7Th month baby food chart
An Authoritative Guide by Our Experts
Your little one is now 7 months of age. Should you change up his meal schedule? Or adjust the amount of food? Here’s what our experts have to say.
By Health Promotion Board in collaboration with A/Prof Mary Daniel Lourdes, Head & Senior Consultant, Clinical Services, Department of Child Development, KK Women's and Children's Hospital.
At 7 months old, your baby may already be on two solid meals a day. Fret not if he’s eating less solid food than that, as different babies progress at different speeds.
Recommended Number of Servings (7 months)
Here are the recommended number of servings per day for your baby's development. Remember, these numbers are only recommendations. Let your baby decide how much he wants to eat!
| Brown rice and wholemeal bread | Fruit | Vegetables | Meat and others | Milk (breast/formula) |
| 1-2 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 500-750ml |
7-month-baby Meal Schedule
Your meal schedule for the little one might look like this:
- Early morning snack: 150ml breast milk/formula
- Breakfast: 3 to 4 tablespoons of rice cereal mixed with 60ml breast milk/formula
- Mid-morning snack: 180ml breast milk/formula
- Lunch: ¼ to ¾ bowl* of solid food
- Afternoon snack: 180ml breast milk/formula
- Dinner: ¼ to ¾ bowl* of solid food
- Evening snack: 180ml breast milk/formula
*Rice bowl
Right now, your baby’s meals may typically be made up of a base wholegrain/grain (e. g. porridge) mixed with vegetable (e.g. pureed broccoli) and meat/others (e.g. tofu), perhaps with a tiny portion of fruit (e.g. apple and other fruit puree) when your baby feels up for it.
Broken down into these components, there are countless yummy meal combos you and your baby can explore. Just mix and match and let your creativity go wild! Read on for ideas on what you can feed your 7-month-old tot.
Related: Nutrition for Your Toddler
7-month-old Baby Food Ideas for Mummy and Daddy
Along the grain
You know brown rice cereal and brown rice porridge are good staples for your baby. But you’re ready to branch out. Why not try other iron-fortified cereals made from other wholegrains such as oat, barley, or millet? They are great sources of vitamins and minerals.
Related: No Wholegrain, No Gain
Variety of veggies
Pureed carrots, pumpkin, spinach… your baby might have already tried these typical “baby foods”.
Expand the veggie menu: your baby might enjoy other vegetables such as butternut squash or brinjal, which can both be steamed until tender for effortless mashing. Broccoli and cauliflower are also mashable veggie options that are good sources of vitamin C.
Related: Harness the Goodness of Fruit and Vegetables
Fruity fun
As for fruit, mummy and daddy can try venturing out of the sweet zone: your little one might enjoy the tart taste of fruit like cherries or plums (pits removed and pureed). So try feeding your little one some sour treats — and watch his face for when the flavour first hits him. Adorable! Note to mum and dad: no citrus fruit yet, though, as those are too acidic.
Baby not into sour fruit just yet? Why not try feeding him every millennial’s favourite fruit: the avocado! It’s easy to mash, and adds a subtle sweet flavor and creaminess to rice cereals.
Related: Fun Fruity Facts
Meet meat alternatives
Chicken and tofu are the safe baby food options, but your baby might be ready to handle other types of protein.
Looking for a protein-packed alternative to meat? Try pulses like mashed chickpeas or kidney beans.
You can also introduce junior to fish such as salmon and cod—make sure you flake and mash them well. Do talk to your pediatrician before feeding fish to your baby if he has:
- Had an allergic reaction to food in the past
- A food allergy
- Chronic (long-term) eczema
Keep observing your child for signs of an allergic reaction after you feed him fish, as it is one of the most common food allergens. Signs include facial swelling, rashes, vomiting, diarrhea, and difficulty in breathing. Take your baby to the doctor if you spot any of these signs.
Related: Soya—The Unique Plant Protein
Try These Solid Meals!
Breakfast
- Oat cereal with breast/formula milk with pureed cherries
- Brown rice porridge with pumpkin puree
Lunch/Dinner
- Brown rice porridge with mashed chickpea and mashed cauliflower + tablespoonful of pureed plums
- Brown rice porridge with mashed butternut squash and mashed cod
- Millet cereal with apple and spinach puree, with pureed chicken
Related: Introducing Wholegrains to Your Child
Friendly Reminders for Mum and Dad
6 to 9 months: smooth, soft and fine texture
When you first start your baby on solids, the food you feed him should be smooth, soft, and fine in texture.
As the little one grows older and gets better at chewing, you can gradually feed him food that is thicker and coarser—for example, a thicker puree.
Related: Your Growing Baby
Food prep pointers
If you’re making your own baby food, make sure to prepare it without oil. Some great cooking methods are steaming, boiling, baking, or microwaving. No stir-frying or grilling yet for the little one! Remember to skip the sugar, salt and any other seasonings (e.g. soy sauce) when preparing the meals.
