I need new ideas for lunches for my toodler!

Kim - posted on 04/08/2010

If you look on a web site called sproutonline.com then go to recipes it has some good ideas!

Gillian - posted on 04/07/2010

Hi there!
My daughter is now 14 months and has become a nightmare to feed. She used to eat anything but has started to become very fussy. Breadsticks or pitta with hummus or cream cheese are pretty much guaranteed. Cubes of cheese and ham she like to pick up. Hot cross buns have been a hit but a bit worried about too much sugar from these. For breakfast she loves Shreddies or toast with peanut butter. About the only thing she'll take from a spoon is porridge and baked beans. As like most of the rest of you, she likes to feed herself. Some great ideas for other foods here so thanks for posting the question. Good luck!

Carmen - posted on 04/06/2010

Grilled cheese sandwiches are a huge hit with my picky son.

Phoebe - posted on 04/06/2010

I've just started back at work full time and usually cook and freeze most things the kids eat, so I can go for a week or two without having to prepare too many meals.

Pumpkin and zucchini muffins (low sugar ones - just look up recipes on the internet)

Apple muffins (also low sugar ones)

They really don't take that long to make (15 minutes prep and 15 minutes to bake).

You can freeze them and take a few out the night before.

Both my twins love these. They keep the mess down, they can feed themselves and muffins are portable.



Also meat balls, I usually add grated carrot, oats and grated onion to veal and pork mince, roll into little balls and place on an oven tray and bake for about 15 minutes. These can also be frozen, can be eaten cold or warm and are fairly mess free when they want to feed themselves.

Liverworst sandwiches are also a favourite.

Thanks to everyone one else too, I've got some great ideas from this thread.

Abby - posted on 03/31/2010

I have gotten around the I only want to feed myself attitude. I give her something she can feed herself, but then I "help" feed her something else. As long as she can feed herself something, she is happy to let me feed her too. My daughter likes smoked sausage and polish sausage cut up into small bites she can feed herself. I also fix pasta and sprinkle it with shredded cheese, which makes less mess than mac and cheese. Hope this helps you. :-)

CHILDREN'S - posted on 03/31/2010

Create layered yogurt with fruit and top of with granola.
USING, bannas, stawberries, and other fruit., changing the fruit everyday.
My children loved grilled sandwiches, cut out with cookie cutters to create
a fun look. It's a lot of work, but they love the look.

Allison - posted on 03/31/2010

My daughter is 14mths old too and we have the exact same issue!! Its really hard to get her to eat anything off a spoon...she wants it all in her hand! I've found that she really likes potato waffles which are good for her to hold if you cut them in small pieces. You could try little cheese sticks as well or sliced ham...my little one loves all of these. Dont know if any of this helps....good luck!!!

Chelle - posted on 03/30/2010

My son is 14 months and is very allergic to milk, so my chices are limited but some things I do is rince the sauce off of caned raviolis and let them eat it like finger food. Gerber actually makes a version of this but it cheaper to get a big can and tupper wear the left overs. It will hold for 2 or 3 days in the fridge. Also canned sweet potatoes (or for a small treat a few bites of apple pie filling they have sugar free) and drained chicked noodle soup if your ok with a little mess ( a good trick to is to sneek in so geen beens or carrots in the soup!) any ways hope that gave you some ideas.

Amanda - posted on 03/30/2010

I have twin daughters.Im kind of in the same boat that you are in. One of them will eat almost anything, my other daughter is picky and alot of the time will eat like a bird. The like to eat yogurt for lunch, they still like stage 3 fruits from gerber, they eat grilled cheese, chicken nuggets, cheese ravioli (like chef boyardee). They also like bagels with cream cheese and toast with butter. They also like dry cereal such as cheerios, kix and rice chex. For snacks they eat graham crackers, cheddar gold fish and animal crackers. I hope this helps a little bit. I was reading through people's answers and they are helping me out with new ideas for my girls.

Stephanie - posted on 03/30/2010

hot dogs, mac and cheese, cut up chicken nuggets, jasmine loves all the Gerber meals and pasta pick ups, ravioli, meat balls,

Janet - posted on 03/30/2010

I bake muffins for my 14 month old - I cram in extra veg so that it is very moist, and add cheese for protein, and also use a bit of amaranth flour with the brown flour so that he has a mix.. I try to use different coloured veg (especially spinach, because my son doesn't usually eat his greens). I freeze the muffins, and put them in the fridge the day before he is going to eat them. He loves them, and it makes my life easier, because they're portable, not too messy, and Josh won't let me feed him anymore.

