Food Ideas for 7 Month Old Babies

When your baby hits the seven-month mark, he/she gears up for some important physical milestones like sitting up, teething, etc. To be able to hit these milestones, your baby needs to be physically strong and prepared to take on these challenges. Providing the right kind of nourishment in this critical growth period is very important for the baby. During this time, the baby receives the essential nutritional supplements from both breast milk/formula milk and solid food. Here are some amazing options for healthy food for a 7-month baby that you can incorporate into your child’s diet along with a 7-month baby food chart. 

Also Read: 7 Months Old Baby Milestones

Video: Food Ideas for 7 Month Old Baby

Best Foods for Seven Month Old Babies

After introducing a few solid foods to your baby at six months, you can slowly diversify the options and incorporate more variety by the next month. Here are some interesting options for solid food for a 7 month baby.

1. Fruit Puree

Fruits are a great source of vitamins, minerals and fibre. Fruits like apple, chikoo, papaya, banana, watermelon, avocado, etc. are great options for a snack or a meal.

2. Vegetables

Vegetables contain essential multi-vitamins and minerals. Different nutritious vegetables can be given, by steaming them and making a puree. Steamed vegetable wedges can also be fed to the baby as an excellent snack.

3. Porridge

Porridges made from single grain cereals make for a great nutritional supplement for babies. Grains like rice, wheat, oats, barley, millets etc. can be processed and powdered to make a porridge mix.

4. Meat Puree

Meat, such as chicken, are high protein and carbohydrate foods that can be introduced to babies in the form of a puree.

5. Egg

Egg is a popular source of healthy fat and protein. It can be given to babies in bite-sized pieces after boiling.

6. Cheese

Cheese made from pasteurised milk is widely available in the market. It is rich in fat, protein and vitamins, and babies love it as well.

7. Kichdi

Kichdi, made out of rice, wheat, or dal, with mild spice and salt is a filling and nutritious meal for small babies. This also serves as their first taste of adult food.

Also Read: Best Learning Activities For 7 Month Old Baby

Foods To Avoid For 7-Month-Old Baby

Here are some foods you must avoid giving to your 7-month old:

1. Cow’s milk 

You shouldn’t give your baby cow’s milk as their digestive system has not yet adapted and is not developed enough to process cow milk.

2. Low-fat milk and dairy products

This can cause an excessive intake of protein along with a low intake of essential fats. 

3. Honey

Giving your baby honey can cause botulism.

4. Salt 

The kidneys not sufficiently developed enough to be able to process salt. 

5. Fruit juices

You should avoid giving your baby fruit juices due to the high sugar content in them. 

6. Unpasteurized products

They can contain dangerous bacteria which may arm your little one. 

7. Smoked & cured meats / processed food

It can lead to an excessive salt intake. 

8. High mercury fish such as fresh tuna, halibut, grouper, shark

It can lead to an excessive intake of mercury. 

9. Chocolate

It has caffeine content which should not be given to little ones. 

Quantity of Food Per Day

Typically, babies who are seven months old take three solid food meals and two snacks in between. Breastfeeding in the morning and night, with some mid-day feeding sessions, is also part of the routine. However, solid foods should only be complementary to the breast milk and must not be replaced or stopped. 

Typically, babies consume about a quarter cup of puree or porridge in a single meal. Based on the demand, you can increase the quantity. Babies also consume an average of 800-900 ml of Breast milk or formula milk.

Video: Diet Plan for a 7-Month-Old Baby

7 Month Old Baby Food Chart/Meal Plan

Following a food schedule helps immensely in planning and preparing baby meals. It also helps in incorporating a variety of of recipes that balance the nutritional requirements of the baby. Here is a sample 7-month-old baby food schedule that you can follow, to design your own chart.