Related: From Goreng to Grill: Healthier Cooking Methods
Be patient
If your baby isn’t interested in a certain food, do not force it. There’s also no need to force your child to finish everything on his plate! Stop feeding him if he rejects the food, and try again during the next meal. Right now, your baby knows best about how much he wants to eat.
Related: Getting Ready for Solids
What makes 1 serving?
Brown rice and wholemeal bread | ½ bowl of brown rice/rice (100g) |
Fruit | 1 small apple, orange, pear or mango (130g) |
Vegetable | ¾ mug or 1 small rice bowl of cooked vegetables (100g) |
Meat and others | 1 palm-sized piece of fish, lean meat or skinless poultry (90g) |
g. lentils) (120g)This article was last reviewed on Tuesday, November 15, 2022
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Your little one is now 7 months of age. Should you change up his meal schedule? Or adjust the amount of food? Here’s what our experts have to say.
<div><div><p>
By Health Promotion Board in collaboration with A/Prof Mary Daniel Lourdes, Head & Senior Consultant, Clinical Services, Department of Child Development, KK Women's and Children's Hospital.
</p><p>At 7 months old, your baby may already be on two solid meals a day. Fret not if he’s eating less solid food than that, as different babies progress at different speeds.</p><h3>Recommended Number of Servings (7 months)</h3><p>Here are the recommended number of servings per day for your baby's development. Remember, these numbers are only recommendations. Let your baby decide how much he wants to eat!</p><div><table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td>
<strong>Brown rice and wholemeal bread</strong></td><td>
<strong>Fruit</strong></td><td>
<strong>Vegetables</strong></td><td>
<strong>Meat and others</strong></td><td>
<strong>Milk (breast/formula)</strong></td></tr><tr><td>1-2</td><td>½</td><td>½</td><td>½</td><td>500-750ml</td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>
</p><h3>7-month-baby Meal Schedule
</h3><p>Your meal schedule for the little one might look like this:
</p><ul><li>
<strong>Early morning snack:</strong> 150ml breast milk/formula
</li><li>
<strong>Breakfast:</strong> 3 to 4 tablespoons of rice cereal mixed with 60ml breast milk/formula</li><li>
<strong>Mid-morning snack:</strong> 180ml breast milk/formula</li><li>
<strong>Lunch:</strong> ¼ to ¾ bowl* of solid food</li><li>
<strong>Afternoon snack: </strong>180ml breast milk/formula</li><li>
<strong>Dinner: </strong>¼ to ¾ bowl* of solid food</li><li>
<strong>Evening snack:</strong> 180ml breast milk/formula</li>
*Rice bowl </ul><p></p><p>Right now, your baby’s meals may typically be made up of a base wholegrain/grain (e.
g. porridge) mixed with vegetable (e.g. pureed broccoli) and meat/others (e.g. tofu), perhaps with a tiny portion of fruit (e.g. apple and other fruit puree) when your baby feels up for it.
</p><p>Broken down into these components, there are countless yummy meal combos you and your baby can explore. Just mix and match and let your creativity go wild! Read on for ideas on what you can feed your 7-month-old tot.</p><p>
<strong>Related:
<a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1243/baby-nutrition-for-your-toddler" title="Nutrition for Your Toddler">Nutrition for Your Toddler</a></strong></p></div><div><h3>7-month-old Baby Food Ideas for Mummy and Daddy
</h3><p>
<img src="/sites/assets/Assets/Categories/Pregnancy%20and%20Infant%20Health/35_Opmz_621145626.jpg" alt="7-month baby diet includes pureed veggies " />
</p><h4>Along the grain</h4><p>You know brown rice cereal and brown rice porridge are good staples for your baby.
But you’re ready to branch out. Why not try other iron-fortified cereals made from other wholegrains such as oat, barley, or millet? They are great sources of vitamins and minerals.
</p><p>
<strong>Related:
<a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1831/no-wholegrain-no-gain" title="No Wholegrain, No Gain">No Wholegrain, No Gain</a></strong></p><h4>Variety of veggies</h4><p>Pureed carrots, pumpkin, spinach… your baby might have already tried these typical “baby foods”. Expand the veggie menu: your baby might enjoy other vegetables such as butternut squash or brinjal, which can both be steamed until tender for effortless mashing. Broccoli and cauliflower are also mashable veggie options that are good sources of vitamin C.</p><p>
<strong>Related:
<a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/514/Benefits%20of%20Fruit%20and%20Vegetables" title="Harness the Goodness of Fruit and Vegetables">Harness the Goodness of Fruit and Vegetables</a></strong></p><h4>Fruity fun</h4><p>As for fruit, mummy and daddy can try venturing out of the sweet zone: your little one might enjoy the tart taste of fruit like cherries or plums (pits removed and pureed).
