What menus should I prepare for a 12-month-old baby?

At 1 year old, your baby already eats like a grown-up, with a few minor differences! Quantity , textures, menus to prepare, seasonal recipes, foods to avoid: we give you all the keys .

That There it is! Baby has just blown out their first candle! From now on, their days will be structured around four meals : breakfast with milk , a 12 -month-old baby meal , a tasty afternoon snack, and dinner . You 'll therefore have four opportunities to share a delicious moment with them and provide everything they need day after day.

What menu is suitable for a one-year-old baby?

The advantage from the age of one is that your child can eat the same meals as you. In other words, you won't need to prepare a special dish just for them. However, you will need to pay attention to quantities and textures. If you've planned couscous for lunch, you can easily offer your baby some semolina, a few pieces of soft carrot and turnip, and some meat cut into small pieces. You'll have a ton of possibilities, but keep in mind that variety is key!

To get all the necessary nutrients, you'll need to balance fruits, vegetables, proteins, oils, fiber, and milk**/dairy products. To help you get a clearer picture, we've created a sample menu for a baby:

Breakfast

Breakfast remains an essential moment to start the day well.

At one year old, a baby still needs milk, along with a small amount of cereal. .

Composition idea:

Breastfeeding or stage 3 formula (approximately 240 ml)

4 to 5 teaspoons of infant cereal or a few round biscuits suitable for babies

Optional: a small mashed fruit (banana, ripe pear, etc.) to introduce new flavors , or a breakfast pouch. to last until lunchtime

Tip : Opt for cereals without added sugars.
🔗 Our infant cereals
🔗 Porridge recipe

Lunch

It is often the most complete meal of the day. It contains vegetables, starches, proteins and a source of quality fats.

Example menu:

200 to 250 g of pureed mixed vegetables (carrots, courgettes, butternut squash…)

3 to 4 tablespoons of starchy foods (pasta, rice, semolina…)

4 teaspoons of protein (meat, fish or egg)

2 teaspoons of vegetable oil (rapeseed, olive, sunflower)

20g of pasteurized cheese or a stirred cheese

Unlimited water

For dessert: a fruit pouch or fresh fruit

Tip : Remember to vary the oils for a good balance of essential fatty acids.
🔗 Our baby food for children 12 months and older

To taste

A moment of pleasure and energy to end the day well.

Idea for a balanced snack:

1 dairy product (plain yogurt , fromage frais or stirred yogurt )

1 fruit pouch or fresh fruit cut into soft pieces

Some baby biscuits

Water

Tip : Avoid overly sweet commercial juices. Offer water or unsweetened applesauce instead.
🔗 Our fruit pouches for babies
🔗 Snack recipe: Banana bread

Dinner

Dinner should be lighter, but still provide enough to last until morning.

Example menu:

Breastfeeding, stage 3 milk

Sweet vegetable puree (sweet potato, courgette, green bean…)

Optional: fruit pouch or fresh fruit

Unlimited water

Pssst : avoid heavy meals or stimulating foods before bed. Balance isn't achieved in one meal but over the course of the entire day, so don't stress if one meal doesn't perfectly follow the recommendations!

What foods are forbidden at 12 months?

It can't be stressed enough: sugar and salt should be avoided! This means minimizing ultra-processed baby food (which often contains far too much sugar and salt ) and sugary drinks for babies 12 months and older. In fact, apart from milk and water , your baby doesn't need any other beverages! Other foods to avoid at one year old 1 2 , we find:

Raw meats , shellfish and fish

Raw milk

Soft cheeses made from raw milk

The raw egg or lightly cooked (including in chocolate mousses, homemade mayonnaise or tiramisu !)

Foods that may have a high heavy metal content (game, liver, swordfish, tuna, marlin , marlin)

A guide to good nutritional practices for a 12-month-old baby 's menu

Since your baby can eat almost anything, it's a good idea to focus on seasonal and fresh produce. If you have the time, take a trip to the market to find inspiration at your favorite organic farmer's market stall, or download an app that will give you ideas . Baby meals month after month.

Source : mangerbouger.fr

* Important notice: Breast milk is the ideal and natural food for infants.

* * Breast milk or infant formula if you do not wish or cannot breastfeed.

Food type	Advice	Recommended quantity
Breast milk or growing-up milk		Approximately 500 ml of milk per day
Dairy products	Alternate between plain or with fruit, but always without sugar.	150 to 200 ml of milk or 1 yogurt or 20 g cheese
Seasonal fruits and vegetables	Raw and cooked, all textures with small pieces to chew ( adapt according to the child and their chewing ability/accustomment to eating more or less hard pieces )	At each meal, according to the child's appetite
Dried vegetables	Offer them depending on how baby digests them	twice a week
Starchy foods		3 to 4 tablespoons per day
Meats and eggs	Always cooked thoroughly Choose poultry Chopped, crushed, then cut into small pieces according to age	20g per day (or fish)
Fish and shellfish	Do not give raw shellfish. Crushed and then cut into small pieces according to age	Fish: 2 times/week , including 1 serving of oily fish
Fats	When adding raw oils , choose cold-pressed ones.	2 teaspoons of oil per day or occasionally 2 small pieces of butter
Drinks	Avoid all sugary drinks	Unlimited water
White ham		Cooked ham occasionally: 4 teaspoons

Table data: mangerbouger.fr

At just one year old, your child will be able to fully participate in family meals. Same routine, same menu, same table: you'll be able to enjoy this time and create lots of delicious memories together! Don't let yourselves be interrupted by the phone, the television, or reading the mail : what matters is enjoying life to the fullest as a family, in a relaxed and peaceful atmosphere .

Surprise your baby with original recipes

At 12 months, your baby will transform into a little explorer of tastes ! Learn to surprise them with original recipes like our sweet potato pancakes or our chard, zucchini, pork tenderloin, and Grana Padano puree . As with everything since the beginning of weaning, don't hesitate to let them try new foods, but without forcing them! If you sense some reluctance , don't force your baby . Offer the food in different forms and textures, try again a few days/weeks later, and if necessary, consult a professional if your baby rejects most foods. Before swallowing large spoonfuls of your chard puree, your child may want to know what they're getting into: show them the vegetables before preparing them, let them touch them, smell them, and even taste them . The more you stimulate your baby's senses, the more enthusiastic they will be about mealtimes! Be patient; it sometimes takes several attempts, spaced out over time, to get a child to accept a new food.