Feel Like You’re Serving the Same 3 Foods on Repeat?

How to Add Variety in BLW Without Losing Your Mind

Variety isn’t a race — it’s a slow, steady adventure.

Prefer to listen?

Let me guess:
Your baby’s current meal plan goes something like…

🥑 Avocado
🍌 Banana
🍞 Toast

Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

If that sounds familiar, you’re in the right place.

In today’s episode, we’re talking about how to break out of the “same 3 foods” rut — without overhauling your kitchen or writing a Pinterest-worthy meal plan.

Spoiler: You don’t need 100 foods by next week. You need a few smart tweaks, a loose rhythm, and permission to breathe.

1. Repetition Is Not a Red Flag

In fact, it’s how babies learn.

Every time your baby sees, touches, or tastes a food — even if they don’t swallow it — their brain is wiring familiarity. That avocado they ignored for 9 straight days? Day 10 might be the day they suddenly lean in and smear it gleefully into their hair.

✨ Exposure = progress
✨ Repetition builds confidence
✨ Confidence leads to joyful eating

And no, repeating foods doesn’t create “boredom.” Babies aren’t bored by banana. They’re learning with every bite.

2. Variety Happens Over Time — Not Every Meal

We’re ditching the rainbow plate pressure and using buckets instead.

Instead of stressing about the perfect plate every day, aim to touch each of these 5 food buckets across the week:

✅ Fruit
✅ Veggie
✅ Protein
✅ Starch
✅ Allergen

Think rotation, not perfection.

Monday: pear + carrot
Wednesday: sweet potato + peanut butter on toast
Friday: chicken + broccoli

Sprinkle in familiar faves throughout — they’re comfort foods and learning tools. Repeats are encouraged.

🍽️ No spreadsheet needed. Just ask:
“What haven’t we hit lately?”
Then build your next meal around that.

3. Tiny Tweaks = Big Variety

You don’t need new foods.
You need new angles.

Take one food (say, apple) and change:

  • 🍎 Texture (steamed, sautéed, mashed)

  • 🌡️ Temperature (warm, cold)

  • 🧂 Flavor (plain, dusted with cinnamon)

  • ✂️ Cut (wedges, batons, mash on toast)

Same ingredient. Brand new experience.

This builds:

  • Oral motor skills

  • Sensory curiosity

  • Long-term food confidence

And yes, it helps reduce picky eating later.

Real-Life Examples from Real Moms

🍐 A mom steamed pear wedges early in the week and roasted carrot sticks midweek. By Sunday, her baby had explored three different textures, two colors, and a full fridge of learning — without a single new grocery trip.

🍎 Another was stuck on apples. We tried: steamed slices, skillet-softened spiced wedges, and applesauce spread on toast. Same fruit. Triple the fun.

Your 5-Step Plan for Gentle Variety

1️⃣ Use the 5 buckets: Fruit, veggie, starch, protein, allergen
2️⃣ Keep a quick food note: Track wins + gaps (no fancy planner needed)
3️⃣ Add one new item a week: When you have the bandwidth
4️⃣ Tweak prep styles: Roast it, steam it, spice it
5️⃣ Celebrate exploration, not intake: Smears and squishes count

Let’s Recap:

  • Repetition builds confidence.

  • Variety grows over time, not in a day.

  • Tiny tweaks = fresh adventure.

  • One meal at a time is enough.

Your baby doesn’t need a rainbow.
They need you — showing up, staying steady, and trusting the process.

Orientation Day Starts TOMORROW 🎉

✨ Orientation Day: Baby-Led Weaning 101 is almost here!
📅 Live on June 25, 26, and 28
🎥 Free live class + replay
💬 I'll teach you everything you need to start solids with calm, clarity, and confidence.

Save your seat now: babyledweaningacademy.com/od

If today’s episode helped ease the plate pressure, would you leave a review and upload it at babyledweaningacademy.com/review so I can send you a little gifty in the mail 💌?

You’ve got this, mama — and I’ve got you.
Let’s mix it up. 💛