Elevate Everyday Meals in Minutes

Tired of monotonous meal plans? Looking to elevate everyday dishes? Let’s pimp those baby plates!

Feeding your baby can feel like a never-ending loop of Groundhog Day meals, but it doesn’t have to be that way. With a little creativity and planning, you can transform run-of-the-mill baby meals into vibrant, flavour-packed plates that not only nourish but excite those tiny taste buds.

Whether you're a seasoned meal prepper or a sleep-deprived parent just trying to get through the weaning week, “pimping” your baby’s plate can offer more convenience but more importantly, a world of variety, flavour, and texture to boost their learning nad development. Park the pouches and get creative with speedy adaptations to family faves.

Our resident expert and sensory scientist, Zenia Deogan, is on hand to share simple but practical ways to upgrade your baby's meals - making them more diverse, nutritious, and enjoyable, all without adding stress to your day. Let’s make homemade baby food fun again!

Everyday Pasta

Pasta is a cost-effective and convenient lunch staple, especially if you use quick-cook pasta, which can be ready in 4 minutes!

Select your cooked pasta of choice (fusilli is great for binding with other ingredients and a fabulous companion for developing cutlery skills). 

Add a spoonful of tinned tuna (spring water is best), a dollop of mayo and a squeeze of lemon. Garnish with a sprinkle of dill and a twist of black pepper. 

This nutritious meal introduces herbs and safe seasoning. It is great for broadening the palate and encouraging adventurous eaters. It’s also power-packed with omega-3s to fuel brain development.

Alternatively, grate courgette into the same pan as your pasta and cook until soft. Add crushed garlic, a crack of black pepper, and a little lemon zest. 

Cheese on Toast

Here’s another hearty staple that can be served as a light lunch or speedy snack. It’s quick and easy to make and includes easily accessible regular store cupboard ingredients.

Spread a thin layer of tomato paste onto bread fingers to create mini pizza toasts. The tomato paste's natural lycopene is an excellent antioxidant. 

Top with grated cheese before popping under the grill. To keep the crunch, lightly toast the bread before you add the toppings.

Experiment with different cheeses to expose your little one to different tastes. Here, we’ve used Red Leicester and mild cheddar.

Add a little Italian flair by sprinkling with chopped basil for a mini margherita.

Egg & Soldiers

Take this childhood favourite and sprinkle a little sensory science to transform it into a taste and texture sensation perfect for a quick and easy snack plate or lunch.

Take a soft-boiled egg* with toast soldiers, and upgrade with vegetable soldiers. Add avocado fingers rolled in desiccated coconut or sesame seeds. The coconut or sesame seeds bring texture to the dish, which is excellent for a sensory taste experience and delivers a natural non-slip property to the slippery avocado.

Alternatively, dust cooked asparagus with a parmesan and black pepper crust. Encourage your little one to work on their hand-eye coordination and motor control by getting them to dip the spears into the yolk. 

*Yes, you can give your baby runny eggs, as long as they have the British Lion mark on.

Fish & Chips

Who knew simple fish and chips could be elevated so easily and in minutes? Adding two simple ingredients to shop-bought fish fingers and chips can create a multisensory experience that builds familiarity with new flavours and boosts general brain development. 

Add chopped fresh mint to garden peas to give a refreshing twist. Pop a generous wedge of lemon on the plate to add a refreshing citrus flavour profile to the fish fingers. Not only does the lemon heighten the taste experience and expose your little one to attributes of sourness, bitterness, astringency, and sweetness, but it also adds a tactile experience from the juice and waxy exterior.

When your baby is touching and exploring the lemon wedge, they’ll be releasing aroma volatiles into the atmosphere.  All the senses are ignited, and the brain is powering on all cylinders to process this mealtime magic.

Feeling more adventurous and have a little more time to play with? Then take it a step further with panko and coconut breadcrumb cod bites, sweet potato and garlic mash, minty peas, and three-ingredient tartare sauce. The result? A brilliant array of basic tastes—sweet, sour, bitter, and savoury—and a variety of textures, making this a wonderful sensory playground for your mealtime adventurer.

You can grab the full recipe here.

If you’ve enjoyed this, you’ll probably find our Texture Timeline article interesting. Find out more about the critical flavour window and how you can avoid picky eating by moving your baby along the texture timeline at the optimal intervals.

Stay tuned to our socials for more Pimp Their Plate episodes with Zenia Deogan from The Flavour Academy!