Store cupboard staples for weaning – quick baby meal ideas
We wanted to write this post on store cupboard and freezer essentials for weaning to highlight some of our favourite go-to, quick and nutritious weaning foods, most of which you can buy in bulk and keep in your store cupboard or freezer, ready to make super quick and easy nutritious meals for a baby or toddler.
Why these store cupboard staples are great for weaning
All of these foods are nutritious, practical, fairly inexpensive and easy to create meals out of! This blog focuses on them as weaning foods, but of course they’re perfect for meals for toddlers, children and adults too! We’re all about combining ingredients to make meals for the whole family!
Taking the stress out of weaning
Weaning can be hard enough without worrying about what you have to offer and creating new, fresh meals every day. Sometimes we just need a few last-minute options and ideas to whack out and into a dish for baby or the whole family. That’s when our store cupboard staples come into play, and these are some of our favourites to always have knocking about the house. We’ve created a long list of foods that are a good idea to stock up on before weaning, so they’re ready to go in the cupboard for when you need them.
Your store cupboard shopping list for weaning
So, starting with your very own store cupboard shopping list:
Protein and iron-rich foods
- Tinned fish
- Frozen fish
- Tinned beans and lentils in water
- Dried or tinned chickpeas
- Dried beans and lentils (great for soups, stews and purees)
- Free-range eggs
- Packets of ready-to-go Puy lentils etc.
- Milled seeds
- Nut butters
- Ground nuts such as almonds
You can read more about protein and why it’s important for little ones here.
Carbohydrates (starchy foods)
- Potatoes and sweet potatoes
- Pasta and lasagne sheets
- Quinoa and couscous (ready-to-eat bags are good too, just check for added salt and sugar – ideally you want the ingredients and a little oil, only)
- English muffins (freezer)
- Pitta bread (freezer)
- Flour
- Dried crispbreads, breadsticks, rice cakes and crackers (do check salt contents)
- Oats
We know many parents have questions about fibre for babies and toddlers, so do check out our blog on that.
Dairy
- Long-life milk, if needed
- Cheese (you can freeze this too)
Vegetables, fruit and flavourings
- Frozen spinach
- Frozen mixed veg
- Frozen forest fruits
- Dried apricots, figs and sultanas (largely for older babies and toddlers, and for baking)
- Tins of beans and lentils in water
- Tins of chopped tomatoes
- Mixed herbs and spices – basil, cumin, cinnamon and paprika are some of our favourites
Offering plenty of variety early on is a fantastic way to support your baby to learn to enjoy a variety of flavours and tastes.
Quick weaning meal ideas from your store cupboard
What can you make out of that little lot?
• Breakfast: porridge with oats, frozen fruits, nut butter and ground seeds – making the most of mealtimes!
• Lunch: omelette with spinach and chopped potatoes, or English muffin or pitta pizzas
• Dinner: pasta with tuna and tomato sauce with some pre-frozen veggies on the side, a mac and cheese with some frozen veggies tossed in, or Mexican stuffed potatoes
These can cover any “emergency meals” you need for a good few days! These ingredients also usually last a while in your cupboard, and they’re pretty nutrient dense too!
Just to add, fresh foods are fine to include too – these are just some more affordable, quick options that you can have hanging around
in your cupboard. Adding some fresh bits on top will only add to the delicious meals you can create.
Balancing meals for babies and toddlers
We’re really passionate about helping to make weaning as straightforward and stress-free as possible, so we hope this post gives you some ideas to ease the pressure and make sure you’ve got nutritious and practical foods to offer at all times. Having these foods on hand will also help you include all of the main food groups (vegetables, fruit, starchy foods, protein foods and dairy) and work towards offering your child a varied, balanced diet, which is key to aim for day to day!
Buying weaning foods in bulk
Another positive with some of these options is that they can be bought in bulk, as they often last quite a long time. Packets of oats, peanut butter, multipacks of pulses or tinned fish and frozen spinach often work out cheaper and last a long time – so take advantage, stock up, and you’ll have plenty to keep whipping up easy, nutrient-rich meals!
Don’t forget to check out our favourite store cupboard staples for weaning, with plenty more ideas for how to use them.
For plenty more advice on weaning your baby, including simple, balanced recipes, check out Charlotte’s book How To Wean Your Baby.