Beef & Veggie Pasta Salad
![EB-beefvegpasta_thumb](http://web.archive.org./web/20140221082513im_/http://images.essentialbaby.com.au/2014/02/14/5165635/EB-beefvegpasta_thumb-90x60.jpg)
How to make every bite count! Babies can vary in the time needed to progress through each stage. Depending on the type of food and your babies development, you can go straight to the lumpy mushy or finger food stage.
Roast Lamb & veggie roast with potato wedges
![EB-lambvegroast_thumb](http://web.archive.org./web/20140221082513im_/http://images.essentialbaby.com.au/2014/02/14/5165631/EB-lambvegroast_thumb-90x60.jpg)
How to make every bite count! Iron-rich foods are recommended as first foods at around 6 months of age to prevent iron deficiency which can affect your baby's brain development.
Beef & Sweet Potato Pie
![EB-beef-sweetpotatoPie_thumb](http://web.archive.org./web/20140221082513im_/http://images.essentialbaby.com.au/2014/02/14/5165624/EB-beef-sweetpotatoPie_thumb-90x60.jpg)
How to make every bite count! When you first introduce beef and lamb to your baby, these simple recipes will help get you started. It is recommended you progress very quickly to a lumpy texture.
Mince Beef & sweet potato burgers
![EB-beef-burgers_thumb](http://web.archive.org./web/20140221082513im_/http://images.essentialbaby.com.au/2014/02/14/5165588/EB-beef-burgers_thumb-90x60.jpg)
How to make every bite count! How to adapt the family meal to meet your baby’s different developmental stages. Adjust the ingredients and flavours to reflect your preferred cuisine or cultural background.
Avocado and banana puree
![avo-thumb](http://web.archive.org./web/20140221082513im_/http://images.essentialbaby.com.au/2013/11/05/4897026/avo-thumb-90x60.jpg)
Raw fruits are best since none of the nutrients are lost in cooking. You can combine two different fruits together when you make this weaning recipe.
First apple puree
![apple-thumb](http://web.archive.org./web/20140221082513im_/http://images.essentialbaby.com.au/2013/11/05/4897031/apple-thumb-90x60.jpg)
Apples are ideal first fruits as they are easy to digest and unlikely to cause allergies.
Weaning: first foods to nine months
![baby food](http://web.archive.org./web/20140221082513im_/http://images.essentialbaby.com.au/2013/11/05/4896651/food-th-90x60.jpg)
ANNABEL KARMEL A guide to starting your baby on solids - including best first foods to try, when to begin, and the ongoing importance of milk.
Weaning: allergies and busting common myths
![food baby](http://web.archive.org./web/20140221082513im_/http://images.essentialbaby.com.au/2013/11/05/4896703/food2-t-90x60.jpg)
ANNABEL KARMEL Learn what foods to avoid when giving your child his first foods, and discover the truth about common weaning myths.
Macro Organic baby food pouches recalled
![baby eating](http://web.archive.org./web/20140221082513im_/http://images.essentialbaby.com.au/2012/07/24/3481717/organic-food-th-90x60.jpg)
Staff writers Woolworths has issued a recall on a popular brand of baby food pouches which may cause illness if consumed.
Pineapple and mango puree
![puree baby](http://web.archive.org./web/20140221082513im_/http://images.essentialbaby.com.au/2013/10/16/4834891/pm-th-90x60.jpg)
This summery puree can be refrigerated in individual containers for up to one week, or frozen for up to six months.
Raising an adventurous eater
![eat child](http://web.archive.org./web/20140221082513im_/http://images.essentialbaby.com.au/2013/10/16/4834879/eat-90x60.jpg)
Nevin Martell The idea of my child exclusively eating the so-called "beige diet" made my stomach churn. So what could my wife and I do to help raise an adventurous eater? I asked the experts.
Baby McDonalds? Jars of food add little to diet, study finds
![Baby eating pureed food](http://web.archive.org./web/20140221082513im_/http://images.essentialbaby.com.au/2013/09/10/4736312/cn10-thumb-food-20130910213348962474-90x60.jpg)
Allison Connolly Commercial baby foods offer little nutritional benefit over breast milk and babies would get more out of homemade purees than from a jar, a study has found.
Training tiny taste buds
![baby food](http://web.archive.org./web/20140221082513im_/http://images.essentialbaby.com.au/2013/07/24/4597297/baby-food-th-90x60.jpg)
Paula Goodyer Commercial baby food has stepped up a notch, but how good is at teaching tiny palates to eat a broad range of healthy foods?
Is baby-led weaning best?
![babyled weaning](http://web.archive.org./web/20140221082513im_/http://images.essentialbaby.com.au/2013/07/16/4574482/babyled-th-90x60.jpg)
Evelyn Volders Not only is the timing of introducing solids important for future health, research shows that how babies are introduced to solids may also have an impact on their future habits and health.
