All too often I rely on a box of whole wheat crackers or cereal for my son’s snack (sometimes at meals too). He can’t always eat what we have for meals, so sometimes it can be difficult to feed him healthy, balanced foods. Below is a compilation of toddler friendly meal and snack ideas. These are easy for little mouths and little fingers to handle! Many of these can be made ahead of time and packed for on the go.
Main Dishes
Avocado Burgers
- Form hamburger meat into small patties 2-3 inches in diameter.
- For extra nutrition, finely chop or grate liver into the hamburger meat.
- Cook in skillet or grill.
- Top with real cheese and serve with avocado slices sprinkled with sea salt.
Finger Pasta (fast)
- Cook whole wheat rotini, bow ties or other small pasta until soft.
- In a blender combine 1/4 cup spaghetti sauce, 2 Tbsp cubed eggplant, 2 baby carrots, handful of dark greens and 1/4 a bell pepper.
- Blend until smooth and pour over pasta.
Mini Pot Pie Bakes (use up the leftovers!)
- Combine leftover meat (shredded chicken or beef, ground beef etc.) with assorted chopped vegetables (peas, carrots, squash, potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant etc.).
- Mix with enough leftover gravy or broth to thoroughly moisten.
- Fill ramekins with the mixture.
- Make whole wheat biscuit dough and flatten into small, 1/4 inch thick discs. These should be just large enough to cover the top of the ramekin.
- Place a dough piece on each pot pie.
- Bake at 350 until heated through and the biscuit topping is golden brown. Let cool before serving.
Breakfasts
Berry Parfait (fast)
- Spoon honey sweetened yogurt (preferrably raw and home cultured) into a toddler friendly dish.
- Top with berries and granola if desired.
Egg medley
- Cube 1/4 to 1/2 sweet potato and steam until soft.
- In a skillet, thoroughly cook 2 tablespoons ground, pastured pork or beef.
- Add an egg to the skillet, stirring to combine with the meat until cooked.
- Combine meat and egg mixture with the sweet potato.
- Serve with cheese if desired.
Apple Cinnamon Coins (portable)
- Combine: 1/2 cup whole wheat flour, 1 egg, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 2 tsp honey and 1/4 cup chopped apple.
- Add milk until it is the consistency of pancake batter.
- Pour batter into buttered skillet so that each pancake is 2 inches in diameter. Sprinkle cinnamon on top before flipping.
- Extras can be frozen for a quick, future breakfast.
Desserts and Snacks
The following ideas are great to make ahead of time for an on the go snack!
Cut Fruit and Veggies
Whole Wheat Cheese crackers
Celery smiles (sliced celery) with peanut butter for dipping
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