So try feeding your little one some sour treats — and watch his face for when the flavour first hits him. Adorable! Note to mum and dad: no citrus fruit yet, though, as those are too acidic.</p><p>Baby not into sour fruit just yet? Why not try feeding him every millennial’s favourite fruit: the avocado! It’s easy to mash, and adds a subtle sweet flavor and creaminess to rice cereals.</p><p>
<strong>Related:
<a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1291/fun-fruity-facts" title="Fun Fruity Facts">Fun Fruity Facts</a></strong></p><h4>
</h4><h4>
<img src="/sites/assets/Assets/Categories/Pregnancy%20and%20Infant%20Health/35_Opmz_597211418.jpg" alt="Avocado is easy to mash, sweet and creamy – perfect for 7-month-old babies" />
</h4><h4>
</h4><h4>Meet meat alternatives</h4><p>Chicken and tofu are the safe baby food options, but your baby might be ready to handle other types of protein.
Looking for a protein-packed alternative to meat? Try pulses like mashed chickpeas or kidney beans.</p><p>You can also introduce junior to fish such as salmon and cod—make sure you flake and mash them well. Do talk to your pediatrician before feeding fish to your baby if he has:
</p><ol><li>Had an allergic reaction to food in the past</li><li>A food allergy</li><li>Chronic (long-term) eczema</li></ol><p></p><p>Keep observing your child for signs of an allergic reaction after you feed him fish, as it is one of the most common food allergens. Signs include facial swelling, rashes, vomiting, diarrhea, and difficulty in breathing. Take your baby to the doctor if you spot any of these signs.</p><p>
<strong>Related:
<a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/190/soya_unique_plant_protein" title="Soya—The Unique Plant Protein">Soya—The Unique Plant Protein</a></strong></p></div><div><h3>Try These Solid Meals!</h3><p>
<strong>Breakfast</strong> </p><ul><li>Oat cereal with breast/formula milk with pureed cherries</li><li>Brown rice porridge with pumpkin puree</li></ul><p></p><p>
<strong>Lunch/Dinner</strong> </p><ul><li>Brown rice porridge with mashed chickpea and mashed cauliflower + tablespoonful of pureed plums</li><li>Brown rice porridge with mashed butternut squash and mashed cod</li><li>Millet cereal with apple and spinach puree, with pureed chicken</li></ul><p></p><p>
<strong>Related:
<a href="https://www.
healthhub.sg/live-healthy/617/wholegrain%20for%20children" title="Introducing Wholegrains to Your Child">Introducing Wholegrains to Your Child</a></strong></p></div><div><h3>Friendly Reminders for Mum and Dad</h3><h4>6 to 9 months: smooth, soft and fine texture</h4><p>When you first start your baby on solids, the food you feed him should be smooth, soft, and fine in texture. As the little one grows older and gets better at chewing, you can gradually feed him food that is thicker and coarser—for example, a thicker puree.</p><p>
<strong>Related:
<a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/9/guide_your_growing_baby" title="Your Growing Baby">Your Growing Baby</a></strong></p><h4>Food prep pointers</h4><p>If you’re making your own baby food, make sure to prepare it without oil. Some great cooking methods are steaming, boiling, baking, or microwaving.
No stir-frying or grilling yet for the little one! Remember to skip the sugar, salt and any other seasonings (e.g. soy sauce) when preparing the meals.</p><p>
<strong>Related:
<a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1804/from-goreng-to-grill-healthier-cooking-methods" title="From Goreng to Grill: Healthier Cooking Methods">From Goreng to Grill: Healthier Cooking Methods</a></strong></p><h4>
</h4><h4>
<img src="/sites/assets/Assets/Categories/Pregnancy%20and%20Infant%20Health/35_Opmz_913370376.jpg" alt="Steaming is a healthy way to prepare food for your 7-month-old baby" />
</h4><h4>
</h4><h4>Be patient</h4><p>If your baby isn’t interested in a certain food, do not force it. There’s also no need to force your child to finish everything on his plate! Stop feeding him if he rejects the food, and try again during the next meal.