Carrie - posted on 03/30/2010

OK ladies, I am a mom of a litte glirl who is 17 months old and I consider myself blessed as my daughter will eat anything I put in front of her. Spoons and forks are a constant work in progress. I work with her every day, but I really don't worry if she uses her hands. One of my daughters favorite dishes is spaghetti. I cut it up small enough so if she decides not to chew then she won't choke. I don't do the canned spaghetti as the sodium levels are way high so I will make it fresh and freeze it for a later date. My husband and I started using our vacuum sealer and pre making meals. We would do sweet potatoes, peas, green beans, turkey chicken and the such.

You could also hold off eating until your baby wakes up and you can eat together. I love eating and/or sitting with my daughter while she eats. I know that i feel lonely when I eat alone so I want to be sure that she doesn't feel that way. I guess I should mention that I am a working mom and my hubby does the same thing. We just watch the spices we put in the food now.

Robin - posted on 03/30/2010

My son Leland is also 14 months and he is an eating machine. He loves vegetarian chickin nugguts, ritz with peanutbutter on them, if his mouth is too sore from teething to really eat I give his a frozen pillsbury struduel. He is a messy eater so I try t give him foods he can run around with and I won't have to worry about a huge mess. Hope some of this helps :)

Cheryl - posted on 03/30/2010

Grilled cheese sandwich - brilliant idea!
My son likes tofu, beans, stew, anything he can pick up with his fingers - steamed carrots, peas, beans. and always a fruit - raspberries, strawberries, pears, whatever we have. And usually always a few crackers.
Mya dvice would be to stay away from processed foods - graduate dinners, fish/chicken sticks... make them yourself, its much healthier. I know it's time consuming (I make most of his food and I have 3 jobs and doing school so I think you can find time) but your child is better off. :)

Selim - posted on 03/30/2010

hi lisa
this is mai from egypt my son is 19 months now but still he doesnt like munching that much and moreover he is a picky eater but what he reaaly loves and CAN munc is rice and pasta ust in one case if they have lots of sauce on so i cook pasta till its really tender and then i add tomato paste with some grated veggirs on and put on the pasta he loves it and aloso try cooking vegetables in tomato sause and put on the top of the rice he will love and of course dont forget the protein try to grate meat chicken or fish on top of these good luck :)

Diane - posted on 03/30/2010

At this age they want to hold the food themsevles, soft healthy foods it helps with thier cordination. My son loves veggies, cucumbers cut like french fries, tomatoes and avocados. Soft but healthy foods and as she grows up she will continue to like the good healthy foods. Give her salads too, Raisens

Tracy - posted on 03/30/2010

My son is the same way, hates it when I feed him, he naps from 12-3pm and he eats lunch at 11:30am, which is what he does at daycare. Lunches include ham sandwiches, I cut up a slice of ham really small and give him 1/4 to 1/2 a sandwich, you don't need to put a lot on it. He has also had tuna sandwiches (if she doesn't like left overs, try making a sandwich from last nights dinner), tuna casserole, meatloaf and rice w/veggies, chicken with Lipton Sidekick noodles...often, lunch is the best meal of the day. A crock pot is great to have, I use to cook up pork, chicken or beef in some broth with veggies and alphabet noodles for my older son and he loved it, I'm getting ready to do the same for Owen now too. Green Giant fresh frozen veggies are always great and colorful, add some water or broth and cook them until they are soft to eat.

Hope this helps a little!

Fiona - posted on 03/30/2010

my daughter is 14months and a great lil eater who refuses to be fed lol but as long as she's eatin n happy its all good, n i think using her hands is a good way for her to learn different textures of foods. breakfast is banana, raisons and anything cereal type like a cereal bar and a drink. for dinner i give her cheese and onion on toast cut into triangles or she adores beans on toast, or half a jacket with cheese and/or beans. mini sausage rolls or a small slice of pizza. chicken paste sandwiches is another favourite (you can buy salmon and beef but i know the chicken is 100%) i serve these meals with a few carrot stick crisp from the organics range and a piece of fruit like a satsuma or grapes or a yoghurt type desert. for tea i usually ensure it includes vegetables carrots is my daughters favourite with broccoli and colliflour, then sausge or another meat product. quorn is good for bolognaise and u can by the childrens spag bog sauce and the mini pasta. pasta tuna and sweetcorn is good for dinner or tea with a dessert and warm milk before bed.

