Getting Started

  • Option 1: Choose by Age

    We prepare meals based on typical feeding stages:

    • 6–8 months — smooth & spoonable

    • 8–10 months — thick mash & soft pieces

    • 10–12 months — soft finger foods & family textures

    Option 2: Choose by Developmental Stage

    Perfect if your child is ahead, taking things slowly, or transitioning between textures.

  • Select what works best for your household:

    • Breakfast

    • Lunch

    • Dinner

    • Snacks
      —or any combination of the above.

    You don’t need to lock this in forever — it can evolve as your needs change.

  • We’ll ask a few quick questions to tailor meals safely and thoughtfully:

    Allergens & intolerances

    • Flag any known allergens

    • Let us know if you are avoiding certain foods for now

    Likes, dislikes & foods not yet tried

    • Foods your child loves (or really doesn’t)

    • Foods you’d like us to hold off on

    • Foods you haven’t introduced yet (we’ll flag these clearly)

    You’ll always be informed before any new allergens are included.

  • Choose the rhythm that suits your family:

    • Fortnightly

    • Monthly

    We’ll email you ahead of each cycle with:

    • Your child’s planned menu

    • Any new ingredients or allergens

    • Seasonal changes

    You can swap up to 3 meals per week at no charge.
    (Additional swaps may incur a small fee — simply because they’re very time-intensive.)

  • Choose the option that works best:

    • Free pick-up from Diamond Creek

    • Home delivery within our delivery radius (distance-based fee)

    All meals are delivered:

    • Frozen

    • Packed in insulated eskies

    • With ice blocks to maintain food safety

  • The esky

    • A $50 refundable esky deposit is charged when you sign up

    • This esky is yours for the entire duration of your subscription

    • Eskies are not shared between families — helping prevent cross-contamination

    Containers (choose what suits you)

    You can either:

    ✔ Use your own containers — free
    or
    ✔ Use ours:

    • $25 one-off-fee for a fortnight’s size

    • $50 one-off-fee for a month’s size

    How returns work:

    • Containers are collected weekly

    • Please rinse and return clean

    • If containers need washing, a cleaning fee applies

    • Forgotten containers?
      We can provide a temporary replacement for $10 per week
      (This helps prevent container accumulation and keeps costs fair.)

    When your subscription ends:

    • The esky must be returned within 2 months

    • If not returned or lost, the $50 deposit is retained

    • Payments are direct-debit

    • You can pause your subscription anytime with:

      • Fortnight’s notice (for fortnightly plans)

      • One month’s notice (for monthly plans)

    • Pauses can be as long as you like

    • Cancellations follow the same notice period

Choose based on your child’s age

We prepare meals based on typical feeding stages

6-8 months

Early Eaters

Texture:

  • Smooth purée or thick mash

  • No lumps or only very soft, blended textures

How to serve:

  • Mash or blend meals until smooth

  • Thin with breastmilk, formula, water, or unsalted stock if needed

  • Offer on a pre-loaded spoon or assist with spoon-feeding

  • Food should easily fall off the spoon and not hold its shape

What to look for:

  • Baby can sit with support

  • Good head and neck control

  • Interest in food and bringing spoon to mouth

8- 10 months

Developing Chewers

Texture:

  • Thick mash or finely chopped, soft pieces

  • Small, squashable lumps are appropriate

How to serve:

  • Mash less thoroughly; leave soft texture

  • Shred meats finely; squash beans and vegetables

  • Offer thicker spoonfuls or small soft pieces

  • Encourage self-feeding with hands and spoon

What to look for:

  • Improved hand-to-mouth coordination

  • Beginning to chew (even without teeth)

  • Able to manage thicker textures without excessive gagging

10 - 12 months

Confident Feeders

Texture:

  • Soft, cooked pieces

  • Finger-food size where appropriate

  • Thick stews, bakes, fritters, and patties

How to serve:

  • Cut food into finger-sized pieces

  • Ensure foods are soft enough to squash easily between fingers

  • Offer a mix of finger foods and spoonable meals

  • Encourage independent feeding

What to look for:

  • Developing pincer grasp

  • Chewing and moving food around the mouth

  • Increased interest in family-style meals

Choose based on your child’s developmental stage

Same recipe, prepared safely for each stage — from smooth purées to finger-food textures

Early Eaters

Soft, well-cooked foods blended or mashed smooth for early eaters.

