Easy, No Sugar - PB&J Lunch For Baby & Toddler - BLW
Table of Contents
What Is PB&J?
Peanut Butter & Jelly, commonly referred to as PB&J, is a classic sandwich enjoyed by people of all ages. It consists of two slices of bread typically spread with peanut butter on one slice and jelly or jam on the other, then sandwiched together.
Peanut butter provides a rich, nutty flavour, while jelly adds a sweet and fruity element, creating a harmonious combination loved by many. When considering making PB&J baby-led weaning friendly, it's essential to be cautious due to potential choking hazards.
To adapt this iconic sandwich for babies, you can offer thin strips of whole grain toast with a light spread of peanut butter and a small amount of mashed fruit instead of jelly, ensuring it is easy to grasp and chew for little ones exploring solid foods.
As always, close supervision is recommended when introducing new foods to babies to ensure safe self-feeding.
Why Bento Boxes Are Great For Busy Parents?
Bento boxes are a versatile option for feeding little ones of all ages, making them a popular choice from the beginning of baby-led weaning and beyond. These compartmentalised containers are not only visually appealing but also practical for creating balanced and varied meals.
For parents introducing solids to their babies, bento boxes offer the perfect way to offer a variety of foods in appropriate portions. As children grow, these boxes can be filled with a mix of fruits, veggies, proteins, and even yogurts - making it easy to cater to different taste preferences and dietary needs.
Furthermore, the bento box lunch box are ideal for on-the-go snacking, allowing busy families to pack nutritious meals that are easy to grab and enjoy, whether at school at lunch time, on a day out, or during travel. Overall, their convenience, versatility, and ability to promote healthy eating habits make bento boxes a must-have for families with young children.
Can My Baby Eat A Tortilla Wrap?
Tortilla wraps can be a great option when introducing solids to your baby, but caution should be taken when considering them as a food choice for little fingers.
The age at which you can introduce tortilla wraps to your baby will depend on their individual development and dietary needs. Typically, around 6-8 months of age, when your baby has started to explore a variety of foods and textures, you can consider offering them strips of soft tortilla wraps.
It's important to ensure that the tortilla is free of added salt and sugar and that any fillings are age-appropriate and cut into, manageable bite-sized pieces from 9-10 months for older babies who have mastered the pincer grasp to prevent choking hazards. They are great finger foods too if prepared as per the recipe below.
The Benefits Of Peanut Butter?
Peanut butter can be a nutritious addition to your baby's diet during the baby-led weaning process. Rich in protein, healthy fats, and essential nutrients like iron and vitamin E, peanut butter serves as a convenient and tasty option for introducing allergenic foods early on.
When considering offering peanut butter to your baby, it's crucial to wait until they are at least six months old and have started eating other solid foods. Introducing peanut-based foods around this age can help in developing their taste preferences and potentially reduce the risk of developing peanut allergies later in life.
Always ensure the peanut butter is smooth and spread thinly on soft foods to prevent a choking hazard. Be mindful of your baby's reactions, serve in small amounts and react accordingly, in case of a peanut allergy.
This recipe is so simple but looks inviting to eat which is a win win in my book!
Give this one a try and let me know what you think?
Ingredient information
Mini tortilla - These are great to have in the fridge or freezer, they always have a relatively long shelf life so good to have in to make a different lunch or even dinner.
Raspberry - We love berries in our home, and instead of using jam I have simply mashed some raspberries.
Peanut butter - I use a 100% healthy peanut butter, you could use a cashew butter or hazelnut butter instead.
Cucumber - This is great to have in the fridge as part as one of your weekly staples.
Blackberries - These are great and so tasty to include in your weekly shop.
Serving suggestion
This bento box is great served on its own, if you did want to serve it with anything you could serve alongside some plain Greek yogurt or a banana!
You can simply make the same recipe but using whole grain bread instead of the tortilla wrap to make pb&j sandwiches. It is a simple way to add plenty of protein to your babies diet, for baby led weaning.
Other great bento box recipes are: Pizza toastie bento, snack bento, Giant cous cous bento, egg salad bento.
Storage instructions
The great news is this can be made ahead of time, if you do make it ahead of time, the raspberry may soak into the wrap, this doesn’t affect anything other than it may look a little different.
This doesn’t always happen, but just to bear in mind if you have any fussy eaters out there! The bento box can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days.
The bento box will not be able to be frozen.
Equipment Used To Help With This Recipe
Bento box
Recipe | Easy, No Sugar - PB&J Lunch For Baby & Toddler - BLW
Ingredients
Makes 1 bento box
1 mini tortilla
7 raspberries, mashed (save one for decoration)
1 teaspoon 100% peanut butter
5 slices cucumber, halved
4 blackberries, halved
Instructions
Start by placing your tortilla on a flat surface.
Spread a thin peanut butter layer in the centre of the tortilla, and spread it upwards to the edge of the tortilla.
Spread the mashed raspberries on top of the peanut butter.
Fold up the bottom of the tortilla to the centre, and then fold in the 2 sides.
Pop the tortilla into the bento box, placing the spare raspberry in the middle of the tortilla.
Next add in the cucumber in one compartment and the blackberries in the other compartment.
Hope you and your family enjoy!
Recipe notes
If your little one is gluten free, you could try this with a gluten free wrap, there are lots to choose from now which is great! You may just have to make a bigger wrap!
Other spreads you could try instead of natural peanut butter are; cream cheese sprinkled with chia seeds, almond butter, sunflower seed butter, mashed ripe banana sprinkled with peanut butter powder. (Peanut powder can also be mixed with water to make peanut butter too, great for adding to porridge and smoothies.
You could use your own ground peanut butter too if you would like to make your own for your baby, using whole peanuts.
An easy way to make no added sugar treats for your baby.
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