Starting Solids? Here are Easy First Foods You Already Have at Home!

Starting Solids? Here are Easy First Foods You Already Have at Home!

When you’re starting solids, it’s easy to feel like you need Pinterest-worthy meals, long ingredient lists, or fancy baby recipes. But here’s the truth most parents don’t hear enough: your baby’s first foods can simply be the foods you already cook at home.

Your everyday staples: the dal, the rice, the porridge, the veggies. They are gentle, nourishing, and perfect as solid foods for babies.

In fact, introducing your baby to the flavours of your own kitchen helps them grow familiar with the taste of your culture, cuisine, and family habits. Whether you’re doing traditional feeding or baby-led weaning, introducing a variety of flavours early on really helps.

What to Know Before You Begin

When babies begin solids (usually around 6 months), they don’t need salt, sugar, or complex taste profiles. They’re exploring textures, learning to chew, understanding fullness, and discovering flavour, one munch at a time.

Here are some basics to keep in mind:

• No added salt or sugar yet
  Babies don’t need them, and their kidneys aren’t ready for salt. As for sugar, it can create an early preference for sweet foods and doesn't offer any nutritional value.
  
  

• Simple spices are absolutely okay
  A pinch of turmeric, cumin, or carom seeds can gently introduce them to the flavours your family eats.
  
  

• Textures should be soft, smooth, and easy to manage
  Whether you’re offering purees, mashed foods, or trying baby-led weaning, make sure the food is soft enough to squish between fingers.
  
  

• Let them explore the mess
  Smushing, grabbing, tasting, that is how babies learn.
  
  

• Portions don’t have to be big
  A spoonful or two is enough when you're introducing solid foods to babies.

With these basics in mind, you’re all set to explore simple, home-style first foods.

Easy Indian First Foods

Below are 10 simple starter recipes, all using regular home ingredients. Adjust texture depending on whether your baby is doing purees, thick mash, or baby-led weaning.

1. Moong Dal + Rice Khichdi (mashed)

Boil equal parts moong dal and rice with lots of water. Mash well. Add a pinch of haldi. No salt. It’s soft, easy to digest, and the perfect first food.

2. Ragi Porridge

Mix ragi flour with water, whisk to avoid lumps, cook on low till creamy. Add milk or formula at the end. This recipe is a great source of iron for the baby.

3. Steamed & Mashed Sweet Potato

Steam sweet potato until soft, and mash it with a fork. This introduces the baby to a naturally sweet and nutrient-rich first food.

4. Curd + Rice Mash

Mix warm rice with fresh curd, mash lightly. This simple preparation can be extremely cooling and gut-friendly for babies.

5. Mashed Idli/Idli Fingers

Steam a small idli, soften with warm water or milk, and mash or cut into idli fingers. It can be a fluffy, easy, and familiar dish on the menu that your baby will look forward to.

6. Dal Water + Soft Dal Mash

Cook toor dal or moong dal well. Offer the watery part + a little soft mashed dal. It’s a light, comforting, and protein-rich prep.

7. Vegetable Mash (Carrot / Pumpkin / Bottle Gourd)

Steam any one vegetable, blend or mash till smooth. It’s a good way to introduce gentle flavours.

8. Suji Upma (baby version)

Roast suji, cook with extra water until soft. Add a tiny pinch of cumin powder or turmeric. This is a soft, savoury option without salt.

9. Soft Banana Mash / Finger-Sized Pieces

Mash banana for spoon-feeding or cut into long strips for baby-led weaning. This is a great source of potassium and carbohydrates for your baby.

10. Ghee-Rice Mash

Warm rice + ½ tsp ghee, mashed smooth. Ghee supports digestion and adds healthy fats to your baby’s diet.

11. Light Semolina Kheer-Style Mash

Dry-roast a spoon of semolina, then cook it in plenty of water until soft and creamy. Add a little formula or breast milk at the end to thin it out. This gives your baby a silky, mildly sweet, easy-to-digest first food.

12. Mashed Potato (Plain & Smooth)

Boil peeled potato pieces until soft. Mash well with warm water to reach a smooth consistency. This is a gentle, filling, and neutral starter option.

13. Apple Sauce (Steamed & Puréed)

Steam peeled apple slices till tender, then blend or mash. This makes a naturally sweet, fibre-rich fruit intro that’s friendly for tiny tummies.

14. Carrot + Rice Mash

Steam carrot pieces and cook rice separately. Combine and mash with warm water. This introduces a slightly sweet, familiar flavour in a comforting, soft base.

15. Steamed Pear Mash

Steam soft, ripe pear slices and mash or purée. Pears are naturally sweet, hydrating, and very tummy-friendly.

1. Stick to single-ingredient foods in the first few days to spot allergies.
   
   
2. Offer small amounts. 1–2 spoons is enough when you’re just starting solids.
   
   
3. Respect your baby’s appetite; their tummy is tiny.
   
   
4. Avoid honey till after 1 year.
   
   
5. Encourage exploration and mess. It’s part of the process.

Your baby doesn't always need complicated menus, popular mixes, or time-consuming recipes. They need balanced nutrition, consistency, and the flavours of home. As you introduce your baby’s first foods, trust your kitchen, trust your instincts, and let your baby slowly grow into the taste they’ll love for years.