Hi LEA fam!
As the holidays approach, the noise around food and feeding our little eaters always seems to intensify: well-meaning comments, busy schedules, new foods, and numerous opinions. We’re here to help you drown out the stress and tune into what matters—keeping mealtimes positive, calm, and connected.
THANKSGIVING FOR LITTLE EATERS
My daughter Eloise, at age 1, enjoying mashed potatoes, turkey, and soft-cooked Brussels sprouts on Thanksgiving last year.
The good news? Most traditional Thanksgiving dishes can be adapted to safely fit wherever your little eater is at developmentally; no need to make separate meals.
Here are a few simple ways to modify the classics:
6–9 months: Offer soft, mashed versions of Thanksgiving staples such as mashed potatoes, fork-tender turkey cut into wide strips, large flat pieces of soft steamed carrots or green beans, and smooth cranberry sauce. Avoid nuts, seeds, or any small mix-ins that could pose a choking risk.
9–12 months: Give soft, easy-to-pick-up pieces like bite-sized tender meat or shredded proteins, well-cooked veggies, soft rolls or stuffing broken into small, moist bits. Continue to avoid common choking hazards, such as whole nuts, marshmallows, grapes, and raw, crunchy vegetables.
12–18 months: Young toddlers can explore more textures now, as long as foods are modified for safety and matched to their developmental readiness. This is also a great time to introduce or continue encouraging the use of utensils and open cup drinking.
18+ months: Toddlers can enjoy most Thanksgiving foods with continued supervision. Avoid items like loose bones or firm, round foods that still pose a choking risk. Keep pieces appropriately sized and support calm, seated eating. This is also a fun age to get them involved. Let them help set the table, stir batter, or toss the salad. Participating in the meal often increases their interest and willingness to try new foods.
🧂What about salt?!
Salt recommendations for babies and toddlers can feel confusing. Sodium is an essential mineral, but young kidneys are still developing, which is why families are often encouraged to avoid excessive amounts. Yet current research on an exact amount is limited, and most experts agree that while babies should not have high sodium foods, small amounts are generally fine and often unavoidable unless a child has specific medical needs.
Our take: If you can skip adding extra salt to a Thanksgiving dish, great. But it is unnecessary—and unrealistic—to avoid all salt or prepare a completely separate meal. For younger babies under 1, the amount they actually eat at a holiday meal is usually small since they’re still learning, licking, and maybe even throwing. 😝 Try not to stress. Enjoy the meal, let them explore, and move on. Healthy kidneys can handle the small amount of sodium they’re exposed to.
RECIPE
Speaking of getting little ones involved… these soft, tender pumpkin muffins are great for little eaters and big kids alike and the perfect addition to any Thanksgiving spread. Letting them pour, stir, or mash makes the experience fun and builds curiosity around new foods.
FOOD FOCUS
Carrots are a holiday staple: sweet, colorful, and easy to adapt for all ages. They’re packed with beta-carotene (a vitamin A precursor), fiber, and antioxidants.
How to Serve by Age/Stage
6–9 months: Large, soft-cooked carrots cut lengthwise for baby to hold and gum, or mashed carrots.
9–12 months: Soft, bite-sized cooked pieces or grated carrots mixed into other foods.
12 months+: Any of the above
18 months+: Any of the above plus raw quartered carrot sticks if your toddler has strong chewing skills. Reserve baby carrots, which are round/slippery, for closer to age 2.
📸 See visuals of each stage on our Instagram.
Carrot Inspo:
WHAT’S HAPPENING @ LEA
🛍️ Black Friday Special
We know the holiday season can feel overwhelming with new routines, big gatherings, and lots of questions about feeding. We're here to support you through it all.
Now through 12/2, take 20% off all Little Eaters Academy services, including gift cards. Perfect for:
prepping for solids
navigating mealtime challenges
holiday food questions
personalized meal plans
gifting support to a new parent
Use code THANKFUL20 at checkout. Because confident feeding shouldn’t feel stressful! 🫶🏼🧡
