TODDLER MEAL IDEAS
- Consider your child’s eating abilities and preferences and adjust as needed. Try introducing new ways of eating such as using a spoon and fork. However, If your child is not using a spoon with any accuracy and gets frustrated, let your child use their hands! If your child prefers meals deconstructed rather than mixed together, serve the food that way. Being flexiable is okay!
- Make sure to serve two to three servings of each food group which is grains, dairy, and vegetables. Balance what you offer by including a protein, a complex carb, fruit, veggies, and some healthy fat. This will help ensure your toddler is exposed to a variety of nutrients and textures.
- Vary the protein to make them vegetarian or vegan as needed. Sub in gluten-free or dairy-free substitutes if there are any allergies.
- Keep a food diary and make a note of the foods your kid’s likes. Make future recipes based on their likes and dislikes.
- Keep it simple! These recipes don’t have to be complicated, and little kids often enjoy foods that are very simple and straight forward.
BREAKFAST
- Mini-waffles with peanut butter
- Mini-muffins with honey or butter
- Fresh cut fruit – apples, pears, peaches, oranges, and melons
- Fruit smoothie
- Cereal with milk
- Yogurt
- Apples with peanut butter or sunflower seed butter
- Toast lightly buttered or with jam
- Chocolate chip pancakes
- Yogurt with chopped fruit
- Hard-cooked egg cut into slices
- Cottage cheese with cinnamon or brown sugar
- Egg and cheese muffins
- Overnight oats with yogurt and berries
LUNCH
- Flour tortilla/whole wheat pita bread pizza; allow your child to top with favorite vegetable and/or meat pieces
- Thinly sliced meats rolled up
- Cucumber slices, carrot curls, broccoli bushes, celery sticks, or tomato wedges served with a bowl of safe salad dressing for dipping
- Chicken or vegetable soup
- Steamed squash lightly salted
- Baked potato with butter
- Fried rice with meat
- Hamburger with just the bun, patty, and cheese
- Veggies with ranch dressing
- Chicken and cheese skewers
- Peanut butter and jelly/honey
- Grilled cheese sandwich
DINNER
- Baked chicken-wing drumsticks with sauces for dipping
- Mini burritos with refried beans, rice, chicken or ground beef
- Rice with tikka masala chicken
- Pasta with butter and a little salt
- Creamed pasta with veggies and cheese
- Tuna and egg salad
- Chili with ground meat
- Risotto
- Soups with rice, pasta, or lentils
- Salmon cakes with ketchup or mayo
- Stir fry noodles with veggies
- Baked Falafel
SNACKS
- Dry cereal
- Pretzels
- Popcorn
- Fresh fruit
- Dried fruits
- Hummus with cut vegetables
- Sliced cucumber
- Kind kids bars
- Cheese sticks
- Steamed veggies lightly salted or buttered
- Yogurt packs
- Trail mix
- Graham cracker
- Fig cookie bars
- Baked cheese crackers
We like to switch up her snacks and rotate the meals. Some days there are leftovers, and we will feed her the leftovers either for lunch or dinner the following day and add different vegetables or fruits with the meal. She snacks every hour or two and has not been too picky with food. I hope this helps inspire some food ideas for your little one. If you have any recommendations for easy meals, please leave your comments below.