Right now, your baby knows best about how much he wants to eat.</p><p>
<strong>Related:
<a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1227/baby-getting-ready-for-solids" title="Getting Ready for Solids">Getting Ready for Solids</a></strong></p><h4>What makes 1 serving?</h4><div><table cellspacing="0" border="1"><tbody><tr><td><p>
<strong>Brown rice and wholemeal bread</strong></p></td><td><p>½ bowl of brown rice/rice (100g)
½ bowl of noodles, spaghetti or beehoon (100g)
1 large potato (180g)
</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>
<strong>Fruit</strong></p></td><td><p>1 small apple, orange, pear or mango (130g)
1 wedge pineapple, papaya or watermelon (130g)
1 medium banana</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>
<strong>Vegetable</strong></p></td><td><p>¾ mug or 1 small rice bowl of cooked vegetables (100g)
¼ plate of vegetables</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>
<strong>Meat and others</strong></p></td><td><p>1 palm-sized piece of fish, lean meat or skinless poultry (90g)
2 small blocks of soft beancurd (170g)
¾ cup or 1 small rice bowl of cooked pulses (e.
g. lentils) (120g)</p></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><div>
<p>
<strong>For more information on early nutrition and weaning recipes for your little one, visit
<a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/programmes/122/early-nutrition-for-babies" title="Early Childhood Nutrition">Early Childhood Nutrition.</a></strong></p><p>
<a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/programmes/183/parent-hub/baby-toddler">Visit Parent Hub, for more useful tips and guides to give your baby a healthy start.</a></p><p>
<em>Download the HealthHub app on
<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=sg.gov.hpb.healthhub&hl=en_SG" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Google Play</a> or
<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/sg/app/healthhub-sg/id1034200875?mt=8" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Apple Store</a> to access more health and wellness advice at your fingertips.
</em> </p><hr /><p>
<strong>Read these next:</strong></p><ul><li>
<a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1927/Breastfeeding-as-a-Working-Mother" title="Breastfeeding as a Working Mother">Breastfeeding as a Working Mother</a>
</li><li>
<a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/156/babys_first_food_journey" title="Baby's First Food Journey">Baby's First Food Journey</a></li><li>
<a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/2028/nutrition-for-toddlers-12-24-months" title="Early Childhood Nutrition: Food Guide for Your One-Year- Old">Early Childhood Nutrition: Food Guide for Your One-Year- Old</a>
</li><li>
<a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1959/Early-Nutrition-Baby-Switching-Cows-Milk" title="Early Nutrition: Switching to Cow’s Milk for Babies">Early Nutrition: Switching to Cow’s Milk for Babies</a> </li><li>
<a href="https://www.
healthhub.sg/live-healthy/2020/getting-baby-started-on-solids" title="Getting Your Baby Started on Solids">Getting Your Baby Started on Solids</a> </li><li>
<a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1579/things-new-dads-need-to-know" title="Things New Dads Need to Know">Things New Dads Need to Know</a>
</li></ul></div></div>
Thursday, October 25, 2018
Thursday, November 1, 2018
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2021
Tuesday, November 15, 2022
<div>Health Promotion Board </div>
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Health Promotion Board
https://www.hpb.gov.sg
7-month-baby Diet: An Authoritative Guide by Our Experts
Articles
Solids, Food Chart And Recipes
This food chart will help ensure that your baby’s solid food diet meets their needs.
Research-backed
MomJunction believes in providing reliable, research-backed information to you. As per our strong editorial policy requirements, we base our health articles on references (citations) taken from authority sites, international journals, and research studies. However, if you find any incongruencies, feel free to write to us.
Image: Shutterstock
If your baby has been transitioning from breastmilk to solid foods, a 7-month-baby food chart can be a helpful guide. During the first six months of life, babies drink breast milk or formula milk to get their complete nutrition. However, after six months, their needs can increase, and it is time to introduce solid foods.
Keeping the transformation slow and introducing foods one by one is essential. Try offering easily digestible, cooked, and mashed food first, then move toward blends. Keep the quantity small and be cautious about choking hazards.
This post provides detailed information on what to feed your 7-month baby and what quantities. It also provides a food chart with some interesting recipes.
How Much Food Should A 7-Month-Baby Eat?
AAP recommends mothers to continue breastfeeding their baby for at least up to 12 months. At seven months, continue to breastfeed your baby while giving them some solid foods.
Blanca Garcia, RDN, nutrition specialist at MIDSS, says, “At seven months, an infant’s diet should be mostly breastmilk or formula. If solid foods have already started, they should be complementary to the milk. Only a few small spoons thrice a day are fine, but not whole meals that replace the milk altogether.” According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), following portions of food from different food groups may be included in your seven months old baby’s diet (1) (2).
| Food group | Portion size (per day) |
|---|---|
| Breast milk or formula milk | 24 to 32 ounces (oz) |
| Grain products | 1 to 2oz |
| Fruits | 2 to 4oz; cooked, plain/strained/pureed/mashed |
| Vegetables | 2 to 4oz; cooked, plain/strained/pureed/mashed |
| Meat and protein-rich foods | 1 to 2oz; Cooked, plain/strained/pureed/mashed |
Food Options For Your Seven Months Old Baby
Traditionally, parents start with single-grain cereals (3) or single vegetable and fruit (blended, mashed or soft cooked).
When your baby is around seven to nine months old, you may include a variety of foods from different groups (2) (4).
