Children can be very finicky eaters and on some days a bowl of soup can make all the difference to how many nutrients you can pack in one meal. In our home, we love trying different kinds of vegetable soups. Over the years we have tried many soup recipes and now have a few family favorites of our own. Today I will be sharing with you some of my tried and tested soup recipes for babies and toddlers.
You can modify each recipe for spice and salt as you like to make the adult version of these soups. The spice measurements I have given here are considering a child’s palate.
Before you ask me, Is it okay to give soup to little babies? Aren’t babies recommended to eat more textured food over mush?
Well, from our own personal experience, we followed baby-led weaning and let our son enjoy all family foods from the beginning.
Baby-led weaning allows you the freedom to try different textures of foods for baby and this includes softer mushy foods like porridge and soups too. The more variety of textures the child is exposed to the better it is in avoiding picky eating behaviors later on.
To learn more about how we went about baby-led weaning and some of the first foods for baby-led weaning you can read here.
The point here is that we didn’t rely only on soups or purees for baby. But, rather enjoyed healthy soups as a part of our family meals from time to time.
The soup recipes here are wholesome recipes that include a combination of vegetables and sometimes a creamy base made from coconut milk that is unlike typical baby food and more like soups you enjoy together as a family.
I personally found that foods like soups are helpful on sick days or during teething periods. I can easily add more fats from butter, cream, or coconut milk to boost the calories and some protein from nut powders and help make every bite that much more nutrient-dense.
Here goes, a list of some healthy and yummy soup recipes for babies and toddlers.
Note: I included salt in all the soup recipes here, but, when making these soup recipes for babies under age 1, skip the salt and/or soup powder mentioned. Babies under 1 should not be given any salt.
SOUP RECIPES FOR BABIES AND TODDLERS
Pumpkin and Carrot Soup
A simple soup recipe for babies that includes much-needed Vitamin A-rich foods. This soup for babies is not only healthy, the texture is perfect for both traditional weaning and baby-led weaning.
Ingredients:
250 gms chopped pumpkin pieces
2 small potatoes chopped
2 small carrots chopped
1 chopped onion
2 tsp cumin seeds
3-4 tsp salt-free no MSG soup powder
1 tbsp olive oil
Salt & Pepper to taste
Method:
1. In a pressure pan, add cumin seeds to hot oil. Let these sputter.
2. Then sauté the onions until golden brown and caramelized.
3. Now, add the pumpkin, potato, and carrot pieces along with water about 1 cup (or just enough to cover the ingredients in the pan).
4. Add the salt, pepper, and soup powder.
5. Take 3-4 whistles in the pressure pan. Let it cool completely then blend the soup in the mixer blender for an even consistency.
6. Serve warm with a dollop of cream.
Note: To add healthy fats to this soup you can toast and add pumpkin seeds powder as a topping.
Here is a bonus pumpkin soup recipe suitable for babies without the added soup powder.
Chicken Soup
This a nourishing soup recipe for babies with cold.
This soup is a great option on days when your child has a cold. My grandma made this soup for us on days we had a blocked nose and a cough, and I now use this recipe as a home remedy for coughs and colds. Definitely give this chicken soup for babies and toddlers a try the next time your kids catch a cold.
Carrot Soup
Here is a unique carrot soup for babies and toddlers. It has a wonderful combination of carrot, leek, and pear.
Potato & Pasta Soup
This potato soup recipe for baby is filling and contains not just potatoes but whole grains in the pasta too. It is a fun texture for babies to try and even practice their pincer grasp as they try and self-feed the pasta.
Sweet Potato Soup
A yummy sweet potato soup for babies. Contains the goodness of sweet potatoes, carrots, and white beans. A filling and nutritious option for any meal.
Spinach and Lentil Soup
This healthy spinach and lentil soup is usually a feature on our winter dinner table. It’s a great combination of leafy greens and lentils, so tasty and filling. It pairs well with buttered toast or pesto pasta.
Chicken and Corn Soup
This is one soup I had a lot of post-delivery. I love the combination of sweet corn and chicken. It is no wonder now that our son loves this soup too. It is easy to make and makes for a filling meal on rushed days alongside some lemon quinoa or cheese toast.
Beetroot Carrot Soup
A beautiful ruby red colored baby soup. Another one of our family’s favorite winter soups. Such Indian soup recipes for babies should be included in the baby’s diet according to the local seasons to build gut health and immunity.
