Healthy Banana Waffles For Baby Led Weaning (2024)

FAQs

Are waffles safe for baby led weaning? ›

Make sure to cut them in the right size for your child – babies 6+ months can eat them as strips or “sandwiches,” and older babies/toddlers can eat them as small pieces, strips, or whole using their hands! Just toast them first and make sure they're a little crunchy for reluctant eaters!

6 months old+: Cut waffles into strips about the size of two adult fingers pressed together, then hold a strip in the air in front of baby and let the child to grab it from you and munch on it. Waffles with a crispier exterior (such as freshly cooked or toasted waffles) are less likely to gum up in baby's mouth.

Learn more. Let's be honest: Waffles may be delicious, but they aren't exactly good for you. They're usually made with ingredients that nutritionists say to limit, such as white flour, butter, and lots of sugar. A Belgian waffle from IHOP, for example, has 590 calories, 29 grams of fat, and 17 grams of sugars.

Almonds, hazelnuts, pecans or chia seeds can all add some delicious crunch to your pancake or waffle meal. We also love the idea of using nut butters in place of sugary syrups. Almond butter or even peanut butter can be a delicious and filling choice that totally changes the flavor factor, too.

Avoid high-choking risks (e.g. nuts, grapes, crackers, raw fruits or vegetables, sausages, hot dogs or other foods cut into rounds). Offer iron-rich foods at each meal (e.g. beans, lentils, eggs, fish – only offer red meats and poultry when babies can tolerate fibrous foods).

However, I recommend you to avoid Eggo regular waffles as it contains high amount of saturated fat and Trans fat. So, if you are looking for a healthy and nutritious waffle, I would recommend you to pick Eggo frozen waffles that are made with whole grains and can be found in Whole Foods or health food stores.

To serve half of a banana with the skin on, which helps baby hold the fruit securely since it's less slippery, start by cutting it in half. Use a small knife to cut off a piece toward the top. Serve. To serve in segments, peel the half and press lightly on the bottom.

Very ripe fruit is naturally soft, making them some of the best finger foods for babies. Ripe banana, peach, watermelon (remove the seeds), raspberries, blueberries and cantaloupe cut into small pieces are all great finger food options.

Kodiak Power Waffles contain much more protein than other waffles on the list. They're made from whole grain flour and different protein sources, like egg whites and whey protein, Rizzo said. “The benefit of that is a waffle with enhanced fiber and protein, two nutrients that contribute to fullness,” she said.

Which Is the Better Choice? Without any altercations to the typical recipe, pancakes have 20% less calories than waffles due to their small nature. Because pancakes are individually cooked on a grilled or skillet, one is able to control the size of a pancake.

Are waffles with fruit healthy? ›

Waffles can be a part of a healthy breakfast if they are made with whole grains, low-fat milk, and topped with fruit instead of high-calorie syrups or whipped cream. However, waffles made with refined flour and high-fat ingredients can be high in calories, sugar, and saturated fat.

Molasses. Molasses is an excellent swap for maple syrup because its consistency and flavor are very similar. It isn't quite as sweet as maple syrup and has more of a robust flavor, but it's equally delicious drizzled over pancakes or stirred into a baked good.

Peanut butter adds protein to the meal, fiber and healthy fat. All things that are helpful to start the day with. Don't limit these peanut butter and jelly waffles just to breakfast though. They would be great for a snack or even a little dessert.

In a nutshell, waffles aren't the healthiest food, especially if you're on a low carb/keto diet, but there are ways to up their nutritional value. Eating whole wheat waffles or waffles made of other whole grains is one way to do this.

Babies: Place the mix into the waffle iron and remove it before the waffle becomes crispy or dry. Then, cut the waffle into strips so your baby can easily hold them. Serve with a puree so your baby can practice dipping.

Pancakes may be introduced as soon as baby is ready to start solids, which is generally around 6 months of age, as long as they do not contain honey. Try to wait until closer to the second birthday to serve sweeteners with pancakes, including honey, maple syrup, powdered sugar, and other forms of sugar.

Toast is actually one of the first foods we recommend for starting your baby on solids! It's important to note that while toast is safe for babies to eat at 6 months, fresh or un-toasted bread isn't, and is considered a choking hazard.

Overall, it's up to parents to choose whichever method you are most comfortable with, purées and spoon-feeding, baby-led weaning or a combination are all safe and healthy ways to introduce solids.