Garcia recommends, “Give foods that a seven-month-old can easily chew, such as pieces of banana (mostly mashed), mashed beans and strawberries, age-appropriate cookies, whole-grain pasta, whole-wheat bread, and steamed veggies, such as green beans and peas.”
| Food group | Food items |
|---|---|
| Vegetables | Broccoli, cauliflower, peas, spinach, asparagus, parsnips, peppers, carrots, cabbage, avocado, green beans, kale, and pumpkin |
| Fruits | Banana, apple, mango, blueberries, kiwi, pears, strawberries, papaya, melon, peach, plums, and oranges. |
| Starch-rich foods | Potato, sweet potato, rice, porridge, oatmeal, oats, maize, millet, quinoa, cornmeal, and bread |
| Protein-rich foods | Meat (chicken, lamb, fish without bones), eggs, pulses, lentils, beans, and tofu |
| Dairy | Pasteurized full-fat yogurt without honey, sugar, and artificial sweeteners) Do not serve milk |
Boil and mash hard fruits like apples before serving it to the baby.
You may blend fruits and vegetable purees with formula or breast milk. When choosing meat, you can also consider serving meat broth.
Related: How Is Breast Milk Made During Pregnancy & Interesting Facts
All foods should be soft to prevent the risk of choking. Make sure the baby eats slowly and in small portions.
Click here to view an enlarged version of this infographic.
10 Homemade Baby Food Recipes For Your Seven Months Old
You can try these simple nutrient-rich homemade recipes to introduce your child to different flavors and textures of food (5).
1. Steamed apple and pear puree
Image: Shutterstock
You will need:
- ½ apple, peeled and de-seeded
- ½ pear, peeled
How to:
- Cut the apple and pear into wedges or chunks. Put these pieces in a saucepan with water.
- Bring the water to boil and let it simmer for about 7-8 minutes. Allow it cool.
- You can make a puree and also use them as finger food (if your baby is ready to eat finger food). You can use yogurt as a dressing!
Related: Apple Puree For Baby: Benefits, Recipes And Precautions
2. Eggy omelet fingers
Image: Shutterstock
You will need:
- 1 small onion, peeled and chopped
- 1 egg
- ½ teaspoon oil
How to:
- Beat the egg. Cut the onion into small pieces and add it to the egg. Whip them together.
- Put oil in a frying pan. Once the pan is hot, add the mixture and let it cook.
- Let the omelet cool. Cut it into thin slices, and serve it to the baby.
3. Hot lentil soup
Image: Shutterstock
You will need:
- Handful of butternut squash peeled
- ¼ onion peeled and chopped
- 30 g red lentils
- ½ tsp oil
- Water
How to:
- De-seed and cut butternut squash into pieces.
Finely chop the onions. - Heat oil in a frying pan. Add all diced vegetables and let them soften.
- Then add water and washed/cleaned lentils to the pan. Bring the water to boil and let it simmer for about 20-25 minutes.
- Check if vegetables and lentils have cooked. Once cooked, let the mixture cool down and blend it before serving.
Related: 27 Healthy Soup Recipes For Babies (6-12 Months)
4. Berry porridge
Image: Shutterstock
You will need:
- 2 tablespoon porridge oats
- ¼ banana
- Frozen blueberries (you can use fresh blueberries too)
- 1 tablespoon yogurt
- Water
How to:
- Add oats and water in a saucepan. Let it cook till the mixture thickens and softens.
- Add small pieces or mashed bananas and blueberries as a topping before serving.
5. Tangy chicken fingers
Image: Shutterstock
You will need:
- Skinless chicken breast
- ½ lemon juice
How to:
- Take skinless chicken breast and slice it into thin medium-sized pieces.
- Preheat your oven to 200°C (about 400°F).
- Place the chicken slices in a tray and squeeze a few drops of lemon juice on them.
- Bake the chicken for 25 minutes. Once baked, you can mince it or give it as finger food.
6. Veggie hotpot
Image: Shutterstock
You will need:
- ½ leek
- ½ carrot, peeled and cut
- 1 potato, peeled and cut
- 1 tablespoon beans, chopped
- 1 small broccoli
- 1 teaspoon oil
- Water
How to:
- Peel and cut carrots and potatoes into small pieces. Cut beans and leeks.
- Take a saucepan with water and add leeks, potato, beans, and carrot. Bring it to boil and let it simmer for 15 to 20 minutes till all vegetables are cooked.
- Once cooked and cooled, blend these vegetables into a puree with pasteurized cream cheese.
- In another pan, cook pieces of broccoli in water for 3-4 minutes. Add these as finger food on top of the puree.
7. Pumpkin and thyme puree
Image: Shutterstock
You will need:
- ½ pumpkin peeled and cut
- Thyme leaves
How to:
- Peel, de-seed, and chop pumpkin into small pieces. Place the pieces on a baking tray.