  • Texture: purée / smooth mash

  • Serve: on a pre-loaded spoon or small tastes

  • Notes: thicker than a drink, no lumps

  • Examples: blended ragu + veg, smooth oats, mashed fruit porridge

Developing Chewers

More texture to build chewing skills — still very soft and squashable.

  • Texture: thick mash / minced / tiny soft pieces

  • Serve: small spoonfuls or scoopable clumps

  • Notes: pieces should squash easily between fingers

  • Examples: chunky lentil stew, soft egg cups, shredded meat sauce

Confident Feeders

Soft, graspable pieces to encourage self-feeding and variety.

  • Texture: soft strips / bite-sized pieces

  • Serve: finger food or spoon

  • Notes: avoid hard rounds; cut grapes/cherry tomatoes, etc.

  • Examples: muffins strips, fritters, pasta shells with sauce

Allergen Disclaimer

Growing Plates meals are prepared using ingredients that may include common food allergens, including but not limited to egg, dairy, gluten, soy, wheat, fish, sesame, nuts, and legumes.

While we take care to clearly label allergens present in each meal, all foods are prepared in a kitchen that also handles allergens. As a result, cross-contact may occur, and we cannot guarantee meals are completely free from traces of allergens.

We can accommodate some ingredient substitutions on request (such as using gluten-free oats); however, all foods are prepared in a kitchen that also handles gluten, and trace amounts may still be present.

Our meals may therefore not be suitable for children with coeliac disease or severe gluten allergy.

Honey: You should never give honey in any form (raw, cooked, baked or processed) to babies under 12 months old because it can contain Clostridium botulinum spores. These spores are not destroyed even when the honey is cooked or baked.

Important Safety Notes

Always supervise your child while eating

  • Babies and young children are still developing the skills needed to chew, move food around their mouth, and swallow safely. Even with age-appropriate textures, choking and gagging can occur quickly and silently, especially as babies explore food independently.

  • Active supervision during meals is important because:

    • Babies may bite off pieces larger than they can manage

    • They are still learning to coordinate chewing and swallowing

    • Gagging can escalate to choking without warning

    • A baby may need immediate assistance if food becomes lodged

  • Supervision means:

    • Sitting with your child while they eat

    • Watching continuously (not checking phones or leaving the room)

    • Ensuring your child is seated upright and calm

    • Being ready to respond if they gag or choke

  • Eating should always be a calm, seated and closely supervised activity.

  • Adjust texture if your baby shows signs of difficulty

    First Aid Training for Parents & Carers

    • While following safe feeding guidelines significantly reduces risk, no feeding approach is completely risk-free. Knowing how to respond in an emergency can make a critical difference.

    • We strongly encourage parents and carers to undertake a paediatric first aid course, which covers:

      • How to recognise choking vs gagging

      • What to do if a baby or child is choking

      • CPR for infants and children

      • Emergency response skills for everyday situations

    • Recommended First Aid Providers (Australia)

      • St John Ambulance – Paediatric First Aid
        https://www.stjohn.org.au/first-aid-training/paediatric-first-aid

      • Australian Red Cross – Baby & Child First Aid
        https://www.redcross.org.au/firstaid/courses/baby-and-child-first-aid

      • Royal Children’s Hospital (Melbourne) – Child Safety Resources
        https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Choking_prevention/

    • Completing a course can help parents feel more confident, prepared, and calm during mealtimes.