Top 5 Favorite Foods for 12-Month-Olds

Here is a list of favorite foods for 12-month-olds, plus links to recipes!

Continuing on with my lists of favorite foods by age, today I wanted to share some of the foods that my baby girl absolutely loved when she was around the one year mark. If your little one has surpassed this age and you want some more ideas, here are my Top 5 Favorite Foods for 18-Month-Olds!

To recap, we did baby-led weaning with Raia and have been incredibly happy with the results thus far. Even now at 18 months old, she’s an adventurous eater and, although she has her moments, she will usually give everything a try. We often find that, if we reintroduce something she previously refused just a few days later prepared a little differently, she gobbles it up.

Here are the top five foods we found Raia enjoyed most when she was 12 months old:

#1 EGG CUPS

If you can get your child to eat egg cups, they will become a go-to for busy mornings! We make a dozen egg cups at once, changing up the mix-ins each time. For example, one week we might include spinach and mushrooms, and the next batch might have tomatoes and basil (and cheese, oh yes, cheese.) You can freeze the cups and pop them out one at a time to microwave and serve at a moment’s notice. I have some great egg cup recipes in my e-cookbook, 30 Freezer-Friendly Recipes for Babies and Toddlers.

#2 BEEF

Maybe it’s because she’s her father’s daughter, but my girl loved her beef at this age (and still does). She especially loves dad’s extra-tender tri-tip that’s been smoked on our Big Green Egg. While everything is good in moderation, don’t shy away from this excellent source of protein and iron. Some other beef items I’ve cooked on the Big Green Egg that have been hits are these Island Style Teriyaki Sliders (just go easy on the sauce because of the sodium) and these sirloin steak bites (minus the boozy sauce).

#3 FRUIT AND VEGGIE POPSICLES

Believe it or not, Raia didn’t get her first tooth until she was just over a year old. So no, we didn’t experience the early teething fits that many parents do, but she still loved chewing and gnawing. What better things to chew and gnaw on than nutrient-dense popsicles? Some fun flavor combos include Avocado Kiwi Spinach, Beet Berry Banana and Carrot Orange Ginger, and you can find all the recipes in my book!

#4 TURKEY AND AVOCADO SANDWICH ON MULTIGRAIN BREAD

This healthy lunch is so easy it doesn’t even need a formal recipe. We take our favorite bread for Raia – Dave’s Killer Bread – and spread avocado all over a slice, then top it with high-quality deli turkey. When looking for deli meats to serve your littles, be sure to look for a brand that has little to no antibiotics or additives and is as natural as possible. Trader Joe’s has some great options, and Applegate is also a trusted brand.

#5 HIDDEN VEGGIE PANCAKES

It took me a while to introduce Raia to pancakes, and I wish I’d done it sooner! They’re definitely one of the top favorite foods for 12-month-olds but, in all honesty, they’ll make most babies happy. They seem like a treat to the kids, so they’re a great way to sneak in some added nutrients, whether it’s from blending fresh spinach into the batter (what kid doesn’t want GREEN pancakes??) or making them taste like carrot cake.

And there you have it! Some of the best foods for 12-month-olds, especially if they’ve been following baby-led weaning.

Now, it’s your turn! Tell me some of your favorite foods for your 12-month-old in the comments below!