Food ideas
What's for dinner? Recipes from first tastes to teens
Mum-tested recipes filtered by your child's age — from baby purées to cook-along family dinners older kids can help make. Every "cook with mum" recipe comes with grown-up safety steps for knives, raw meat and the hob.
By age
By meal
Fussy eater? Start here.
If your child lives on nuggets and chips, you're not alone — and you don't have to fight about it. Look for meals they actually ask for, made from real ingredients at home. The trick: let them help cook one part. Praise effort, not the plate — even one bite is a win.
Baby (6–12 months)
First tastes, purées, baby-led weaning and finger food. No salt, no honey, no whole nuts.
9 months +
Hidden-veg bolognese
30 min 4 410 kcal
veg-packedfreezer-friendlyiron-rich
9 months +
Mini chicken & apple meatballs
25 min 4 240 kcal
finger foodfreezer-friendly
7 months +
Sweet potato & lentil dahl
30 min 4 340 kcal
veggieiron-richfreezer-friendly
9 months +
Cheesy courgette & sweetcorn fritters
15 min 3 220 kcal
finger foodveggie
6 months +
2-ingredient banana oat pancakes
10 min 2 150 kcal
no added sugarfinger food
6 months +
Soft scrambled eggs on toast soldiers
8 min 1 230 kcal
proteiniron-rich
9 months +
Homemade fish fingers
20 min 3 250 kcal
finger food
9 months +
Hidden veg mac & cheese
25 min 4 420 kcal
veggiehidden veg
9 months +
One-tray chicken & veg rice
40 min 4 460 kcal
one-pan
9 months +
Berry yoghurt pots with oat crumble
10 min 2 160 kcal
no added sugar
9 months +
Carrot & cheese savoury muffins
30 min 12 muffins 140 kcal
finger foodlunchboxfreezer-friendly
6 months +
Apple & cinnamon porridge
10 min 1 280 kcal
warmingfibre
9 months +
Mini cottage pie
45 min 4 340 kcal
iron-richfreezer-friendly
10 months +
Mild chicken korma & rice
25 min 3 380 kcal
mild spicefreezer-friendly
10 months +
Veggie bean chilli
25 min 4 260 kcal
veggiefibrefreezer-friendly
9 months +
Cinnamon eggy bread fingers
10 min 2 220 kcal
finger foodquick
9 months +
Mini veggie frittatas
25 min 6 muffins 110 kcal
finger foodfreezer-friendlyhigh protein
9 months +
Sweet potato wedges & yoghurt dip
30 min 2 180 kcal
finger foodveggie
10 months +
Creamy salmon & cod fish pie
40 min 4 360 kcal
omega-3freezer-friendly
9 months +
Cheesy broccoli rice
20 min 2 320 kcal
veggiequick
10 months +
Chicken & sweetcorn noodle soup
20 min 3 240 kcal
one-potcomfort
6 months +
Silky carrot purée
20 min 4 baby portions 25 kcal
stage 1single ingredientfreezer-friendly
6 months +
Pear & apple first purée
15 min 4 baby portions 35 kcal
stage 1fruitfreezer-friendly
6 months +
Baby's first banana porridge
5 min 1 140 kcal
stage 1breakfastquick
6 months +
Pea & mint purée
10 min 4 baby portions 40 kcal
stage 1iron-richfreezer-friendly
7 months +
Sweet potato & red lentil purée
25 min 5 baby portions 90 kcal
stage 2iron-richfreezer-friendly
6 months +
Banana & avocado mash
2 min 1 130 kcal
stage 1no cookhealthy fats
6 months +
Avocado & banana finger food
2 min 1 110 kcal
baby-led weaningfinger foodno cook
6 months +
Steamed veg finger platter
15 min 1 90 kcal
baby-led weaningfinger foodveggie
6 months +
Soft scrambled egg & avocado
5 min 1 180 kcal
baby-led weaningproteiniron-rich
8 months +
Hummus with soft veg & toast dippers
5 min 1 180 kcal
baby-led weaningfinger foodiron-rich
9 months +
Banana 'nice' cream
5 min + freezing 2 110 kcal
no added sugardairy-free optionfreezer-friendly
Toddler (1–3 years)
Tiny tummies, big opinions. Veg-packed bowls, finger food and family meals cut into safe sizes.
12 months +
Creamy salmon & pea pasta
15 min 2 toddler + 1 adult 320 kcal
omega-3freezer-friendly
12 months +
Berry overnight oats
5 min + overnight 1 280 kcal
no cookfibre
12 months +
Easy tuna & sweetcorn pasta bake
30 min 4 430 kcal
freezer-friendly
12 months +
Quick pitta pizzas
12 min 2 320 kcal
kid-friendly
12 months +
Banana loaf (no added sugar)
1 hr 10 slices 180 kcal
batch bakelunchbox
12 months +
Fruity oat flapjacks
30 min 12 bars 160 kcal
batch bakelunchbox
12 months +
Mini turkey burgers
20 min 4 small burgers 290 kcal
lean proteinfreezer-friendly
12 months +
Strawberry yoghurt mess
5 min 2 180 kcal
quickfruity
12 months +
Kids can cook (5+)
Mini apple & cinnamon crumbles
30 min 4 ramekins 290 kcal
family favouritewarming
3 years +
Kids can cook (5+)
No-bake chocolate fridge cake
20 min + 2 hr chilling 12 squares 270 kcal
no-bakepartykids can cook
3 years +
Kids can cook (5+)
Mini Eton mess pots
10 min 4 small glasses 350 kcal
no-bakesummerkids can cook
3 years +
Kids can cook (6+)
Fudgy chocolate brownies
35 min 12 squares 320 kcal
family favouritefreezer-friendlykids can cook
3 years +
Kids can cook (4+)
Rainbow fruit kebabs with choc dip
10 min 4 220 kcal
no-bake5-a-daykids can cook
Little chef (4–7 years)
Recipes they can help with — mixing, decorating, washing veg and rolling dough. Knife work with a child-safe knife only.