- Preheat oven to 175°C (about 350°F).
- Place the pumpkin and bake for 30 minutes. Once cooled, add thyme and blend it in a mixer.
8. Broccoli and spinach puree
Image: Shutterstock
You will need:
- 1 medium-sized broccoli, chopped
- 5-6 spinach leaves chopped
- Water
How to:
- Bring water to boil in a pan. Add spinach leaves and broccoli florets. Let it simmer for about 10-15 minutes.
- Once cooled, mash it with a fork or blend it before serving to the baby.
Related: Spinach For Babies: Right Age, Benefits And Recipes To Try
9. Avocado and banana mash
Image: Shutterstock
You will need:
- ½ avocado
- 1 banana, peeled
How to:
- Scoop out avocado and keep it in a pan.
Add banana to it and mash. - You can also add formula or breast milk to the mash and blend it before serving.
10. Root vegetables puree
Image: Shutterstock
You will need:
- 1 carrot, peeled and chopped
- 1 sweet potato, peeled and chopped
How to:
- Place the sweet potato and carrot pieces into a saucepan with water. Bring it to boil and let it simmer for around 10-15 minutes or till the vegetables are soft.
- Let the veggies cool down and mash it with a fork or blend before serving.
Seven Months Old Baby Food Chart
You may use this sample food chart for your seven months old baby as a reference (6) (7) (8).
| Meal name | Sample meal |
|---|---|
| Breakfast (morning) | Solid food: ● Iron-fortified infant cereal Liquid: ● Breast milk or formula milk |
| Snack (late morning) | Solid food: ● Pureed or mashed fruits such as banana, kiwi, strawberries, cooked apple, cooked pear with full-fat plain yogurt (unsweetened). Liquid: · Breast milk or formula milk |
| Lunch | Solid food: ● Cooked and finely chopped chicken, ● Cooked and mashed vegetables such as pumpkin, sweet potato, spinach, squash, etc. with cooked and mashed rice. Liquid: ● Breast milk or formula milk |
| Snack (evening) | Solid food: ● Cooked and mashed pear ● Cooked and finely chopped carrots or mashed chickpeas. ● Plain yogurt ● Whole-grain cracker Liquid: ● Breast milk or formula milk |
| Dinner | Solid food: ● Cooked and finely chopped green beans or other cooked vegetables. Liquid: ● Breast milk or formula milk |
Start with one or two tablespoons of food and see if your baby shows signs of being hungry or full. Remember, their bellies are small! You can alternate between solid food and liquids, depending on your baby’s hunger cues.
Try including a variety of colorful foods and textures in the baby’s diet.
You can also slowly start introducing finger foods by the end of seven months to develop a habit of self-feeding (6).
Seven Months Old Baby Food Schedule
According to World Health Organization (WHO), complementary foods (food items apart from breast milk) can be given to babies (six to eight months old) up to two to three times per day (9). In addition, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you should give your baby something to drink or eat every two to three hours, that is, about five to six times a day (10).
Tips and Precautions For Feeding A Seven Months Old Baby
These are a few points you should consider when feeding your little one (1) (11).
- Introduce one single ingredient at a time. Give the food item for three to five days, during which you do not give any other new food. Observe the baby for any sign of an allergy.
- Gradually increase the variety and quantity of food ingredients; start with a teaspoon and then move to a tablespoon.
- You can also try to give finger foods if your baby seems ready. Your baby may start to grasp items with fingers when they are ready for finger foods. Make sure you are present when your baby is eating, to avoid any choking hazards.
Related: 21 Healthy Finger Foods For Toddlers
- Wash, peel, and remove seeds and pits before giving fruits and vegetables to your baby.
- Use a spoon to feed your baby. Make sure your baby sits in a high chair with a table when feeding.
- Observe and respond to your baby’s hunger cues. Try to develop a predictable routine of all meals and snacks for your baby and limit the time of each meal from 15 to 20 minutes.
- Avoid added salt, sugar, and butter when making baby food at home. In addition, avoid cow’s milk and honey until your baby is at least 12 months old.
Jennifer House, MSc, a registered dietitian, author, and owner of First Step Nutrition in Calgary, Alberta, says, “Milk choices for a seven-month old include breastmilk or formula only.
They can have cow’s milk in foods such as a smoothie or cereal, but not as their main milk source, as it doesn’t contain enough fat and calories.”
How to Know When a Baby Is Ready for Solid Food?
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the following points could indicate that the baby is ready for solid food (3).
- Has good head control.
- Can sit upright in a high chair or a feeding seat (with no or little support).
- Tries to reach out (leans forward) for solid food.
- Opens mouth and seems eager to eat solid food when offered.
