34 Quick & Healthy Daycare Lunch Ideas for 8-Month-Olds
Reading Time: 5 minutes Is meal planning anxiety getting you?
It’s time when the babies are ready to explore a variety of foods. The little 8-month-olds are all set to put their hands on solid stuff. With that, daycare providers and parents are constantly searching for ideas to feed 8-month-olds.
Whether you’re a provider looking to make your daycare lunch menu for 8-month-olds or a parent searching for meal ideas to send to daycare, this blog post will help you.
We’re letting you in on an easy formula that’ll make a balanced plate each time for your baby within minutes. 34 lunch ideas that are easy and quick to prepare. And lastly, 6 magic words that’ll never let you run out of daycare lunch ideas for your 8-month-old.
5 Basic Food Categories for 8-Month-Olds
Whatever you’re feeding your loved one will belong to one of the following categories.
1. Fruits
Essential for vitamins and minerals intake of your baby.
- Applesauce
- Banana slices
- Avocado chunks
- Peach puree
- Pear slices
- Mangoes
2. Veggies
Offer a perfect blend of good carbs, minerals and vitamins.
- Steamed carrots
- Mashed sweet potatoes
- Pea puree
- Zucchini sticks
- Cooked broccoli
- Boiled potatoes
3. Grains
Give your 8-month-old energy to stay supercharged the entire day
- Soft-cooked pasta
- Rice cereal
- Oatmeal
- Quinoa
- Beans
- Whole wheat bread strips
4. Dairy
The food group kids love
- Yogurt
- Cheese cubes
- Cottage cheese
- Breast milk
- Formula milk
5. Meat/ Protein Rich-Foods
Required for growth and nourishment of your loved one.
- Shredded chicken
- Tofu cubes
- Lentil puree
- Scrambled egg
- Ground turkey
A Balanced Lunch for 8-Month-Olds
Let’s address the elephant in the room.
You’re already overwhelmed with daycare lunch ideas, and on top of that, you have to make every meal balanced. The struggle is real! But we have a simple formula that makes this diet balancing a no-brainer.
The trick is 1 main course + 2 side dishes. Pick 1 category to be your main course and serve 2 side dishes from the rest. There are no combo restrictions here. All 5 categories can be paired with any other. So, see what you have in hand and toss it on the kid’s plate.
34 Daycare Lunch Ideas for 8-Month-Old
18 Lunch Ideas
- Brown rice with cooked meat, broccoli and cooked carrots.
- Vegetable noodles: Shred vegetables in noodle shape and top it off with hummus or tomato sauce.
- Chickpea cereal: Boiled and mashed chickpeas mixed with milk or yogurt.
- Oats with boiled egg, steamed spinach and ground flaxseed.
- Avocado toast with sliced banana.
- Chicken sticks with hummus dip and teething crackers.
- Vegetable salad containing diced veggies with a smoothie.
- Fried rice with tofu and a yogurt pouch.
- Soft-boiled sweet potato with cooked chickpeas, zucchini and olive oil.
- Scrambled egg wrap with bell pepper and shredded cheese.
- Quinoa with cooked shrimp, roasted red pepper and diced avocado.
- Sweet potato puree topped with steamed spinach and cashew butter.
- Whole wheat pasta with cooked chicken and mushrooms.
- Pureed rice with vegetable pouch or milk.
- Yogurt parfait with fresh fruits and nuts.
- Hummus wrap with cooked turkey and steamed vegetables.
- Omelet with cooked veggies and cheese.
- Whole grain toast with nut butter or avocado.
11 Pureed Food Ideas for 8-Month-Olds
If you want to feed pureed food, here are some ideas you can add to the main course of the child’s lunch:
- Mixed vegetable puree: Mix a few vegetable purees to make a nutrient-rich lunch for your baby.
- Mashed potatoes
- Avocado puree
- Pumpkin puree
- Banana puree
- Sweet potato mash
- Carrot puree
- Applesauce
- Pea puree
- Butternut squash puree
- Pears and applesauce
5 Finger Food Ideas
Finger food ideas for 8-month-olds include:
- Soft fruits like banana, peach, mango and kiwi
- Cooked vegetables such as carrots, potatoes and green beans
- Pasta with cooked ground meat or cheese
- Baked fish sticks
- Chicken sticks
Overwhelmed? Just Remember These 6 Words
Okay, so here are those 6 magical words that never let you run out of daycare meal ideas.
You know those times when you’re blank on what to put on your kid’s plate? These words will save you at those times.
Here you go with the secret: Leftovers, mash, boil, roast, puree and steam.
You can literally take any food item and prepare it in one of the above 6 ways.
Leftovers: Parent’s biggest source of their kid’s daycare lunches. It’s easy, affordable and requires no extra effort.
Mash: Fruits, veggies or anything that can be mashed to form a thick paste will be perfect for this age group.
Boil: When boiled and sliced, any vegetable or meat will be soft enough for your little one.
Roast: Give a different flavor to your kid. Easy and takes only minutes.
Puree: Take any vegetable or fruit and turn them into a puree, or you can buy organic pouches as well.
Steam: Steam whatever veggies you have and make a veggie salad.
8-Month-Old Daycare Food Restrictions
These are a few things to consider when dealing with daycare lunches for 8 to 9-month-olds.
Messy/Liquid Foods
Thick purees are fine. However, foods that are too liquid aren’t a good option for daycare. They create more mess, which is difficult for providers to clean.
Providers and parents should both plan low-mess foods. And use properly covered containers for liquids to avoid spilling.
Peanuts and Allergens
The most common food allergy in the US is nut allergy, and hence, most US daycares are nut-free. So avoid nuts at all costs.
Foods With Choking Risks
Any food that can cause choking should be sliced, mashed or totally avoided—for example, cherry tomatoes, blueberries and grapes.
Processed Foods
Daycare menus and your kid’s lunch box shouldn’t be filled with processed foods. They’re low in nutrition plus not a good choice for babies. Give them fresh, organic and nourishing foods to fuel their growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Won’t My 8-Month-Old Eat at Daycare?
Your baby might be overwhelmed by all the food you put on their plate. Introduce small portions of one or two items first and build your way up to proper meals. If your baby is just starting daycare, they might be stimulated by the new environment and routine. Give them some time to adjust, and try giving them meals they’re familiar with.
Conclusion
Daycare lunch for 8-month-olds is no longer a tension. You can prepare a complete month’s lunch meal plan with all the ideas mentioned here. And the best part is they are super easy and quick to make.
Remember the magic words: Leftovers, mash, boil, roast, puree and steam. Just see what you have in your fridge, and you can serve it to your little one in one of these 6 ways.
Enough of us talking; it’s your turn now. Let us know in the comments which ideas you’re gonna try and any meal-prepping tips or ideas that work for you.
Happy Feeding!
