The sample menu below is based on the energy and nutrient recommendations for an average 9-month-old who weighs 20.1 lbs (per FAO/WHO/UNU Energy Requirements).
This is not a personalized plan, so please bear this disclaimer in mind.
Following the guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Dietetic Association and World Health Organization we suggest you introduce solid foods one-by-one and for at least a day at a time.
Because of physical differences, growth spurts, or teething, your child may need/want more or less food than what’s proposed. This is completely normal as every child is unique.
The idea is to offer the proposed average amount of food needed and to go from there. If however, you need or want personalized advice or have any concerns related to eating, please speak to your pediatrician or a pediatric nutritionist.
Amounts of breastmilk/formula are approximate for this age, adjusted for the nutrient content of the other meals. As before, if your child wants more or less throughout the day, feel free to feed on demand. The amounts per meal can also be split into multiple meals.
Water
Ideally, you would also give your child ~3-4 oz of water in addition to the below as well. Note that different kinds of food also contain different amounts of water so that will vary with a different menu. Try offering 1-2 oz per solid meal per day but if they don’t drink it all then don’t worry. Just keep offering and gradually they will get there.
9 Month Old Meal Plan
Breakfast
- 7 oz breastmilk or formula
Lunch – Avocado Fruit Salad (click here for recipe)
- ½ medium-sized orange
- ½ cup strawberries (sliced into small pieces)
- ⅛ avocado
Snack
- 7 oz breastmilk or formula
Dinner – Salmon Asparagus Pasta (click here for recipe)
- ½ cup whole-grain pasta (uncooked weight)
- 1 cup asparagus
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1.3 oz salmon
Before bedtime
- 7 oz breastmilk or formula
Check out all our 9 month old recipes here.
