BLW on a Budget: Easy and Affordable Meal Ideas for Babies

Because baby-led weaning shouldn’t break the bank.

A vibrant flat lay of tropical fruits including bananas, strawberries, and a smoothie on a white background.

When we started baby-led weaning, I had two conflicting thoughts:

  1. “Yay, no more expensive jars of baby food!”
  2. “Wait… why are we suddenly spending more on groceries?”

Turns out, trying to offer variety, whole foods, and baby-safe meals can sneak up on your budget — especially if you get swept into buying every snack or “baby food gadget” on the market. (Been there)

The good news? BLW can actually be super budget-friendly — if you keep things simple, plan a little, and use what’s already in your kitchen. Here are some tips and go-to meal ideas that helped us feed our baby well without overspending.

1. Stick to Whole, Unprocessed Ingredients

One of the best things about BLW is that you don’t need to buy special “baby food.” Most of the time, your baby can eat a modified version of what you’re already cooking — just cut or prep it in a safe way.

Budget-friendly baby staples we always keep on hand:

  • Oats (for porridge or pancakes)
  • Eggs
  • Bananas
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Carrots
  • Broccoli (fresh or frozen)
  • Lentils and beans
  • Rice or quinoa
  • Canned tuna or sardines in water
  • Whole wheat pasta

Frozen veggies are lifesavers too — often cheaper, and they last longer.

Tip: A basic steamer basket turns anything into a baby-friendly meal. It’s one of the most useful $10 kitchen tools we bought.

2. Embrace Leftovers (They’re Your Friend!)

If you’re making dinner for the family, just set aside a portion for your baby before adding salt or sauces. We do this all the time with things like:
• Roast chicken
• Rice and veggie stir-fries
• Steamed veggies
• Scrambled eggs or omelets
• Pasta with simple tomato sauce

With a little planning, your baby’s meals don’t have to be separate meals.

Tip: Investing in some small, freezer-safe containers helped us store leftover portions for quick lunches or on-the-go snacks later.

3. Skip the Expensive Baby Snacks

There are so many baby snacks marketed as “essential” but honestly, most of them are just overpriced versions of things you can make or buy in bulk.

Instead of packaged puffs or teething wafers, we offer:
• Rice cakes (unsalted)
• Sliced fruit
• Plain yogurt with mashed banana
• Homemade banana oat muffins
• Steamed veggie sticks

 

Tip: The baby-safe silicone snack cup makes it easy to offer snacks on the go without spills.

4. Build a Basic Meal Plan Around Budget Staples

Here’s a sample 3-day meal plan using cheap, nutritious ingredients:

Day 1
• Breakfast: Oatmeal with mashed banana
• Lunch: Steamed carrots + hard-boiled egg + toast strips
• Dinner: Shredded chicken, rice, and steamed broccoli

Day 2
• Breakfast: Whole wheat pancakes with mashed berries
• Lunch: Lentils with sweet potato
• Dinner: Pasta with homemade veggie sauce

Day 3
• Breakfast: Scrambled eggs + avocado toast
• Lunch: Salmon with soft-cooked peas
• Dinner: Stir-fried rice with egg and chopped veggies

Easy to make. Easy on your wallet. And baby-approved.

5. Tools That Help (But Don’t Cost a Fortune)

There are lots of BLW tools out there, but we found we really only needed a few basics:

  • A good high chair that’s easy to clean
  • Silicone bibs with a catch pocket
  • A steamer basket or rice cooker with steam function 
  • Small baby-sized utensils for practice 

Everything else? Totally optional. Save your money for groceries!

Final Thoughts

BLW doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive. With a little creativity and some basic pantry items, you can offer your baby nutritious, tasty meals that won’t strain your budget.

Whether you’re working with leftovers, shopping sales, or cooking simple one-pan meals, remember — your baby doesn’t care how pretty the plate is. They just want to explore and eat what you’re eating.

You’ve got this — one messy, budget-friendly bite at a time.