Healthy Meal ideas for Toddlers?

Question

I have an 18 month old. I am not a great cook, don't have a lot of time either. I feel like we have fish sticks, chicken nuggets, Mac Cheese, PB J's, you know "kids stuff" way to often. Any ideas on how to make some different meals that she will eat in not a lot of time?

Oh, and she does eat fruit throughout the day and with meals, but won't touch veggies.

Answer 1

Everyone deserves to get to eat their favorite foods once in a while, but there is no reason on Earth that kids should expect to eat "kids' foods." Gross.

Your child should eat what you eat. And the more flavors and textures you expose her to now, the less picky of an eater she'll be later.

Quesadillas are fast, kids usually like them, and you can use up all your leftovers making them. My kids love dahl and curry. Or tacos/enchiladas. They also love corkscrew pasta dressed with brocolli, little bits of chicken, grated parmesan cheese, olive oil, garlic, and salt and pepper. Thick soups are messy, but tasty and toddlers like the challenge. Especially if they get to dip bread into it. Chili is good, especially if you serve it over tiny pasta shells. You can make pita pizzas or pizza using a Boboli crust, and your toddler can help top it. Shish kebob and couscous are always a hit at our house. And tilapia (white fish) topped with zucchini, onions, and dill, and served with risotto and green veggies...

None of those meals take a lot of time if you keep the ingredients around the house. My husband does our cooking. He doesn't start until 5:30 or 5:45, and our kids are always eating between 6 and 6:30. Or you can spend one afternoon a week making a big caserole, stew, or pot of soup, and then you can use the leftovers all week.

Basically, if you like it, serve it. Include your child, to the extent possible, in the preparation. And then expect her to eat. She doesn't have to clear her plate; she just has to try everything that's on it. And she may surprise you. If she turns up her nose, that's OK. No child has ever starved herself to death. Don't fix her anything as a substitute. Just offer something different next time. And keep your expectations high.

The payoff will be a healthier, more pleasant child who you can take to eat anywhere.

Answer 2

We live in such a busy world these days, I hear you. Some suggestions may be to cook a few meals and freeze them for the week. A favourite meal of my daughter's who is 2 years old is lazagna and that is a meal that freezes very well, it does make things easier if you have a busy schedule. We bought a George Foreman grill a year ago and you can cook almost anything on it and it is a healthy way to cook, we have marinated chicken breasts in the morning before work and put them on the grill when we get home, they are ready in less than 20 minutes, we grill veggies on the grill also.

Some favourite meals of my daughters are chicken rice stir fry, (she'll eat the veggies in a stir fry but not usually on their own as a side dish), scrambled eggs, qeusadilias, homemade pizza (another good way to hide veggies), spinach stuffed canneloni, she loves any meal with mashed potatoes, if potatoes are on her plate she will usually eat anything else we put with it.

Well I hope this gives you a few ideas, once again I love the george foreman, especially in the winter months when it is too cold to bbq.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

Hi, hope I can help I would fix my son whos 15 months foods like grilled cheese soup hot dogs (only when they are chopped up and he has some teeth to chew) my day is also busy with three boys I find alot of time at night cooking for the next day and it helps alot also turkey sandwich he loves with ham you can also look up on google for more ideas but I hope I helped with a little ideas!! good luck also my mom would cook everything for the week on a weekend so all she would have to do is pull something out that morning for lunch dinner or breakfast but sorry if this didnt help but I hope it did good luck

Answer 4

My 18 month old eats pretty much whatever we eat . We started her early on doing this and she pretty much eats everything! Just slowly get her used to healthier food.I am not a great cook either but i have learned alot from my hubby and Rachael Ray how to cook healthier food in a hurry. Not that we dont have the occasional batch of mac and cheese but she is NOWHERE as picky as my older girls.

Answer 5

I found out today that my 15 month old loves tuna fish sandwhiches! I guess I'm finding out that a lot of what my family cooks for dinner, my son will eat if I cut it up real good. I cut up chicken into bite size pieces. Ground meats in small pieces work for us too. He even loves pot roast! Also pastas, cooked vegetables. My son loves spaghetti, lasagna, and tuna casserole. If I cook pastas, I try to sneak in some vegetables like onions, bell peppers, and spinach. Just steer clear of things like steak and pork chops.

Answer 6

I work 9-5:30 and am a single parent. So I make a lot of stuff in the crock pot! Just stick it in before I go to work and it's done when I get home. I make lasagna in there, beef stew, chicken, etc.

Answer 7

Here's a really easy and fairly quick recipe.... I make it for my 18 month twins boys - you can add different veggies like broccoli instead of parsnip.


Finger Picking Chicken & Potato Balls

Prep/cook 10mins/40 mins
Makes 8 portions
Rich source of beta-carotene, folate & protein
Suitable for freezing

125g Potatoes Chopped
125g parsnips chopped
3 tablespoons veg oil
½ small onion finely chopped
1 carrot grated
125g boneless chicken breast cut into chunks
Large knob butter
Flour for coating

1Put potatoes and parsnips in a pan, cover with water, bring to boil, then simmer covered for 12-15 mins until tender.
2Meanwhile heat 1 tablespoon of oil in frying pan, add the onion and carrot and sauté for 4-5 mins. Add chicken and continue to sauté for approx 10 mins or until cooked through.
3Drain potatoes and parsnips and mash with half the butter until smooth. Finely chop the chicken, onion and carrot in a food processor and mix with mashed veg.
4Form mixture into about 24 walnut-sized balls. Roll in flour to coat. Heat remaining oil and butter in a frying pan, add meatballs and sauté until golden.

Answer 8

Mashed banana's in oat meal. My children at this age loved frozen peas, frozen corn, cooked carrots. I've always fed my children what I eat, so they have chicken, rice, turkey/veggie burgers, real mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, baked squash... There are so many nutritous yummy things for that age.

Answer 9

Homemade pizza is good and easy. Chicken breast with melted cheese. Even steak - it's very basic. Breakfast is always fun, but not as healthy.

Answer 10

You are missing fresh fruit and veggies. What about grilled chicken breasts, grilled cheese or pasta dishes?