Lean red meat is a core food in the diet for infants and children because it contains vital nutrients necessary for brain development, including iron which is essential for energy and protein which helps with growth and development. Introduction of meat should start after the infant has been introduced to gluten free cereals, fruit and vegetable purees and mashed potato.

	6-7 months – smooth texture When a baby is around 6-7 months, smooth textured meat such as lean beef rump, sirloin steak, veal schnitzel, lean lamb cutlets and chops can be introduced. Some babies prefer meat blended with vegetables such as pumpkin, potato, zucchini and broccoli.
7-9 months – lumpy texture At 7-9 months, food should be thicker in consistency, with a rougher texture. This can be done by chopping cooked meat finely rather than blending it.
	From 9-12 months – finger foods Babies at this stage have more control of their hands and can now start to feed themselves. Recommend mums cut food into small bite size pieces which can easily be managed or held onto for chewing. Warn them not to serve hard foods such as raw carrot, celery, apple or nuts as this could cause their baby to choke.

For further information

Order these resources or download the PDF:

	Easy iron-rich meals for babies 6 to 12 months  >View PDF (PDF, 775KB)
	Easy iron-rich meals for toddlers >View PDF (PDF, 161KB)

 Also download these articles on childhood nutrition:

• Meat consumption among 18-month-old children participating in Childhood Asthma Prevention Study >Read more
• Irreversible health effects may be linked to low iron intake in children – new report >Read more
• Aussie kids – overweight and undernourished >Vital 31 (PDF, 553KB)

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