- Their fingers are able to grasp items, this is a sign that they are ready for solid/ finger foods.
According to UNICEF, delaying the introduction of solid foods may affect a baby’s healthy weight gain (12). So, encourage your baby to eat solids as soon as they show signs of readiness. A 7-month-old baby’s food chart can include various healthy foods, such as grains, pulses, meat, fish, poultry, fruits, and vegetables.
With continued breastfeeding or formula feeding, babies can consume these foods in well-cooked puree or mash form.
They can also consume age-appropriate finger foods if they show signs of readiness. Feed them nutritious foods and drinks every two to three hours to support their proper growth and development. If the baby eats lesser than usual on some days, refrain from force-feeding. Remember, the main source of nourishment even for a seven-month-old is breast milk or formula. They can have solids but in small quantities, as they need time to adjust to weaning food’s taste, texture, and digestibility.
References:
MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.
1. Guidelines for feeding healthy infants; The United States Department Of Agriculture.
(2017)
2. Healthy Eating for 6 to 24 month old children (1) Getting Started; Family Health Service, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. (2019)
3. Starting Solid Foods; American Academy of Pediatrics. (2018)
4. What to feed your baby; National Health Service, UK
5. Recipes and meal ideas; National Health Service, UK
6. Menu planning for babies in childcare; Health Eating and Advisory Service
7. Feeding Your Baby: Sample Meals for Babies 6- 12 Months Old; HealthLinkBC. (2014)
8. Sample Meal Plans for Feeding Your Baby; UnlockFood.Ca. Dietitians of Canada. (2019)
9. What is the recommended food for children in their very early years?; World Health Organization (2011)
10. How much and how often to feed; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2018)
11. Feeding Guide for the First Year; Stanford Children’s Health
12.
Feeding your baby: When to start with solid foods; UNICEF Parenting
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Swati Patwal is a clinical nutritionist, a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) and a toddler mom with over eight years of experience in diverse fields of nutrition. She started her career as a CSR project coordinator for a healthy eating and active lifestyle project catering to school children. Then she worked as a nutrition faculty and clinical nutrition coach in different...
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Charmaine Dominguez is a plant-based online dietitian nutritionist. She has her own online nutrition practice. Charmaine is currently living in LA, California in the US, and pursuing Masters of Public Health at California State University, Long Beach. She has completed her Bachelor in Nutrition and Dietetics at California State University, Long Beach. Charmaine is passionate about helping others regain control.
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Diet for a child aged 7 months
When compiling a diet for a seven-month-old baby, distribute the products so that you get a certain prototype of the menu of an already grown-up child with breakfast and lunch.
At this age, the yolk of a boiled chicken egg, a valuable source of fat, vitamin B12, A, phosphorus and selenium, is introduced into the child's diet. Chopped yolk can be added to porridge or vegetable puree.
At the age of 7 months, you can already give your baby a cracker (in the form of dried bread) and baby biscuits. nine0003
The volume of fruit puree and juice is increased to 70 g.
It is still better to give preference to commercially produced complementary foods, given their high degree of safety and variety. If the baby does not perceive a new product the first time, it can be mixed with an already familiar product.
Approximate diet for a child aged 7 months.
| I feeding 6 hours | Breast milk or VHI* | 200 ml |
| II feeding 10 hours | Dairy-free or milk porridge ** Butter Boiled egg yolk Supplementation with breast milk or VHI | 150 g |
| III feeding 14 hours | Vegetable puree Vegetable oil Meat puree Fruit juice | 170 g approx. 1 tsp. 30 g 70 ml |
| IV feeding 18 hours | Fruit puree Baby biscuits Breast milk supplement or VHI | 70 g |
| V feeding 22 hours | Breast milk or VHI | 200 ml |
* - infant formula
** - dairy-free porridge should be diluted with breast milk or infant formula that the child receives. Milk porridge is diluted with water. nine0003
Approximate diet of a 7-month-old child with cow's milk protein allergy:
| I feeding 6 hours | Breast milk or formula for infants with intolerance to cow's milk proteins | 200 ml |
| II feeding 10 hours | Dairy-free porridge* Vegetable oil Fruit puree (apple, pear) | 130 g approx.  1 tsp. 70 g |
| III feeding 14 hours | Vegetable puree Vegetable oil Meat puree (rabbit, turkey) | 170 g approx. 1 tsp. 30 g |
| IV feeding 18 hours | Vegetables or dairy-free porridge** Vegetable oil Meat puree | 180 g approx. 1 tsp. 20 g |
| V feeding 22 hours | Breast milk or medicated formula for infants with cow's milk protein intolerance | 200 ml |
* - dairy-free porridge should be diluted with breast milk or formula for children with intolerance to cow's milk proteins.
