Thanksgiving Meal: A Guide for Baby

Wondering what your baby’s plate should look like on Thanksgiving? Here’s a guide to building a balanced, baby-friendly Thanksgiving meal! From soft veggies to safe proteins and fun finger foods, see how to introduce your little one to holiday flavors while keeping it nutritious and age-appropriate.

PROTEIN

• Turkey, ham, or brisket tend to be the main event at Thanksgiving table.The key to offering meat in an age-appropriate way is to ensure the meat is moist and offered without skin. 
• Dark turkey meat tends to be more moist than light meat. Large or touch pieces of turkey can be hard for babies to chew and may pose a choking risk
• Consider offering a pre-loaded spoon with meat moistened with a condiment like gravy, cranberry sauce, or chicken broth. 
• For younger babies offer soft, long strips that are easy to grasp in your baby’s palm for self-feeding. Once your baby has established a pincer grip, move towards shredded meat or small bites.
•  Following up bites of meat with a sip of liquid can be helpful to ensure your baby has swallowed all of the food in their mouth.  

FRUITS & VEGGIES

• Offer soft, long strips of vegetables for self-feeding. Green beans, carrots and asparagus are perfect options. If your baby is starting to develop their pincer grasp by picking up small objects between their thumb and pointer finger, they are likely ready for small bites!
• Serve mashed potatoes on a preloaded spoon. Be sure to remove any potato skin. Be mindful of added ingredients for cows milk allergen such as butter, cream or milk. Offering plain potatoes mixed with a small amount of breastmilk or formula for extra-creaminess is a nice option. 
• Avoid corn kernels and raw apples as they are choking hazards
• Green bean casserole may be tricky for your baby as it contains multiple textures. Ensure the beans are soft and cut into smaller pieces and avoid the crispy fried onion topping.

SEASONAL SIDES

• Cranberry sauce: Although it is a colorful side dish, canned cranberries are high in sugar. Offer in moderation or opt to make your own homemade cranberry sauce. Be sure to fully mash the cranberries to create a smooth consistency and reduce the risk of choking. A great way to moisten meat and provide additional experience with flavors. 
• Gravy: Another condiment great for moistening meat. It can be high in sodium and is best offered in moderation. For a no salt alternative consider using chicken broth.
• Stuffing: While delicious, stuffing can also be higher in sodium. Offering a few small bites on a single day isn’t concerning in the grand scheme of things. Focus your attention on removing choking risks such as raisins, sausage with casing, nuts, and celery. 
• Bread roll: Don’t be deceived by the buttery softness of a classic dinner roll; rolls are very difficult for new eaters! It’s best to avoid them to decrease the risk of choking. Babies 12 months+ may enjoy small bites of bread followed by a sip of liquid to help wash it down.
• Desserts: It is absolutely ok for your baby to indulge in a few bites of pumpkin pie! If you'd like to limit sugar intake, offering applesauce or yogurt are sweet alternatives. Items like marshmallows in sweet potato casserole, hard candy in desserts, or sticky desserts can be choking hazards. 
• Avoid honey for babies <12 months: Honey may be added to deserts and can often be found in various glazes such as a carrot glaze. 

Most importantly, use the Thanksgiving table as an opportunity to experience quality time with friends and family, and introduce your baby to the practice of gratitude. 

~Laney