Your Guide to Planning Baby Meals for Busy Mums

Being a mother is a full-time job, but most of us are busy moms with varied tasks on our to-do list – the different hats we don, is simply beyond belief! As busy moms, it may not be easy to prepare meals from scratch every single day, but at the same time make sure you are not compromising on nutrition. Planning baby meals is important for mothers like you who do not want to compromise on nutritious meals for your baby even on busy days.  

Moms may find it difficult and challenging to organise baby meals, not because they lack the knowledge to prepare meals, but rather because they have to manage multiple things together. But it's not as difficult as you would think if you make it a practice to plan baby meals. We are aware of how challenging preparing meals each day can be, especially for babies. However, with a little foresight, you can completely change your meal planning routine, and prepare healthy food for your infant each day. 

The fact that women are now an important part of the workforce rather than permanent figures in the kitchen cooking extravagant dinners, creates a conundrum. Planning infant meals throughout the day is something most moms are not familiar with. Boiling, pureeing, stowing and feeding your baby is time-consuming and challenging. So, how can you accomplish this effectively? With our hectic schedules, it is natural to feel guilty about it. If you’re concerned that fresh baby food requires more time and energy, fret not, here are some ideas that are simple that can help you in preparation before leaving home - 

• Create a weekly meal plan.
• Attempt just one flavour or texture at a time.
• Make 5 meals to feed your baby three times a day, keeping food aversion in mind.
• Advance texture once your baby is comfortable.
• Try making purees out of fruits and vegetables that are simple to prepare.
• As your infant becomes acclimated to eating, start with thin, pureed foods and gradually thicken them. Soft foods that have been coarsely chopped come next, then lumpy, mashed foods.  

Plan The Next Day While Preparing Today’s Meal 

This is one of the top tips for busy moms – plan for the next day while cooking today. While you’re prepping for dinner tonight, make preparations for the baby meals tomorrow. This just means you can pull out any veggies, soak the grains if needed, make purees etc. The next hectic day will merely be simplified. 

A calendar helps you keep necessary ingredients ready for the week, in order to quickly prep up the meal; whether it is doing your grocery at one go, or ordering all that you need online. It is as simple as having everything you need at your disposal, rather than scurrying around when you are also getting ready for a busy day at work. Build a plan based on what you have and how your week is planned. List down the recipes for every meal, and if possible, try and make the base ready for some of these over the weekend. So, it is easy to simply get it out of the refrigerator, add the main ingredients, boil/puree, and feed. 

A Daily Meal Timetable 

A daily meal schedule at your hand is super helpful, as a baby needs to eat every 2 hours, and if you have your daily plan handy, it will only ease your stress. You can safely rely on nutritious meals, snacks, purees etc. that are available for a few meal replacements so that you don’t have to cook all the meals by yourself. Ensure you check the label for no added preservatives, sugar, date of manufacture or other ingredients. 

One of the finest methods to increase the intake of nutrients in kids or babies is through vegetable or chicken soup, especially if they are picky eaters. You can prepare a pot, store it in tiny containers, and feed the infant from it over the course of a few days. It may occasionally make up the majority of a meal.  

Mashed Veggies 

This is a substantial meal that satisfies the nutritional and health needs of a young child between the ages of 8 months and one year. Combine steamed veggies - a tasty combo is sweet potatoes, beans, and carrots. Mash the veggies with a fork. Vegetables can be blended and steamed in separate batches, and then frozen. Simply defrost and reheat in a pan with ghee before a meal. It is just as fresh and perfect for when you are crunched for time. 

Protein Intake 

Babies as young as 8 months old can begin consuming softly cooked meals. Giving cheese or paneer (cottage cheese) chunks that have been lightly fried in ghee makes sense as finger snacks. Pieces of soft-cooked fish and vegetables make a delicious non-vegetarian meal option that requires almost no preparation time. Cheese and paneer are great ways to fill a child's stomach with protein and dairy fat. 

As a busy mom, meal planning for your baby might seem a little overwhelming because you need to compile a list of a variety of recipes to feel like your meals are varied and nutritious. A healthy variety of baby food is also available, which packs in the required nutrients, and is freshly made for your baby.