Toddler meals?

Question

I have a 17 month old girl (and an 8 wk old girl). I was doing so well feeding my 17 month old healthy easy meals, but now that I have another little one, life has become a little bit harder in that area. Does anyone have any easy, healthy toddler meal ideas? Breakfast, lunch or dinner? I dont care. Thanks!

Answer 1

Well, the whole "your child can eat anything you eat" thing is so played out. Those people must have the "perfect" children who never do anything wrong. I know my 2 year old won't eat the things I eat most of the time. To keep things healthy for him I make sure I serve him at least one vegetable at lunch and dinner. Desert is always fruit. Snacks are usually fruit or "healthy" snacks like dry cereal, whole grain goldfish, whole grain graham crackers. For those days when life is busy and peanut butter and jelly is on the menu for lunch, I always have whole grain whole wheat bread. If you keep healthy ingredients on hand you can feed your toddler almost anything in a pinch. I tried to tell mine that green beans are just green french fries last night, didn't go over so well.

Answer 2

Do some prep work in advance! Cut your fruits and veggies and put them in the fridge in a sealed container (I like rubber maid). My sister's little ones like a little bit of veggie dip to dip their carrots into, if your not against a little mess, its a fun way to get them to eat veggies.

Also you can cut cheese into cubes, brown up sausage or chicken ahead of time and refrigerate.
Then just take out what you want for your child's meal, and reheat the hot items in the microwave.

Be sure to prepare a nice size amount ahead of time so you only have to do prep work one or two days a week at most.

Another good thing - peanut butter and graham crackers or peanut butter and ritz type crackers, they make nice little sandwiches that can be prepared ahead and put into sandwich baggies.

Answer 3

gently pro purple meat with macaroni - reheats nicely and also you'll throw some shredded cheese on it formerly you warmth it up. i have used purple meat left over from taco nighttime for this and it extremely works nicely. I make my son grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch in a good number of cases, you may placed diverse vegetables in there, ham, turkey, inspite of, serve some eco-friendly beans or carrots on the area and it makes a interesting and life like meal. i have made Annie's Mac and Cheese and then extra some products of poultry and broccoli to it to "round it out" a touch. Quesadillas - really an similar idea as a grilled cheese sandwich - are presently a huge prominent of my sons.

Answer 4

Cook extra for dinners and then use the leftovers for lunches. Cook healthy lunches in bulk and then freeze them for later use. Use leftover meat from last night's dinner to make wrap sandwiches. Serve with a side of fresh cut fruit (apples, bananas, grapes, whatever). Offer simple things with dipping sauces for lunch (leftover plain chicken, carrot sticks, broccoli, and string cheese served with ranch and BBQ sauces for dipping). Whole grain pasta can be made ahead of time or leftover from dinner the night before, top with cheese and shredded meat (chicken, turkey, beef, or pork). Make a big lot of fishsticks (baked, not fryed) and freeze in toddler sized portions for later use.

Answer 5

Well, hopefully you are cooking healthy meals for yourself. If so, she is old enough to eat everything you are. Just cut it up small of course. Don't bother with those expensive premade things at the grocery....do it yourself. So hopefully you are eating a variety of foods to keep yourself healthy....you need to be now taking care of such young ones too...so don't forget about yourself...they need you to be healthy and alert and active to be taking care of them....so cook good meals for yourself and you got both of you covered! I had 4 and this is all I did and they are all healthy and fit. Happy Mothering!

Answer 6

If your little one likes vegetables, try putting some shredded carrots and cheese in a baggie for snack time. If she is allowed to have chips, I would suggest the pringles snack packs. They provide one serving, and once gone, they are gone.

For my little one at breakfast time, I purchased the mix and eat oatmeal, which I make with rice or almond milk, because of his allergies. For lunch and dinner, he likes for me to mix, one can of yellow or white corn, with one cup of water or vegetable broth, and 1/2 cup of star pasta. To add protein, I will add canned turkey, chicken, or tuna to the mixture. He loves it. I put a bit of ginger and garlic in it and he loves that even more. It is inexpensive and it is good for you as well.

I have also made Italian Wedding soup, which can be stretched a long way. Since he loves spinach and carrots, it is a great way to get his vegetables in him.

Answer 7

She should be eating what you eat but cut smaller. Breakfast should be the easiest...give her dry cheerios and juice or small cut up fruit.

Answer 8

Use your brain and put a little effort into keeping you family healthy.