1. Preheat the oven to 200°C (fan 180°C). Line a baking tray with baking paper.
2. Wash and peel the Sweet Potato. Cut into thick fingers about 1–1.5 cm thick and 6–8 cm long so your toddler can hold them. Put in a bowl and toss with 5 g Olive Oil.
3. Trim the Fennel, remove fronds and base, cut the bulb into similar finger-sized sticks about 1 cm thick. Add to the baking tray with the Sweet Potato. Drizzle the remaining 5 g Olive Oil over the vegetables and toss to coat. Spread in a single layer.
4. Roast the Sweet Potato and Fennel for 20–25 minutes, turning once at around 12–15 minutes, until very tender and lightly golden at the edges.
5. While the veg roast, trim woody ends from the Asparagus (snap where it naturally breaks) and cut into 4–6 cm lengths for easy grasping. Steam or simmer in 1–2 cm water for 6–8 minutes until very soft (test with a fork).
6. Prepare the Black Bean: if canned, rinse well. Warm in a small pan for 3–4 minutes. Reserve some whole beans for texture and lightly mash about half with the back of a fork so the mix is soft but still has some whole beans for chewing.
7. Let all components cool to lukewarm before serving. Arrange Sweet Potato and Fennel fingers, Asparagus pieces and a spoonful of smashed Black Beans on a plate. For baby-led weaning, offer pieces large enough to hold but soft enough to gum. Do not add salt or honey. Always supervise your toddler while they eat.

Summary

Simple, toddler-friendly lunch: roasted sweet potato and fennel fingers with soft asparagus and partly-smashed black beans. Textures are adjusted for baby-led weaning (10+ months) so pieces are soft and easy to hold; only a small amount of Olive Oil is used and no salt is added.

Storing options

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 48 hours. Reheat until steaming hot and then cool to a safe lukewarm temperature before serving. Components (beans or cooked veg) may be frozen for up to 1 month; defrost fully and reheat before serving. Do not refreeze after reheating.

Allergies & Side effects

Contains legumes (Black Bean) which can cause allergic reactions—introduce carefully if this ingredient is new. Fennel is usually well tolerated but check family allergy history. Ensure all pieces are very soft to reduce choking risk; always supervise infants while eating and test small amounts when introducing a new food.