Diet for a 7 Month-Old – Week 1, Day 1

Diet for a 7 Month-Old – Week 1, Day 2

Diet for a 7 Month-Old – Week 1, Day 3

Diet for a 7 Month-Old – Week 1, Day 4

Diet for a 7 Month-Old – Week 1, Day 5

Diet for a 7 Month-Old – Week 1, Day 6

Diet for a 7 Month-Old – Week 1, Day 7

Diet for a 7 Month-Old – Week 2, Day 1

Diet for a 7 Month-Old – Week 2, Day 2

Diet for a 7 Month-Old – Week 2, Day 3

Diet for a 7 Month-Old – Week 2, Day 4

Diet for a 7 Month-Old – Week 2, Day 5

Diet for a 7 Month-Old – Week 2, Day 6

Diet for a 7 Month-Old – Week 2, Day 7

Diet for a 7 Month-Old – Week 3, Day 1

Diet for a 7 Month-Old – Week 3, Day 2

Diet for a 7 Month-Old – Week 3, Day 3

Diet for a 7 Month-Old – Week 3, Day 4

Diet for a 7 Month-Old – Week 3, Day 5

Diet for a 7 Month-Old – Week 3, Day 6

Diet for a 7 Month-Old – Week 3, Day 7

Diet for a 7 Month-Old – Week 4, Day 1

Diet for a 7 Month-Old – Week 4, Day 2

Diet for a 7 Month-Old – Week 4, Day 3

Diet for a 7 Month-Old – Week 4, Day 4

Diet for a 7 Month-Old – Week 4, Day 5

Diet for a 7 Month-Old – Week 4, Day 6

Diet for a 7 Month-Old – Week 4, Day 7

Video: 7 Month Old Baby Food Recipes

Food Recipes for 7-Month-Old Infants

Many babies would have started growing a tooth or two by seven months of age. Even if they do not have well-sprouted teeth, they definitely have stronger gums, which gives them the tendency to chew on finger foods for a long time. Here are some homemade baby food recipes for 7-months-old babies.

1. Wheat Pancakes

Ingredients:

• Wheat flour-1 cup
• Jaggery syrup- ¼ cup
• Water– as per requirement
• Fennel seeds-1 teaspoon

How to Prepare:

• To the wheat flour add jaggery syrup and mix well.
• Dilute with water to a semi-solid consistency
• Add fennel seeds to the batter and mix. Allow it to rest overnight or for a few hours before preparing pancakes.
• In a tawa, grease with ghee and pour it in the shape of dosa.
• Cook on both sides with ghee and tease it out to serve.

2. Ragi Apple Porridge

Ingredients:

• Ragi flour-1 cup
• Apple- ½
• Ghee-1 teaspoon
• Water-as per requirement

How to Prepare:

• Cut and peel the apple into small cubes. Steam it in water or in a pressure cooker and mash it well to a smooth paste.
• In a pan mix the water and ragi flour to a smooth paste and cook it in low flame till it bubbles.
• To this mixture add the apple puree and cook further for five minutes.
• Switch off the heat once it’s cooked and add a spoonful of ghee.

3. Millet Porridge

Ingredients:

• Homemade millet powder-1/2 cup
• Water- 1-2 cups
• Breast milk/formula milk- ½ cup

How to Prepare:

• In a vessel, mix the millet flour with water and stir continuously to make a smooth paste without lumps.
• Switch on the heat and cook the mixture well till it starts to form bubbles.
• At this stage reduce the heat and add the milk to bring it to the required consistency.
• As an additional flavour, you can add the puree of any fruit to give it a sweetness.

4. Moong Dal Khichdi

Ingredients:

• Green moong dal-1/2 cup
• Rice-1/2 cup
• Turmeric powder-1 teaspoon
• Cumin seeds- ¼ teaspoon
• Ghee-1 teaspoon
• Water-3/4 cup

How to Prepare:

• Clean the rice and dal and soak it for about half an hour
• Add a pinch of turmeric powder and cumin seeds to the drained dal and rice .
• Cook it in a pressure cooker with a ¾ cup of water.
• Mash it with a blender or with a ladle and feed

5. Pear Puree

Ingredients:

• Pear-1
• Water/milk-1/4 cup

How to Prepare:

• Clean and peel the pear.Cut the fruit into small pieces after taking out the seed.
• In a pan of boiling water, cook the fruits for a few minutes with closed lid.
• Mash the cooked pear with a blender or a mixie.
• Add water or milk to the puree to bring it to the right consistency.

6. Lentil Soup

Ingredients:

• Red lentils- 3 tablespoons
• Carrot- 1
• Onion- 1/2 an onion
• Water- as required
• Oil- 1 teaspoon

How to Prepare:

• Finely chop the the onion and carrot.
• Heat the oil in a pan, on medium flame, add the onions and cook till translucent.
• Add the carrots and saute for 2-3 minutes.
• Add the lentils to the pan.
• Pour water till the lentils are covered and allow to boil.
• Cook for 15-20 minutes until the lentils are soft.
• Cool down completely, and puree into a soup consistency.
• Warm it up before serving to your baby.

7. Carrot Badam Kheer

Ingredients:

• Carrot- 2
• Almonds/ Badam- 5
• Milk- 3/4th cup
• Sugar- 3 tablespoons

How to Prepare:

• Wash, peel, and cut the carrots in halves.
• Add water and pressure cook for 2 whistles.
• Once completely cooled, grind into a smooth puree.
• Transfer to a pan, add sugar and milk, and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Serve warm.
  

8. Berry Porridge 

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoon porridge oats
• ¼ banana
• Frozen blueberries (you can use fresh blueberries too)
• 1 tablespoon yoghurt
• Water

How to Prepare:

• Add the oats and water to a saucepan. Let them cook till the mixture thickens and softens.
• Add small pieces of mashed bananas and blueberries as a topping before serving.