** - you can either alternate porridge or vegetables, or offer a mixed dish - porridge with vegetables.
Baby menu at 7 months: what is possible and what is not yet
- Anastasia Ivanovna, what are the nutritional features of children at 7 months?
- The menu for a baby at seven months is different from the menu for a newborn and a baby at one year old.
This difference exists due to the fact that a number of body systems, including the gastrointestinal tract and oral cavity, have not yet been formed in a newborn, he is only learning to suck. From four to six months, the diet begins to include complementary foods - food that is different from breast milk or infant formula. In the year of the child, in ideal conditions, they are transferred to a common table. nine0003
Some pediatricians recommend introducing complementary foods from five to six months, sometimes even from four. But the enzymatic system of the baby's body has not yet been formed, so pedagogical complementary foods are possible at four or five months, and pediatric complementary foods by six months.
— How to combine breastfeeding or bottle feeding with complementary foods?
— Pediatricians and nutritionists recommend separating these meals and giving the main dairy food and complementary foods in separate meals so that the child understands what he is eating.
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If complementary foods started at 4-5 months
— What rules of baby food should parents know?
— The functions of the gastrointestinal tract are formed in such a way that the body needs to adapt to the incoming products. With proper complementary foods, it is important to monitor the child's condition in the food diary and, if necessary, consult a doctor.
Basic feeding recommendations for seven-month-old babies
- One new product is given in small doses at the beginning of the day every four days to monitor for allergies, constipation, peeling and other reactions. nine0186
- One new food can be given per feeding.
- Water is best offered between feedings and not given with complementary foods.
- Do not force-feed: if the child refuses a certain dish, it can be offered at another time and in a different form.
- The child is not given unfamiliar food when he is not in a very good mood, teething, or has just been vaccinated.
- How to identify food allergies and find the allergen? nine0161
- Observant mothers will see or hear the problem. The baby will have something on the body, constipation or indigestion will begin. A restless child will cry. To track the allergen, it is advisable to keep a food diary and keep your finger on the pulse. If there is a connection with the pediatrician, ask questions and, taking into account the vaccination calendar, the physiology of the development of your child, offer him certain products so as not to once again provoke an immune response.
What foods can be given at 7 months
Read also
- Why it is necessary to introduce meat complementary foods into the baby's diet and with what products it can be combined.
- What purees and cereals can be given at 7 months?
- If this is the first complementary food for a baby, then monocomponent purees, dairy-free and milk porridges with one cereal in the composition are good: they are easier to digest and it is easier to track the reaction of the body using them.
— In what order can complementary foods be given? nine0161
— If your baby is overweight by the age of seven months, it is better to feed him vegetable puree. If everything is in order with weight, then preference can be given to cereals. All new products are introduced gradually: they begin to feed in the amount of 5-10 g, gradually increasing the volume to 50 g. By seven months, a portion of porridge at one time can reach up to 200 g. The third option for complementary foods, if parents want, can be fruits. It is in this sequence, because fruits are sweet, and the child does not always eat unleavened vegetables or cereals after them. nine0003
Each product will also have its own processing specifics:
- vegetables and fruits are given in the form of puree;
- purchased cereals are prepared according to the instructions;
- homemade porridges are boiled in water, then milk or mixture is added if desired;
- cottage cheese is properly stored in the refrigerator, tracking the expiration date;
- dairy, vegetable broths are brought to a single consistency (puree) so that the child develops the correct perception of the product.
nine0186
— How many times to feed a baby at 7 months and how much food to give?
- You need to focus on five feedings per day. If your baby cannot tolerate the interval between meals, it is worth supplementing with breast or formula after the introduction of complementary foods.
How to calculate complementary foods
A baby at seven months should weigh about eight kilograms. 1/8 of the child's weight is the daily amount of food, that is, approximately a kilogram of food, taking into account all feedings, or 200 grams per meal. nine0003
Sample menu for a 7-month-old baby (Russian Federation)
— At what age can semi-solid and solid foods be introduced into a child's diet?
- By 6 months, most babies are ready for a new food: the baby realizes that something is hard in his mouth.
By the age of seven months, the skill of palmar grip is formed: the child is able to hold solid food in his hand, and he can be given biscuits and crackers to grind. Allergists and pediatricians consider 6-10 months as the optimal period to begin the introduction of semi-solid and solid foods. But if the swallowing apparatus is not formed, there may be problems with chewing and swallowing disorders up to the gag reflex. nine0003
— What should parents do if their child refuses to eat? How to create food interest?
— It is necessary to understand the reasons for the baby's refusal to eat, among which may be: The pediatrician will track changes in health by analysis and, if necessary, adjust the diet.
At seven months, significant changes occur in the work of the gastrointestinal tract, the child actively shows interest in "adult" products, in new tastes. It will be easier for the baby to readjust if you choose products that will match his physiology and fully cover his needs for growth and communication.
