Toddler Meal Ideas

I’m NOT an expert when it comes to making toddler meals, but I am two kids in and working on eating with #3. What we feed our children has come a long way from the 80’s when frozen chicken nuggets, mac n cheese, and applesauce were king. A lot of this change is simply from the passing of time which hopefully brings knowledge…the idea of when we know better, we do better. It’s also from folks obsession with taking pictures of food and placing it on social media. And partly from the “real food” revolution (paleo, whole30, etc.). Now I won’t pretend to be a person who has ever done whole30, and my kids get churros at Costco….but day in and day out we find balance with meals like these below. So if you are in a rut of PB&J and a fruit cup, here are some simple breakfast and lunch ideas from an average mom doing the best she can! 

BREAKFAST

I think it’s important to always have some good protein at breakfast time. We traditionally think meat, but protein is found in cottage cheese, greek yogurt, and eggs too! Costco has great prices on organic greek yogurt, organic eggs & organic raw honey. And the Kirkland brand organic maple syrup is AMAZING. I didn’t put cereal among my ideas, but I do let them have it on Thursdays. They don’t go to preschool on Thursdays so I don’t have to worry about them getting hungry and bugging their teachers at 9:00am. They bug me for a snack instead :)

Cottage Cheese | Banana Muffin | Clementines 

Plain Oatmeal (sweetened with honey) | Applegate Sausage | Blueberries and Clementines 

Whole Wheat Waffle | Scrambled Eggs | Cheddar Cheese

Plain Oatmeal (sweetened with honey) | Pears | Homemade Granola

Cottage Cheese on Toast | Scrambled Eggs | Clementines

Plain Greek Yogurt with Granola & Blueberries | Whole Wheat Waffle with Real Maple Syrup

…..

LUNCH

Deli Everroast Chicken | Cheese Slice | Pears | Green Beans | Sweet Potatoes

Chicken & Cheese Quesadilla Rolls | Veggie Straws | Blueberries

Chicken & Cheese Quesadillas | Berry Medley | Veggie Straws

Veggie Muffins | Grapes | Cucumber Sandwiches (with hummus)

Grilled Ham & Cheese | Apples | Avocado

Gorton’s Panko Fish Sticks | Apple Sauce | String Cheese | Carrots

PB&J Squares | Avocado | Veggie Straws

Veggie Muffin | Cheese Squares | Grapes | Raisins 

Deli Turkey | Raspberries | String Cheese | Avocado

Grilled Chicken and Cheese | Apples | Hummus & Shredded Carrots

Ham Rolls | Veggie Muffin | Cheese Slices | Hummus & Peas

…..

My kids LOVE hummus so I like to mix in all kinds of veggies. They also like dipping carrots and cucumbers in hummus. Costco has some yummy veggie muffins if you aren’t up for making your own. They are in the refrigerated section. We also eat a lot of dinner leftovers for lunch. The plates and bowls are from IKEA. We have two sets and use them constantly! 

So what are your go to breakfast and lunch ideas? Do you find yourself in a rut? Try mixing things up a little bit!

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