Balanced Meal Plan for 6-8 months old Babies

In my last article, I suggested several foods that can be given to 6-7 months babies. I also mentioned the nutritional importance of each; I also mentioned precautions; I also mentioned which can be given as first food and which should be started after a few days. Confused? I know, it becomes confusing. Especially when we talk about 6 months old babies, who are just starting to take solids, we don’t want to make mistakes.

So here, I have done all the calculations for you and come up with a complete and balanced Meal Plan of 2 months (6 to 8 months).

With balanced, I mean that I have tried to balance the nutrients (including all vital nutrients each day). Although for this young babies, breast/formula milk is the main source of nutrition, but when we are giving food, why not to balance it out.

• For 1^st month you need to be more careful. So try to follow this plan as it is for first 30 days. Then you can tweak it as per the liking of the baby and your convenience.
• You can definitely substitute. For example, if you have brought pumpkin, you might want to give it to your child as many times as possible before it goes stale. So you can give same food for consecutive days.
• If you are substituting something due to unavailability, try to substitute from the same class; for example, substitute cereal for cereal and fruit for fruit. Also, look into the table (below) and try to give substitutes which have similar nutritional values.
• If you haven’t read my previous article ‘List of foods for 6+ months old babies’, do read it (link at the end) as you might be missing few important points.
• Below, by ‘morning’ I mean 10-11 am, and by ‘evening’ I mean before 6 pm. And though it is obvious, but still just want to specify, breast/formula milk should be the first meal of the day. Do not give anything on empty stomach.

Here is the Chart summarizing the nutritional content of all foods that we can give to 6 months old babies. (‘Little’means little amount of this particular nutrient)

So here is the Food Chart:

Day 1:

• Morning – Moong Dal Pani

Day 2:

• Morning – Moong Dal Pani

Day 3:

• Morning – Moong Dal (mashed (strain if not peeled))

Day 4:

• Morning – Banana

Day 5:

• Morning – Banana

Day 6:

• Morning – Banana

Day 7:

• Morning – Arhar Dal (mashed, thin consistency)

Day 8:

• Morning – Arhar Dal (mashed, thin consistency)

Day 9:

• Morning – Arhar Dal (mashed, thin consistency)

Day 10:

• Morning – Carrot Puree (if carrots not in season, give Pumpkin)

Day 11:

• Morning – Carrot Puree (if carrots not in season, give Pumpkin)

Day 12:

• Morning – Carrot Puree (if carrots not in season, give Pumpkin)

Day 13:

• Morning – Sooji kheer

Day 14:

• Morning – Sooji kheer

Day 15:

• Morning – Sooji kheer

Day 16:

• Morning – Apple Puree

Day 17:

• Morning – Apple Puree

Day 18:

• Morning – Apple Puree

Day 19:

• Morning – Rice and Moong Dal Khichdi (mashed)

Day 20:

• Morning – Rice and Moong Dal Khichdi (mashed)

Day 21:

• Morning – Rice and Moong Dal Khichdi (mashed)

Day 22:

• Morning – Ragi with Carrot/Pumpkin halwa
• Evening – Chiku

Day 23:

• Morning – Ragi with Carrot/Pumpkin halwa
• Evening – Chiku

Day 24:

• Morning – Ragi with Carrot/Pumpkin halwa
• Evening – Chiku

Day 25:

• Morning – Sweet potato/potato
• Evening – Moong dal

Day 26:

• Morning – Sweet potato/potato
• Evening – Moong dal

Day 27:

• Morning – Sweet potato/potato
• Evening – Moong Dal

Day 28:

• Morning – Makhana kheer
• Evening – Banana

Day 29:

• Morning – Makhana kheer
• Evening – Banana

Day 30:

• Morning – Makhana kheer
• Evening – Banana

Day 31:

• Morning – Sabudana Kheer
• Evening – Pear/Apple Puree

Day 32:

• Morning – Sabudana Kheer
• Evening: Pear/Apple Puree

Day 33:

• Morning – Ragi and Dates halwa
• Evening – Carrot/Pumpkin puree

Day 34:

• Morning – Ragi and Dates halwa
• Evening – Carrot/Pumpkin puree

Day 35:

• Morning – Arhar dal with Bottle Gourd
• Evening – Sweet Potato

Day 36:

• Morning – Arhar dal with Bottle Gourd
• Evening – Sweet Potato

Day 37:

• Morning – Peas Puree
• Evening – Ragi porridge

Day 38:

• Morning – Peas Puree
• Evening – Sabudana with Dates kheer

Day 39:

• Morning – Watermelon or other seasonal fruit
• Evening – Rice and Moong dal khichdi

Day 40:

• Morning – Watermelon or other seasonal fruit
• Evening – Ragi with Dates halwa

Day 41:

• Morning – Any Fruit
• Evening – Ragi porridge with vegetables

Day 42:

• Morning – Rice with dates Kheer
• Evening – Moong Dal with Carrots

Day 43:

• Morning – Sabudana with Anjeer (1/4^th) kheer
• Evening – Sooji with Bottle Gourd upma

Day 44:

• Morning – Any fruit
• Evening – Ragi Apple halwa

Day 45:

• Morning – Pumpkin Halwa
• Evening – Makhana with Anjeer (1/4^th) kheer

Day 46:

• Morning – Bottle Gourd halwa (with Dates)
• Evening – Arhar dal with Carrot

Day 47:

• Morning – Carrot halwa
• Evening – Ragi with Peas porridge

Day 48:

• Morning – Banana
• Evening – Sooji upma with vegetables

Day 49:

• Morning – Pear puree
• Evening – Sabudana with Anjeer (1/2) kheer

Day 50:

• Morning – Sweet Potato
• Evening – Arhar dal and Rice

Day 51:

• Morning – Apple Puree
• Evening – Ragi with vegetables porridge

Day 52:

• Morning – Muskmelon or other seasonal fruit
• Evening: Makhana with Anjeer (1/2) kheer

Day 53:

• Morning – Banana
• Evening – Potato and Bottle Gourd soup

Day 54:

• Morning – Pear puree
• Evening – Moong Dal and Rice

Day 55:

• Morning – Chiku
• Evening – Sooji with vegetables upma

Day 56:

• Morning – Seasonal fruit
• Evening – Ragi with Carrot/Pumpkin halwa

Day 57:

• Morning – Peas puree
• Evening – Moong dal with Rice

Day 58:

• Morning – Sabudana with Dates kheer
• Evening – Arhar dal with vegetables

Day 59:

• Morning – Rice with Dates kheer
• Evening – Moong dal with Ghiya

Day 60:

• Morning: Seasonal Fruit
• Evening – Makhana with dates kheer

Important Points:

• If baby is having problem of gas, do not give rice, arhar dal, and peas.
• In case of constipation, give chiku, pear, peach, prune.
• In case of loose stools, give Rice water.
• Do not give banana, especially at evening times if the baby has cough.

Next, I will be posting Recipes of the things that I have included here.

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Do not forget to read ‘List of Foods for 6+ months old babies‘. Not only the list of foods, it has more important information too.

Also Read:

Baby Turned 6 Months old? Do not give these Foods

Is Home Made Cerelac actually good?