Despite years of medical training, nothing prepared me for the moment my daughter was ready to start solids. I had read the guidelines, I understood gagging versus choking… and yet the first time she picked up a piece of food, my heart still sat in my throat.

I quickly realised I wasn’t alone. Most parents feel unsure, overwhelmed or even scared when transitioning to solids or baby-led weaning. Even trying a new recipe can feel like a gamble — unsure how to cook it, cut it, or serve it in a way that’s safe and developmentally appropriate. And when you finally do attempt something new, there’s nothing more discouraging than spending your limited time cooking, only for the meal to burn, flop, or end up decorating the floor after one enthusiastic bite.

Growing Plates was born from that experience: a desire to make feeding simpler, safer and far less stressful. A way to give parents trustworthy, developmentally aligned meals without the hours of preparation, trial-and-error cooking, or fear of doing it “wrong.”

Our meals are made by a mum who understand the realities of feeding little humans, reviewed for balance and nutrition, and supported by medical knowledge to ensure safety and readiness at every stage. It’s home-style food grounded in evidence, not trends — created for real families, real babies and real mealtimes.

I wanted parents to feel supported, not scared. And I wanted babies to enjoy real food, real flavours and real learning — without the anxiety that too often comes with those first bites. Growing Plates is my way of helping families build confidence, connection and joy around food, one developmentally appropriate meal at a time.