Sarah - posted on 03/30/2010

try honey butter as an alternative to syrup

Sarah - posted on 03/30/2010

well you could try what i feed mine.Honey ham rolled up and cut into small bites,string cheese cut into small bites,bologna,turkey,grated cheese,yogurt,canned peaches or pears,grapes,apple bites,chunk cheese,goldfish crackers,strawberries in lots of sugary warm water(plastic bowl)lol..Also popcorn chicken,mini corn dogs,applesauce,cottage cheese /pineapple.examples...good luck

Intan Nur Afiza - posted on 03/30/2010

We Asian usually gvs porridge wit carrot n achovies/salmon blended or cut small cube size....w/out preservatives..healthy..or mashed pumpkin/potato/sweet potato...

Nina - posted on 03/29/2010

My daughter has always been such a picky eater but she does like things like Mac n cheese, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (with the crust off!), grilled cheese with tomato sandwich, nuggets, pasta and fruit. She loves fruit. For snacks its usually fruit, yogurt, goldfish crackers, and string cheese. I have to force her to eat veggies because she absolutely hates them. Wish there was a way she would enjoy them!

Wendy-Lynn - posted on 03/29/2010

My son loves toast, cucmber, apple, banana, cheese crackers, lunch meat, pickles, fries, pizza -- veggies. I make him a little plate with a variety of things that he can eat with his hands and he seems to enjoy it

Maggie - posted on 03/29/2010

*sardines!!!! kids think they are so cool. if you personally dont like them, dont let your child know that. you can eat them on tomato slices, potato chips cucumbers
*oatmeal balls- take left over cold oatmeal. mix it with chopped nuts or dried fruit. then shallow fry in coconut oil or butter. sprinkle with cinnamon and make a yummy dip with plain yogurt and frozen blueberries.
*lunch smoothie- a can of coconut milk, 3 egg yolks, 1/2 tablespoon of maple syrup, teaspoon of vanilla. so good!!!!!
*meatloaf meatballs.- mix together a pound of ground meat with 1 egg and choice of chopped veggies, salt and pepper. roll into balls and shallow fry in tallow or olive oil. You can freeze the rest and pull out the night before for a fast easy lunch or snack. these are great for finger foods for little babies also. (just break into smaller pieces.)

Just dont forget, growing children need lots of good healthy fats!!!! And whenever possible please use organic ingredients. the health of you child depends on it!!

http://www.westonaprice.org/Foods-to-Tan...

Toni - posted on 03/29/2010

Well my daughter's are now all over 5. They liked mac and cheese cut up small. There is also any pasta cut up small mixed with butter. Speghetti O's are good too.

Aimee - posted on 03/29/2010

I give my boys:
- Nice creamy greek yogurt with toasted muesli on top
- Rice Cracker (like SaKaTa) with cheese
- Quick Fruit Salad with blueberries, green seedless grapes, and quartered strawberries.
- A banana
- Nice Bickies such as Tiny Teddies etc; and for lunch I give them:
- Chicken Mayo Lettuce, Peanut Butter & Honey (if you can), Nutella, Vegemite & cheese, savoury mince, or cheese & mayo toasty.
Good luck, my boys love all this and I hope this helps you. I think of all the food groups, some fruit, some dairy, some breads, sometimes some meat, and a bit of the good stuff :)

Susan - posted on 03/29/2010

IT'S VERY HARD TO DECIDE ON WHAT TO GIVE MY TODDLER IS NEARLY 3 AND I'M HAVING FOOD TROUBLE THE ONLY THING I CAN SUGGEST GO TO UR LOCAL HEALTH CENTRE THEY USUALLY HAVE BOOKLETS ON FOOD IDEAS I DID AND IT HELPED ME A SLIGHT BIT. GOOD LUCK

Kelsey - posted on 03/29/2010

14 months is a tough age... but all the caned stuff out there my kids loved it!!! Ravoli just cut it up a lil smaller..spagetti o's...all that stuff... if you do peanutbutter on just reg bread do it on toast one day... string cheese...lunchables are also the best to lil kids also..