4 years +
Kids can cook (4+)
Berry smoothie bowl (kids can make!)
10 min 2 220 kcal
kid cookno cookno added sugar
5 years +
Kids can cook (5+)
Crunchy homemade chicken nuggets (better than the freezer kind)
25 min 4 320 kcal
kid cookfussy eaterfakeaway
6 years +
Kids can cook (6+)
Oven fish & chips with mushy peas (chip-shop at home)
40 min 4 520 kcal
kid cookfussy eaterfakeaway
4 years +
Kids can cook (4+)
Build-your-own margherita pizza
30 min + 1 hr rise 4 420 kcal
kid cookfamily favouriteveggie
5 years +
Kids can cook (5+)
Rainbow pesto pasta salad
20 min 4 380 kcal
kid cooklunchboxveggie
4 years +
Kids can cook (6+)
Lemon drizzle cupcakes
30 min 12 250 kcal
bake-alongkids can cook
5 years +
Kids can cook (7+)
Classic Victoria sponge
45 min 8 480 kcal
family favouritebake-alongkids can cook
4 years +
Kids can cook (5+)
Soft chocolate chip cookies
25 min 16 cookies 180 kcal
bake-alongkids can cookfreezer-friendly
4 years +
Kids can cook (5+)
Rocky road squares
15 min + chilling 12 squares 280 kcal
no-bakepartykids can cook
4 years +
Kids can cook (7+)
American pancakes with berries
20 min 4 380 kcal
weekend treatkids can cook
5 years +
Kids can cook (8+)
Sticky toffee pudding
45 min 6 580 kcal
family favouritewarmingkids can cook
Big kids (8–11 years)
Cook-along fakeaways and family dinners. Real knives with the claw grip, raw meat with grown-up supervision, hob with help.
9 years +
Kids can cook (9+)
Smash burgers with proper cheese drip
20 min 4 620 kcal
kid cookfussy eaterfakeaway
9 years +
Kids can cook (9+)
Chicken katsu curry (homemade Wagamama style)
35 min 4 620 kcal
kid cookfakeawayfamily favourite
8 years +
Kids can cook (8+)
Loaded BBQ chicken dirty fries
35 min 4 580 kcal
kid cookfakeawaysharing
10 years +
Kids can cook (10+)
Sticky sweet & sour chicken (better than takeaway)
30 min 4 540 kcal
kid cookfakeawayfamily favourite
10 years +
Kids can cook (10+)
Mum's doner-style chicken kebab wraps
25 min + 30 min marinate 4 560 kcal
kid cookfakeawayteens
9 years +
Kids can cook (9+)
Cheesy chicken quesadillas (10-minute teen tea)
10 min 2 520 kcal
kid cookfussy eaterfakeaway
8 years +
Kids can cook (8+)
Cook-along spaghetti & meatballs
40 min 4 560 kcal
kid cookfamily favouriteiron-rich
9 years +
Kids can cook (9+)
Family chicken fajitas
25 min 4 520 kcal
kid cookfamily favourite
10 years +
Kids can cook (10+)
Rainbow veg stir-fry noodles
20 min 4 410 kcal
kid cookveggiequick
8 years +
Kids can cook (8+)
No-bake salted caramel cheesecake
30 min + 4 hr chilling 10 580 kcal
no-bakeshowstopperkids can cook
Teens (12+)
Independent cooks. Confident knife skills, hob, oven and food safety — the meals that make great life-skills.
9 years +
Kids can cook (9+)
Smash burgers with proper cheese drip
20 min 4 620 kcal
kid cookfussy eaterfakeaway
9 years +
Kids can cook (9+)
Chicken katsu curry (homemade Wagamama style)
35 min 4 620 kcal
kid cookfakeawayfamily favourite
8 years +
Kids can cook (8+)
Loaded BBQ chicken dirty fries
35 min 4 580 kcal
kid cookfakeawaysharing
10 years +
Kids can cook (10+)
Sticky sweet & sour chicken (better than takeaway)
30 min 4 540 kcal
kid cookfakeawayfamily favourite
10 years +
Kids can cook (10+)
Mum's doner-style chicken kebab wraps
25 min + 30 min marinate 4 560 kcal
kid cookfakeawayteens
9 years +
Kids can cook (9+)
Cheesy chicken quesadillas (10-minute teen tea)
10 min 2 520 kcal
kid cookfussy eaterfakeaway
9 years +
Kids can cook (9+)
Family chicken fajitas
25 min 4 520 kcal
kid cookfamily favourite
10 years +
Kids can cook (10+)
Rainbow veg stir-fry noodles
20 min 4 410 kcal
kid cookveggiequick
12 years +
Kids can cook (12+)
Mini churros with chocolate dip
30 min 4 540 kcal
fakeawayteen treatkids can cook