Into the mouths of babes
![Melanie Gill](http://web.archive.org./web/20140221082513im_/http://images.essentialbaby.com.au/2013/04/29/4230809/th-730483256-90x60.jpg)
Caroline Baum It was only a matter of time before the idea of gourmet baby food caught on in Australia. The surprise is that it took a non-parent and fine-dining chef to come up with the concept.
First tastes on film a hit
![Olives](http://web.archive.org./web/20140221082513im_/http://images.essentialbaby.com.au/2013/05/07/4252600/th-TEDx_olives-201-20copy-90x60.jpg)
INGA TING A short film has captured children trying a range of foods for the first time, with some very funny - and sweet - results.
Baby formula recall group criticised
![Sarah Knifpel and her 8 month old bub, Cleo, who
suffered a bad reaction from a Nestle Baby food formula.](http://web.archive.org./web/20140221082513im_/http://images.essentialbaby.com.au/2012/09/22/3657433/th-baby-20formula-90x60.jpg)
Melissa Davey and Melanie Mahoney A senior paediatrician has described a campaign to have a popular baby formula pulled from shelves as unfounded and alarming.
Parents cry foul over new formula recipe
![crying baby](http://web.archive.org./web/20140221082513im_/http://images.essentialbaby.com.au/2012/08/09/3540579/crying-baby-th-90x60.jpg)
Nestle’s baby formula is under the spotlight amid reports that it is causing illness and agitation in children.
The battle of the breast
![Baby spoon fed](http://web.archive.org./web/20140221082513im_/http://images.essentialbaby.com.au/2012/04/16/3223453/spoon-baby-tmb-90x60.jpg)
Rachel Browne While doctors recommend that parents give their children solid foods from four months in an attempt to lower allergy rates, breastfeeding advocates are concerned it will reduce the already low number of Australian mums who breastfeed.
Egg parcels
![eggsThumb](http://web.archive.org./web/20140221082513im_/http://images.essentialbaby.com.au/2011/11/02/2746216/eggsThumb-90x60.jpg)
River Cottage Baby & Toddler Cookbook, by Nikki Duffy. Essentially little quiches without pastry, these are quick, simple and eminently adaptable.
Zucchini polpette
![zuchinniThumb](http://web.archive.org./web/20140221082513im_/http://images.essentialbaby.com.au/2011/11/02/2746225/zuchinniThumb-90x60.jpg)
River Cottage Baby & Toddler Cookbook, by Nikki Duffy. These vegetarian ''meatballs'' are inspired by a wonderful recipe from Italian food writer Ursula Ferrigno
Vegie bean curry
![eb-fruit-veg-box-90x60](http://web.archive.org./web/20140221082513im_/http://images.essentialbaby.com.au/2010/03/17/1230417/eb-fruit-veg-box-90x60-90x60.jpg)
River Cottage Baby & Toddler Cookbook, by Nikki Duffy. Throw all the left-over vegies in and you have a great dish for the whole family.
Creative baby food mash-ups
![Baby mash](http://web.archive.org./web/20140221082513im_/http://images.essentialbaby.com.au/2011/05/02/2338463/babymash_90x60-90x60.jpg)
Cherie Lyden Creating your own baby food may take time to make, but reaps the rewards in the end. Here's some creative ideas to get you started.
Healthy diet starts with baby food
![Generic pic of a baby eating an apple.](http://web.archive.org./web/20140221082513im_/http://images.essentialbaby.com.au/2011/07/20/2504350/baby_apple_320-90x60.jpg)
Study finds homemade baby food trains kids' palates to enjoy fruit and vegetables.
Home-made food is best for baby
![baby eating](http://web.archive.org./web/20140221082513im_/http://images.essentialbaby.com.au/2011/03/14/2231715/babyfirstfoods_90x60-90x60.jpg)
Fiona Purdon It seems home-made baby food is the best health option and the cheapest in today's economic climate. Fiona Purdon reports
Avocado, fetta and green things dip - baby & toddler food
![eb-cuisine-avo-dip-90x60](http://web.archive.org./web/20140221082513im_/http://images.essentialbaby.com.au/2011/02/21/2194895/eb-cuisine-avo-dip-90x60-90x60.jpg)
As I am not a fan of hiding food in children's meals, this recipe is as honest as can be.
Toddler snack ideas
The little engine of a toddler is constantly burning fuel, and your toddler will benefit from small meals spaced out during the day. Healthy, fun snacks will provide toddlers with energy to burn. Here are some great snack ideas.
Pregnancy power salad
![eb-eating42-power-salad-90x60](http://web.archive.org./web/20140221082513im_/http://images.essentialbaby.com.au/2010/01/20/1052556/eb-eating42-power-salad-90x60-90x60.jpg)
Quick to make, contains protein in the form of tuna and eggs, carbohydrates (and protein) with the canned beans, and a serve of the all-important five vegetables.
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