Why Bone Marrow is a Nutritional Powerhouse for Babies and Toddlers

Why Bone Marrow is a Nutritional Powerhouse for Babies and Toddlers

By Luka McCabe, Certified Nutrition Consultant, Author, Founder of Boob to Food, and Mum of Three.

At Boob to Food, we’re all about helping families nourish their little ones with real, whole foods that support development right from the start. If you’ve read our book Milk to Meals, you’ll know we’re big believers in traditional nutrient-dense ingredients like bone marrow.

So we’re thrilled to announce our collaboration with Le Puree, bringing two of our most-loved recipes to life as ready-made meals - perfect for busy parents, hungry babies, and growing toddlers alike:

Beef, Parsnip & Bone Marrow Puree

Shop Beef, Parsnip & Bone Marrow Puree

Bone Marrow Baked Beans

Shop Bone Marrow Baked Beans

These meals take the guesswork out of offering iron-rich, gut-friendly foods - whether you’ve got a curious 6-month-old starting solids or a toddler going through a fussy patch.

Why Bone Marrow?

Bone marrow is one of the most underrated superfoods for babies. It’s:

  • Rich in healthy fats for brain development
  • Naturally packed with collagen, gelatin and fat-soluble vitamins like A and K2
  • A source of iron, zinc and other trace minerals essential for immune and bone health
  • Soft and easy to digest - making it a perfect texture and flavour match for baby food

For centuries, marrow was considered a first food in many cultures, and we’re here for this nourishing comeback. Marrow was one of my kids’ very first foods, and it's the perfect way to introduce meat into their diets - especially if the texture of meat feels intimidating.

It’s especially helpful during the 6 to 24 month period, when nutritional needs (particularly for iron and fat) are high, but appetites can be small or unpredictable.

Why It Matters

We talk a lot about "nutrient density" because when your baby is only eating small amounts of food, every bite matters. These two meals are the epitome of nutrient-dense: high in iron, zinc, healthy fats, prebiotic fibres, and gut-loving ingredients.

They're also built on foods your baby actually needs - not puffs or fruit-based purees, but real food that fuels real development.

A Closer Look at the Marrow Meals

Beef, Parsnip & Bone Marrow Puree

A creamy, comforting blend that’s rich in iron and gentle on tiny tummies. Made with:

  • Parsnips
  • Cannellini beans (soaked for easier digestion)
  • Grass-fed beef
  • Bone marrow
  • Rosemary

Perfect for iron stores, gut health, and expanding your baby’s flavour palate.

Bone Marrow Baked Beans

Inspired by our Gut-Loving Beans from Milk to Meals and combined with the Veggie Bomb sauce from Toddler to Table, this recipe is a flavour and fibre powerhouse. It's great for toddlers who are in a veggie-refusing phase (we see you).

Ingredients:

  • Cannellini beans (soaked for easier digestion)
  • 7-veggie loaded sauce [crushed tomato, sweet potato, eggplant, capsicum, onion, pumpkin, zucchini, basil, olive oil, pink salt]
  • Bone broth 
  • Bone marrow
  • Onion
  • Tomato puree
  • Garlic
  • Olive oil
  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Paprika and thyme

These beans are slow-cooked, flavourful, and designed to be easier to digest thanks to the soaked legumes and bone broth base. A perfect texture progression for babies learning to chew, and an easy win for iron, fibre, and veggies in one spoonful.

Made for Babies. Loved by Toddlers.

While these meals were inspired by first foods, they’re not just for the early months. They’re great for toddlers too - especially during fussy eating phases or times when you just need a guaranteed nourishing option without the prep.

Both recipes are:

  • High in iron, zinc, and healthy fats
  • Rich in prebiotic fibre and gut-loving gelatin
  • Free from fillers, preservatives, and anything unnecessary
  • Cooked in small batches with wholefood ingredients

From Our Kitchen to Yours: Boob to Food x Le Puree

Our books, Milk to Meals and Toddler to Table, are full of recipes based on traditional wisdom and modern nutrition science - and we know so many families love them. But we also know that not everyone has time to prep bone marrow, soak beans, and slow-cook sauces.

That’s where Le Puree comes in.

This isn’t our first collaboration - and now, you can shop the entire Boob to Food x Le Puree range as a pick-and-choose bundle, making it easier than ever to stock your freezer with nourishing, ready-made staples. Alongside our new marrow meals, you’ll find favourites like our best-selling liver pâté, lamb and liver koftas, bone broth cubes, mackerel fritters, salmon cakes, sardine puree, and more.

We worked together to take our most-loved recipes and bring them to life as convenient, nourishing meals for babies and toddlers. Still made in small batches. Still full of intention. Just with the ease modern families need.

How to Try Them

Our Boob to Food x Le Puree marrow meals are available now via Le Puree’s website. They’re:

  • Made in small batches
  • Free from preservatives, fillers, or additives, instead they are frozen from fresh.
  • Created by a team of experts who feed this food to our own babies

Because feeding your baby well shouldn’t feel overwhelming - and now, it doesn’t have to.

Shop the full Boob to Food Collection here.

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