. Blend banana, egg, and cinnamon.
2. Warm a non-stick dish on medium-low.
3. Pour little dollops of player and cook ~2 min per side.
4. Cool, some time recently serving.

2. Oatmeal with Mashed Berries Recipe

Ingredients:

• ½ cup oats
• 1 cup milk or water
• ¼ cup mashed strawberries or blueberries

Instructions:

1. Cook oats in water until delicate.
2. Mix in squashed berries.
3. Cool, some time recently serving. Include cinnamon on the off chance that you want.

3. Scrambled Eggs with Spinach Recipe 

Ingredients:

• 1 egg
• 1 tbsp milk
• A handful of finely chopped spinach

Instructions:

1. Whisk the egg and drain.
2. Include spinach and cook over medium-low warm, mixing until set.
3. Cool and cut into toddler-sized chomps.

4. Mini Whole Wheat Muffins (Banana or Apple) Recipe 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 ripe banana (or ½ cup applesauce)
• 1 egg
• ½ cup milk
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Blend all fixings.
2. Fill a smaller-than-expected biscuit tin.
3. Heat at 350°F (175°C) for 12–15 min.

5. Whole Grain Toast with Avocado Recipe 

Ingredients:

• 1 slice of whole grain bread
• ¼ ripe avocado

Instructions:

1. Toast bread gently.
2. Squash avocado and spread on toast.
3. Cut into little strips or bite-sized pieces.

6. Greek Yogurt with Mashed Fruit Recipe

Ingredients:

• ½ cup plain full-fat Greek yogurt
• 2 tbsp mashed banana, mango, or berries

Instructions:

1. Blend squashed natural product into yogurt.
2. Serve instantly or chill for afterward.

7. Cottage Cheese with Pear Cubes Recipe 

Ingredients:

• ½ cup whole milk cottage cheese
• ¼ cup soft pear (peeled, diced)

Instructions:

1. Mix or serve side-by-side.
2. Ensure the pear is soft and ripe for easy chewing.

8. Mini Waffles (Unsweetened) Recipe

Ingredients:

• ½ cup whole wheat flour
• ¼ cup mashed banana or applesauce
• ½ tsp baking powder
• 1 egg
• ¼ cup milk

Instructions:

1. Blend fixings and pour into a scaled-down waffle press.
2. Cook until brilliant.
3. Cool and cut into toddler-friendly pieces.

9. Oat Banana Cookies Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 ripe banana (mashed)
• ½ cup oats
• Optional: pinch of cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Blend the banana and oats.
2. Frame little treats on a lined baking sheet.
3. Heat at 350°F (175°C) for 10–12 minutes.

10. Chia Seed Pudding (Mildly Sweetened) Recipe

Ingredients:

• ½ cup milk (dairy or non-dairy)
• 1 tbsp chia seeds
• 1 tbsp mashed banana or pear

Instructions:

1. Mix all fixings together.
2. Refrigerate 2–4 hours until thick.
3. Blend some time recently serving.