Honey, what’s for dinner?
Have there ever been more dreaded words when you are struggling with one (or more) picky kids, a job, a dog, a life, and everything in between? I totally feel you here.
Meal ideas for picky eaters toddlers are often limited to the staples: mac & cheese, nuggets, strips, fries, bread, and pasta. Yes, they are fast. Yes, they are readily accepted, but quick dinner ideas for toddlers don’t have to be complicated!
The basic recipe for a healthy meal is:
Protein
Think outside the box here. Refried beans, hummus, roasted chickpeas, peanut butter, eggs, cheese and meat, chicken, fish are all great options
Fruit or Veg
Both are great options, if you serve both at every meal, cool! But don’t feel pressured to make a perfect balance every time.
Grain or Starch
Yam fries, whole grain wraps, whole wheat English muffins or bread, corn thin crackers, Off the Eaten Path crackers, whole wheat or chickpea pasta can be delicious and filling.
Milk or Alternative
Kids love this stuff! If your little one is under two then make sure to stick with whole milk or infant-formula to make sure they are getting all the fats they need for healthy brain development. If your little one is over two you can introduce 2% milk or alternatives that are higher in fat like soy milk or oat milk. These drinks take up valuable real estate in their bellies through so limit the total amount of milk to two cups per day and serve it with meals only.
Here are my top easy weeknight ideas for picky eaters:
Quesadillas with beans and cheese + red pepper slices and ranch dressing
Scrambled eggs and toast + carrots sticks and hummus
French toast sticks with maple syrup + fruit
Peanut butter, banana and jam rollup (in a whole grain wrap) + sliced cucumber
English muffin mini pizzas with a side of sliced cherry tomatoes
Bento box with crackers, cheese, grapes, hummus, carrots
Tacos with pre-roasted chicken (shredded) and cucumber sticks
Grilled cheese sticks with tomato soup
Chickpea pasta, with butter, parm, and frozen vegetables mixed in
Lentil McNuggets (these are also great finger foods for picky toddlers) with fries and a fruit cup
These toddler meal ideas don’t need to be served every night. In fact, I would encourage you to serve them the SAME foods you are eating on the regular. But we all need a few go-to menu items to branch out from our usuals when we are in a pinch (or we are eating a spicy stew). You can sign up to download my FREE Meal Plan here.
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