Ingredients:
2 medium-sized beetroot
2 medium-sized carrots
1 large potato
2 garlic pods
1 onion
1 potato
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tablespoon cornflour
Pepper to taste
Cumin powder to taste
1 tbsp olive oil
Salt to taste
Method:
1. In a hot pressure pan heat oil and add the mustard seeds and cumin seeds.
2. When they start to sizzle and pop add in the chopped onion and garlic pods. Sauté until golden brown.
3. Now add the beetroot, carrot, and potato pieces.
4. Add a cup of water or enough water to cover the ingredients.
5. Cook in the pressure pan for 3 whistles.
6. Cool it down completely.
7. Once cool, blend in a mixer.
8. Transfer into a pot, add another cup of water, cornflour, cumin powder, salt, and pepper.
9. Stir well and cook for another 5-7 minutes.
You can serve it with a piece of toasted bread for appetizers.
Broccoli Soup
This broccoli soup for babies is creamy, tasty and so healthy. Your picky eater won’t even notice that he is eating vegetables. I love pairing this soup with pesto pasta or a chicken sandwich for lunch.
Clear Vegetable Soup
If you are looking for more vegetarian soup recipes for babies, here is a vegetarian version of the clear chicken soup for when your child has a cold.
Ingredients:
1 finely chopped onion
1 cup of corn
1 finely chopped carrot
1 finely chopped potato (Can include other veggies like peas, French beans and spring onion if available too)
3 cups water/veggie stock
1-2 tsp ginger garlic paste
1 tsp pepper
1 tbsp cornflour
1-2 tsp oil/butter
Salt to taste
Method:
1. Fry the onions in hot oil in a pot.
2. Once the onions are brown add the ginger garlic paste. Mix in thoroughly.
3. Now add the veggies and the 3 cups of water. Let this cook well, at least 10 min.
4. Once the veggies are nearly cooked add the cornflour and the spices with a little bit of oil/butter. Mix well until all the cornflour dissolves.
5. Let the soup simmer for another 5 mins.
6. Serve hot with a piece of toasted bread.
Tomato Soup
A yummy tomato soup for babies and toddlers. This simple soup recipe for babies can work wonders when the baby has a fever or doesn’t feel good.
Mushroom Soup
A simple but delicious mushroom soup for toddlers.
Pea Soup
A pea soup is a great option to include iron-rich food in the toddler’s meal. Here is a super easy recipe for you to try.
Mutton Soup
Many mothers often wonder how to introduce mutton to babies and younger toddlers. I too was initially skeptical about offering red meat to our son. If you are worried about introducing red meat in chunky pieces, then you can try making a mutton soup like this one. The meat is cooked down and easy for the baby to chew on.
Chicken Noodle Soup
This one is a simple chicken noodle soup made from scratch.
Leek Soup
A super creamy and hearty leek soup for little ones.
Egg Drop Soup
Another quick and healthy option for soup for toddlers is this egg drop soup.
Lentil Soup (Sambar)
If your toddler doesn’t enjoy lentils you can try this Indian recipe for babies, a yummy, and healthy sambar or lentil soup.
I use red lentils for their higher iron content and earthy flavor.
Do give this lentil soup for toddlers a try.
Bottle Gourd Soup
One version of dal (lentil soup) I made a lot in the initial months of baby-led weaning was one with bottle gourd in it.
Bottle gourd has a very mild flavor, so the child does not really notice the flavor of the vegetable. If your child likes dal, this is a great way to add veggies to the dal and increase vegetable consumption alongside.
Drumstick Leaves Soup
I found this very unique recipe for soup using drumstick leaves. It’s nutritious and so easy to make. Drumstick leaves contain good amounts of iron, riboflavin, magnesium, Vit A, and Vit C. And soup is a great way to include such nutrient-dense foods in the child’s diet.
Bookmark this page, so that the next time you want to try a new soup recipe you can come back here.
Which soup does your baby enjoy? Do comment below.
For more recipes for children and toddler meal ideas, check the Recipes section of the blog.
Wow, thank you for always bringing to us useful information.
Helpful post… thanx for sharing with us
Def the most useful blog for parents, now that my son is a toddler and I am bad cook, was wondering how to give him nutritious meals I guess I found my place. Will print all your recipes. Thank you very much for making our lives easier
Which soup can I give my 8 month old?
The broccoli soup, pumpkin soup, chicken soup, potato pasta soup all can be given to an 8-month-old baby. Only adjust the spice level to your babies preference and go salt-free on these.