Leila - posted on 03/29/2010

Try a tuna & mayo sandwich. Apples, bananas or any kind of fruit. How about eggs or cereal? If your little one has eggs for breakfast, then do cereal, or vice versa. Dry cereal, like multi-grain cheerios is great if you want to relax in front of your TV or laptop and keep your little one entertained right next to you. :) I have 2 toddlers and my 20 month old loves any kind of food! It's my 3 year old that asks what everything is and is picky. ;)

Crystal - posted on 03/29/2010

Chicken nuggets, chicken fingers, lunch meats, mac and cheese pen wheels, carrots & ranch , strawberries, cheese, breads, corn on the cob, pasta with no sauce, rice and some other foods but this is what she eats a lot of

Cynthia Leigh - posted on 03/29/2010

when both of my kids were todlers i would cut them up some fresh fruit any kind really or finger sandwhiches or even beanie wiennies was great just a few ideas but good luck.

Christina - posted on 03/29/2010

How about taking a flour tortilla, placing some sliced ham and or turkey and a slice of cheese, and heating it until the cheese is good and melty! My kids LOVE it! And If cut right, it's just the right size for little hands!

Tami - posted on 03/29/2010

Hi, this might help a little. If your not sure that you want to change up the diet by trying different foods try using a cookie cutter to change up the shapes of the sandwiches, I have grown children and 10 grandchildren that all had & have different tastes and sometimes it just helps to change up the look of the meal. Sometimes I used nutella instead of jelly with the peanut butter sandwich, or with the grilled cheese I used to cut circles and make it look like mickey mouse or other characters by using different foods to make the faces, introduce new foods that way, sometimes making the stuff they dont want to try into a little bit of fun helps! You could also try instant oatmeal they have some out there that have hidden fruits shapes in it like dinosour eggs and so on. put small amount of noodle soup in a bowl(not much broth) and put fishy crackers in it and mix it up make it a teasure hunt for fish. there is also perogies pasta stuffed with mashed potato u can get cheese or plain they are shaped in circles and kids can pick them up with thier hands
Hope this helps a little!

Sarah - posted on 03/29/2010

I have had this same issue also. You can by grilled chicken, I think tysons makes it, in a bag. I chop it up and put it on tortillia chips and then sprinkle cheese on them and pop them in the microwave. Quick nacho's and you can throw some extra goodies on for your self and have some also.

Heather - posted on 03/29/2010

I get healthy lunch meats or one side my son loves ( which could also be a snack) is cutting up bananas and shaking the slices into a bag of crushed graham crackers, he loves that. Try a grilled chicken fajita, with what she would like in it. Fajitas and burritos are wonderful b/c you can basically fill them with the veggies and meat and sauces your child will eat.I know it's easy to get into a rut. Oh also maybe a lunch box sandwich( which is mayo, hamburger buns, turkey breast, moz.cheese, tomato), sweet and sour chic. There's all kinds of things out there, next time you get stuck try to google something like toddler lunch ideas and maybe soem new things may come up.

Ebony - posted on 03/29/2010

My son is 3 and has always been picky, i mix it up by doing little platters for him, so i cube up cheese and ham or turkey or chicken i do carrots or broccoli and squirt some ranch on his plate so he can dip. He loves nutuella sandwiches which is a great alternative to peanut butter, and i do grilled cheese and tomatoe soup. i also roll out individual bicuits the ones from the can and add grated cheese roll them back up n bake as normal...good luck with the food!

Alex - posted on 03/29/2010

i get campbells chunky soups and give them to my daughter without the broth on them. the meat is reall soft so it's easy for her to chew and there are a bunch of different kinds. tortollinis' and raviolis' are also a good idea. very easy to make and they come in meat and cheese. but my fallback is always hot dogs. my kids just love them! hope this helps!!! best of luck to you!

Lisa - posted on 03/29/2010

I try to always let me son (14 months) taste whatever we are eating, so he gets the taste of it, even if he doesn't end up liking it just yet. Today I made homemade green soup (got the receipe from Kirstie Alley when she was on Oprah) and to my surprise he loved it. I usually keep cooked chicken strips in the fridge, but i don't really like to give him processed foods. I will reccomend 2 cookbooks that are great for busy moms. One is Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld, and the other one is The Sneaky Chef, by Missy Lapine. They help you get alot of fruits and veggies into a picky eater. Good Luck!

Lori - posted on 03/29/2010

I recently purchases a rice maker at Macy's ($15)...My lil guy is about 2 and LOVES rice balls. I let the rice cool than roll it into balls along with Edemame.

