Tips and advice from Annabel Karmel

Global expert in baby and children’s food, founder of award-winning recipe app, Annabel Karmel MBE is an expert speaker at The Baby Show, which returns to Excel London from 7-9 March and NEC Birmingham from 9-11 May 2025. We caught up with her ahead of the show and asked her for some advice on baby led weaning, picky eaters and making meal-times fun.

Visit www.thebabyshow.co.uk for tickets and more information.

I want to try baby led weaning. Where do I start?

From six months you can introduce soft finger foods to your baby – and self-feeding / baby-led weaning is great for encouraging their independence, introducing texture and practicing that hand to eye coordination. Your baby will need to be able to close their hand around the food so it’s best to start with pieces that are big enough for your baby to hold in their fist with some sticking out. Fairly long pieces (roughly 5–7cm) stand a better chance of being picked up. Try roasted sweet potato wedges, banana ‘lollipops’, steamed carrot or pear wedges and broccoli florets to get them started.

My new book Finger Foods for Babies & Toddlers has lots of nutritious, delicious recipes as well as how to prepare individual foods so that they are safe for your little food explorers.

What are the best lunchbox snacks?

Healthy snacks are a great way to boost your little one’s nutrition intake as well as introduce new flavours and textures. Here are just a few of my favourites for inspiration…

• Mini savoury muffins – think carrot, courgette and butternut squash

• Energy balls or bars with oats, chopped nuts and dried fruit 

• Carrot batons and cucumber sticks with hummus or guacamole 

• Plain yoghurt with chopped fruit and sprinkled seeds

• Slice of banana bread

• Wedge of frittata or mini frittata muffin

My toddler is quite picky about what they eat. 

What’s the best way to get them to try new foods?

Make new foods fun! Without going to unnecessary lengths, try to make your child’s food not only taste good but look good too. Serve mini portions in ramekins, use cookie cutters to make veggie shapes, create fun foodie faces or thread bite sized pieces of salad or fruit onto a straw. Children also often like to eat with their fingers so serve up some goodness-packed fritters, frittata muffins or veggies and pitta with guacamole or hummus dip.

And, eat together! If you can sit down to eat together, do it. Kids are so impressionable – they’ll want what you’re having, so try new healthy nutritious foods with them. Enthusiasm is contagious.

You could also let the children choose the menu. It will make them feel included and make it a lot easier in encouraging them to sit down at the dinner table (and hopefully eat their dinner!) 

My little one is constantly picking up colds this time of the year – are there any foods that can help boost their immunity?

Here are a few of my top superfood picks that will help ensure your family are fully stocked up on lots of nutritious goodness:

• Leafy greens – think broccoli, kale and spinach! These culinary superheroes contain a whole host of antioxidants to help build and strengthen your immune system

• Avocados – one of the most nutrient dense foods around, they are rich in monounsaturated fat (the ‘good type’ of fat) as well as vitamin C and E which boosts our immune system

• Blueberries – blueberries are packed with vitamin C to help you fight off bothersome colds so are an essential ingredient for your family throughout the year. Frozen berries are just as nutritious as fresh so have a stash in your freezer so you can dip in when your family need a berry boost!

• Spices – turmeric, garlic and ginger all have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties so are a must if you are feeling a little under the weather. Why not make a mildly spiced immune boosting curry for the whole family to keep illnesses at bay

• Sweet Potato – sweet potatoes are packed full of goodness and an excellent source of beta-carotene which is converted to Vitamin A for that important immune support

Do you have a favourite recipe I can cook with my toddler?

ANNABEL KARMEL’S MINI SAVOURY MUFFINS 

This recipe is super simple to make with mini chefs and it comes packed with carrot, courgette and sweetcorn, meaning this tasty snack packs a nutritious punch – perfect for tiny hands and hungry tums!

Makes: 

24 MINI MUFFINS

Suitable for freezing

Ingredients 

100g courgette, grated

50g carrot, peeled and grated

25g tinned sweetcorn

75g Cheddar cheese, grated

50ml milk

50g Greek yoghurt

1 egg, beaten

110g self-raising flour

½ tsp baking powder 

Method 

1. Preheat the oven to 180C Fan.

2. Line a 24-hole mini muffin tun with mini muffin cases.

3. Put all of the ingredients into a mixing bowl. Mix well and season lightly (for babies over one year)

4. Spoon into the cases. Bake for 15 minutes until well risen and lightly golden on top.