Toast
Yes, a simple piece of bread that is lightly cooked until crispy is a-OK for little ones to enjoy. In fact, a lightly toasted slice of bread becomes less gummy when babies bite into it, resulting in a safer food option for bread-lovers everywhere (and who isn't a bread-lover?!?). Adding a light schmear of smooth nut butter that is not made with added salt, sugar, or honey can expose babies to different proteins and flavors, too.
Generally speaking, Malkani recommends sticking to whole-grain bread for babies, as this option tends to hold its shape better than white varieties. She also advises that there is no need to remove the crust. Toast should be cut into graspable strips, which is about the width of two adult-size fingers put together.
Pasta
Pasta is a unique carbohydrate because it is a lower glycemic option that contains a hefty amount of protein. Fortunately for babies (and caregivers), there is a slew of pasta varieties that are easy to grab and delicious for little ones to eat, like farfalle and penne. Just make sure that the pasta is cooked past the al dente mark to ensure it is soft enough.
You can serve it plain or add a touch of tomato puree, a hint of garlic, and various herbs and spices to expose your baby to new flavors. Just be sure to have a bib handy — this meal can quickly become messy!
Banana Pancakes
Pancakes are naturally soft and simple to make. Instead of using a boxed version of pancakes, you can easily make your own for your little nugget by combining one ripe medium-size mashed banana with one cup of oats and one cup of whole milk. Sprinkle some cinnamon into the mix if you want to add some additional flavor. Once you have your batter, you can make your pancakes as you normally do. We recommend either making smaller pancakes that are easy for babies to grab, or cooking ones that are larger in diameter and then cutting them into two-inch-wide strips. No need to offer maple syrup with these, as the banana adds natural sweetness with no added sugar.
Wondering if it's OK to add milk to this recipe for babies under the age of 1? While it's not recommended to offer this age group cow's milk, that relates to glasses of milk. Using milk in recipes when they're younger than 12 months should be fine, unless there is an allergy concern or an underlying medical condition.