LeeAnn - posted on 03/29/2010

Well with my toddlers I give them peatnut butter crakers and sometime jelly, they like it cause it is different and them like the ideal of having something different. Also give them hotdogs which they love I cut them up and let them eat it with or with out a fork. I hope this helps you.

Jessica - posted on 03/29/2010

my kids love to have fresh fruit in their peanut butter sandwiches intead of sugary jams or jellies. We, also instead of milk, sometimes put dry cereal in plain yogurt. And I always have a steady supply of frozen chicken nuggets and mini hot dogs on hand!

Alexandra - posted on 03/29/2010

when my son was just 10months he wasnt eating the pured baby foods like he was supposed to so i tried baked fries, and hotdogs cut in to small pieces so he wont choke. try chicken nuggets, nutella sandwhiches. u can also try deli slices of ham, chicken, turkey, rolled up and just placed on a plate so she eat it how she wants. even small portions of pasta with a very lil bit of sauce cut into lil pieces, worked with my son, maybe ur daughter would like that.

Sara - posted on 03/29/2010

Chop up up meats and cheeses and soft fruits. Tuna helper. Let her taste everything you eat. Little chef boyardee meals. Macaroni and cheese is always a kid favorite...add some really tiny bits of hot dog or tuna in it...just try different things!

Amber - posted on 03/29/2010

my son is 18 months and i am also looking for new ideas. he usually has mac n cheese and a cut up hot dog, fruit, cheese and lunch meat, nuggets and fries ( im trying to get out of that stage) tortilla covered with pb add cut up bananas roll it up and its a great snack. hope this helps :}

Linette - posted on 03/29/2010

My daughter loves chicken strips or if we are in a hurry to eat she gets a hot dog chopped up and loves it. I sometimes cut up lunch meat and cheese and she loves that too and of course mac n cheese is always a favorite. Hope this helps!

Judy - posted on 03/29/2010

Mac n cheese....have you given her hummus yet? good protein...hummus on wheat is a good lunch...pizza? make your own healthy option if that sounds junky...my daughter liked it when i cut it into strips that she could eat herself. a burrito...stuff it with some ground beef/turkey...or even just cheese, avocado, tomato, smash up some beans....hope this helps! I also bought Super Baby Food which gives me good ideas every now and then.

Gina - posted on 03/29/2010

My daughter really like tofu or deli meats for a "meat" and I am able to just give her vegetable and fruit. I guess if you have the time you can make a quesadilla with cheese and vegetable, and if you want beans, black, garbanzo... pretty much whatever you have and season it. I saute the vegetable and beans with olive oil, oregano, cumin, and whatever you thinking she would like , and then put it on a wheat tortilla cover that with cheese and then add a second tortilla on top, then bake it at 350 for about 10 min. It is actually really good.

Sylvie - posted on 03/29/2010

My twins nap once a day now and it's usually from Noon to 2pm. I have lunch ready for all the kids at 11:30 (we get up early anyways:) )
All my boys love soup but I don't give them much of the juice...I either make or buy really chunky soup and they eat the chuncks.
Bit size pasta with a dab of tomato soup
Mac & Cheese and I always like to add veggies in it. I get a large bad of the frozen bit size (peas, carrots, beans, and corn) I cook the veggies with the pasta
Ham & cheese omelette (canned chunked ham will do if you don't have left-overs)
Quiche...you can even buy pre-made little pie shells and fill up with any type of quiche you like. They can be frozen and defrost real quick for either a lunch or dinner for the little ones.
I will also do cold cuts with cheese and crackers
Chicken nuggets and home made sweet potato fries (just cut and season and bake)
I also love cut up chicken mixed with salsa, corn and pasta.
I usually try to cook plenty for dinner to have leftover and either eat that or creat something else out of it.
Hope this gives you some ideas!
Sylvie

Krissy - posted on 03/28/2010

You guys so lucky!!!!! my nearly 15 months old baby still eat puree food would you beleive. She is very fussy.

Sara - posted on 03/28/2010

Are you sure you aren't talking about my house because your daughter eats the same exact meals as mine. Does get boring and I worry that shes not getting the nutrition she requires. I try all kinds of different lunhces but when it comes down to it...if I want her to eat...I make grilled cheese or peanutbutter sandwiches. Sorry I couldn't be of help.