9. Tangy Chicken Fingers

Ingredients:

• Skinless chicken breast
• ½ lemon juice

How to Prepare:

• Take the chicken breast and slice it into thin medium-sized pieces.
• Cook them with a small squeeze of lemon juice. 
• Once cooked, shred them into bite-sized pieces. 

10. Veggie Hotpot

Ingredients:

• ½ leek
• ½ carrot, peeled and cut
• 1 potato, peeled and cut
• 1 tablespoon beans, chopped
• 1 teaspoon oil
• Water

How to Prepare:

• Peel and cut the carrots and potatoes into small pieces. Cut up the beans and leeks too.
• Take a saucepan with water and add in leeks, potato, beans, and carrots. Bring it to a boil and let it simmer for 15 to 20 minutes till all the vegetables are cooked.
• Once cooked and cooled, blend these vegetables into a puree.
• Serve this to your little one as a puree. 

Also Read: Toys for a 7-month-old Baby

Feeding Tips

Here are some important tips for feeding your seven-month-old baby,

• Do not force feed your baby. Different babies have different appetites and taste preferences. Look at the wet and soiled diaper count (which should ideally be 5 or above, per day) to determine if they are getting enough food. Supplement solid foods with a generous amount of breast milk or formula milk to make up for the nutritional requirements.

• When introducing a new food, always wait for three days. This gives time for the body to react to the food and show symptoms of an allergic reaction. In cases where the baby has an allergy to a particular food, stop it for a few months and retry again.

• Keep a dedicated place for eating food, to establish proper eating habits. This habit creates a connection between the place and food, in the baby’s mind, making feeding sessions less strenuous for the parents.

• Encourage the babies to explore different food by giving them finger foods. At this age, babies tend to have a strong urge for biting and finger foods greatly help them soothe the gums. This also gives them a first-hand experience with the texture and taste of their food.

• Avoid feeding with a distraction. This takes away from the fun of enjoying their food.

• Gagging or choking is a serious hazard in babies, especially when they eat food with lumps or when they chew off a large piece of finger food. Try to monitor the baby while he or she is eating, and react immediately in the event of the baby having a chocking episode.

• Clean fruits and vegetables properly before feeding them to your child. Fruit and vegetable purees can be used as a snack option, rather than a meal. Try to avoid mixing milk with fruits, as it interferes with digestion.

• Clean and sterilise the utensils used for making baby food, as babies tend to catch infections very soon. Make use of a good food processor to prepare baby food without lumps.

FAQs

How Do I Know When my Baby Is Ready For Solid Food?

Most babies can eat a pureed form of solid foods at 6 months of age. By 8-9 months of age, they can eat a variety of different food groups. If you have any doubts, consult your paediatrician. 

Can I Give Curd And Butter to a 7-month Old?

Yes, you can give curd and butter to your 7-month-old. However, you must keep an eye out on the quantity and quality of the curd and butter you are serving your little one. 

Can I Give Eggs To 7-month Baby?

Yes, you can give your 7-month old eggs. 

Seven-month-old babies require a healthy and nutritious diet to fuel their developing body and brain. It is also a transitory phase where they start eating solid food and get acquainted with different tastes. Exposing them to as many vegetables and fruits as possible will go a long way in establishing good eating habits. Use this 7-month-old baby food list to curate your unique food chart for your little one!

Disclaimer:

1. Each child is different and so use these meal plans as a trusted guide as per your discretion. You can modify the meals according to your child’s preferences / requirements.
2. Never force-feed a child.
3. While preparing formula, please follow the instructions on the box and use the measuring spoon provided with it.
4. While introducing solid food to a baby, initially, one needs to prepare watery gruels/soups. As a child gets older, the caretaker/ mother has to increase the thickness of the liquids slowly according to the child’s capacity to swallow. Foods that are too thick can cause stomach upset/ unnecessary load; while excessively watery food might cause the child to remain hungry.
5. Some kids may eat less on some days and that is absolutely alright. However, if a child eats less for more than 3-4 consecutive days, please visit a doctor to guide further.
6. A child may eat less during the teething phase or if he/she may not be feeling well. You could increase breast milk /formula feeds on those days. Re-introduce the foods once the child is back to normal.
7. Don’t stop feeding if the child is suffering from diarrhoea.
8. You can alter the taste of the food by adding some natural flavours like cinnamon, jeera powder, lemon juice, curry leaves etc. if the child doesn’t accept the food initially.
9. If your child suffers from an allergy to nuts, gluten or eggs, please consult your doctor before feeding him/her any foods that may contain them.

Also Read: Food Ideas for 8 Months Old Baby