Menu for 7-8 Month Old

I didn't think babies this age ate more than a few very simple items and that most of their nutrition came from breast milk or formula. Parentcenter.com or babycenter.com could give you some good information. I never gave the kids that much food until they were much closer to 1 year old because we didn't do baby food, it doesn't have any nutritional value. Once I read the label I realized they were just a teaching tool and not really for nutrition. When I fed food it was something I had made for them.

Try wholesomebaby.com. I give my 8 month a fruit, veggie and protein at every meal, which is really simple to do since I make the food myself. This way I can offer a wider variety of foods, and they baby is actually introduced to texture at an earlier age --thus ensuring a less picky eater.

At this age, I think the important thing is the big picture as far as nutrition, so look at the whole day rather than an individual meal. She should still be getting the bulk of her nutrition from breastmilk at this point, so the food is less important, but I think that focusing on fruit at one meal and veggie the next is very reasonable.

I only give one type of solid. One thing that I have started doing from time to time is buying a few of the 1st Foods (Gerber) fruits and giving her those at dinner time. It is important to give her cereal though. They say that cereal is an important part of their diet until age 2. For me, I've never mixed mine with breastmilk. My daughter would get frustrated because she wasn't getting it fast enough. After the first few times of mixing it with breastmilk I stopped and began mixing all of her cereal with water. I've eliminated rice cereal from her diet as it is constipating, but continue to give her oatmeal and have toyed with the idea of giving her barley. Anyway, all this to say that a babies palette isn't as developed as ours so they won't get bored with a one note meal as quickly as we would. Variety is really only important to open them up to a wide variety of foods, which really doesn't even happen until after they are 1.

One more thing, this is such a scattered answer and I apologize, but the only reason I started offering the 1st foods fruit at dinner was more so I am in the practice of offering her more balanced meals.

whatever you decide, you still want to breastfeed on-demand.
For the 1st year of life, breastmilk or Formula is still a baby's PRIMARY source of nutrition... NOT solids and not other liquids.
Solids at this age and for the 1st year, is primarily an introduction to foods... not their main course.
Nurse... BEFORE solids... otherwise, baby will be too full to nurse... and sometimes, if solids is the focus and given before nursing or in place of breastfeeding... a baby will 'wean' from breast. And this is not what you want. If you still want to breastfeed. Still nurse on-demand, 24/7.
This is also per our Pediatrician.

At that age I was not giving my kids as babies, solids 3 times a day... per our Pediatrician.. it is gradually worked up to that frequency.

all the best,
Susan

Formula or breast-milk should be the primary source of nutrition (at least 20 oz a day) for the fist year of life. As you introduce solids it is good to expose your child to a variety and starting a habit of getting plenty of fruits and veggies will certainly not hurt.(I give fruit and cereal for breakfast, fruit and veggie for lunch, and veggie and protein for dinner. My son is almost 10 months.) Just remember to introduce new things with 3-4 days in between to watch for allergic reaction.

Giving varieties are great, and a good way to help the baby get exposed to different flavors/textures, and getting used to having a well rounded diet at mealtime.

Just be sure to give a solid only while testing for allergies, but only when introducing new foods.

Also, start with the veggies first, otherwise, they will just want the sweetness of the fruits. The more foods she is exposed to, the more likely she will be a good eater, and less difficulty with being a picky eater.

My DS is almost 10 months old, and he has been exclusively breastfed. He started going to daycare two weeks ago, and he has refused to take a bottle. To ensure that he is getting enough to eat, here's what we do. He nurses before we leave the house, and then he eats oatmeal (mixed with breastmilk) and a stage 2 fruit for breakfast at daycare. For a morning snack after his nap, he has cheerios, puffs, or the yogurt chews that Gerber makes. Then, for lunch, he eats oatmeal mixed with breastmilk again and a stage 2 veggie. He usually has an afternoon snack of cheerios, puffs, or yogurt chews. Then, as soon as we get home, he nurses. For dinner, we have tried the "meats," and he is not into them at all so we do oatmeal again (just mixed with water), a stage 2 fruit, and a stage 2 veggie. We do the fruit and veggie because he's hungry. Then, he nurses before going to bed.

I hope that this helps you out. I think that it really just depends on your baby and how hungry she is.

At 7 and 8 months, I would give her a good variety. I have 3 kids, 5 and under, all girls and the baby is 15 months now. I gave her oatmeal, fruit, applesauce for breakfast, mashed steamed veggies for lunch and dinner along with a rice cereal or a whole wheat cereal at lunch and dinner. I just didn't give any chicken or turkey.
I also did boiled rice, mashed down to an even texture, with boiled lentils as well. Lentils are high in protein, you need to know which one to use. But, my grandmother has been with me through each of my babies first years and she always encouraged me to give them a variety. They are healthy, touch wood and eat mostly everything now.
Good luck.