The Tasting Plate

I love the tasting plate because it gives Harry some freedom to eat what he wants and try new things in an non-confronting way. I find by combining something I know he loves and is familiar with on the plate with something new, he is much happier to try it.

The Tasting Plate is also a great idea for when your baby hits that wonderful fussy eating phase and wants to experiment with some finger foods. You might like to read our posts on Fussy Eating and The Mealtime Ritual to start a great mealtime routine for your family. Offering an array of new tastes and textures is a good way to find out what your baby likes, and keeps meal times interesting and fun.

You can start The Tasting Plate when you baby is quite young by offering age appropriate foods like soft steamed vegetables. As your baby gets older you can include all sorts of different foods for them to pick and choose. The idea of the tasting plate is that it comes after you have spoon fed your baby, so you know they have eaten a good meal, and the plate is just for fun and experimentation to start with. Eventually, The Tasting plate will become the actual dinner plate as your baby refuses to be spoon fed, and you will have successfully transitioned to family foods.

Unless your baby is over 12 months, you might find it better to offer each food to taste one at a time, or try not to offer too much of one thing, otherwise it can be too overwhelming and the whole lot will be ditched over the side of the highchair.

Nutrition Note:  If all options on the tasting plate are a healthy choice for your toddler you can have peace of mind regardless of how much and what tastes they chose to eat.  And there’s no rushing to the pantry to make something else for them to eat!

Finger food safety

As with all finger foods, there are some risks with choking. Those risks can be avoided by taking simple precautions:

Make sure your baby is sitting upright to eat

Don’t give your baby whole nuts or hard inappropriate foods

Cut small fruits such as cherries in half and remove any pips

Don’t let anyone except your baby put food into his mouth

Never leave your baby alone with food

Here are some of Harry’s Tasting Plates:

PLATE 1

PLATE 1:

Salmon avocado sandwich fingers,
Diced mango,
Pumpkin risotto balls.

PLATE 2

PLATE 2:
Roly poly pork,
Zucchini pasta,
Diced steamed pumpkin.

PLATE 3

PLATE 3:
Beetroot and pear risotto,
Baby BLT,
Diced mango.

PLATE 4

PLATE 4:
Cottage pie,
Avocado on toast,
Diced rock melon.

PLATE 5

PLATE 5:
Boiled egg,
Salmon rissole,
Diced pear.

PLATE 6

PLATE 6:
Leek sweet potato and cauliflower puree,
Steamed corn on the cob,
Cheesy triangles.

PLATE 7

PLATE 7:
Vegemite toast,
Diced mango,
Apple cinnamon creamed rice.

PLATE 8

PLATE 8:
Pick ‘n’ mix vegetable fritter,
Steamed broccoli,
Diced peach.

PLATE 9

PLATE 9:
Chicken bitties,
Grated tasty cheese,
Diced Nectarine.

(Please remember to read our site disclaimer as the information we provide does not constitute medical advice and is not intended to replace the personalised care and advice given to you by your health professional team.)