Lunch Ideas for Toddlers

Krystyna - posted on 12/01/2011

I made lots of homemade soups for my kids at that age. Some of their favorites were (and still are) chicken noodle, lowfat cream of broccoli, tomato & rice, mushroom & barley and Italian minestrone. They are all filled with lots of healthy veggies and ingredients. They liked the texture of pureed soups when they were younger, so an immersion blender is a must!

Louise - posted on 11/25/2011

my son is 15 months old and he wont eat cheese, ham or bread as a sandwich or anything like that. can anyone help.

Celissa - posted on 07/25/2011

Thanks guys! Those are all really great idea! I intend to give them all a try and see what he likes. =)

Julie - posted on 07/24/2011

I usually do extra veggies when making dinner so there's some for lunch the next day. I cut them into bit size pieces and either steam or bake them. Gavin loves Avocado and it's one of the best foods for everybody. so a couple lunches a week he has that with something else. We also do egg salad, low salt tuna(salmon), grilled cheese sandwiches or wraps all on whole wheat. In the wraps I put ground deer or chicken with mushrooms, olives, tomatoes, cucumber, and cheese. If he's still hungry I give him yogurt, organic apple sauce or some other fruit.Since your son doesn't like to eat sandwiches you could just give him a piece of bread and spoon feed him the egg salad or tuna and it would end up the same. I use organic mayo since the regular kinds have Disodium EDTA in it.

Hope that helps.

Ashley - posted on 07/24/2011

Oh sometimes I will do zucchini pizzas - thick slices of zucchini with tomato or pizza sauce on them, covered in mozzerella (or whatever kind of cheese), and then topped with whatever toppings - veggies (mushrooms and olives work well) or pepperoni, etc --- i eat those too but best when hot -- little messy --- cook in oven 350 for about 10 minutes (I sautee the squash for a few minutes in a garlic butter for flavor though) --- she loves the tomato paste plain like a soup too

Ashley - posted on 07/24/2011

Kaitlyn loves chicken - sometimes I will get a rotisserie chicken and cut it up into pieces with a veggie or something - I will buy myself whole wheat tortillas (sometimes give her a half of one) - and make a burrito for me with the chicken and other stuff - sometimes I will add brown rice and will put that in the burritto and give her some with the chicken --- she also LOVES pasta - I will do ravioli or whole wheat mac n cheese and again add a veggie with it - ---- when I have a sitter - I normally leave the bowl of pasta as it is easy - she will eat sandwhiches though - she LOVES dipping things - so I give her a dab of mustard, bbq, or rarely ranch to dip something in it and then she will eat anything too (she is not a picky eater though) --- or I just cut up left overs sometimes as well - I also keep cod fish sticks in the freezer or whole wheat flour, all natural, organic chicken nuggets for quick I am gone or in a hurry lunches - normally I save the fruit for breakfast and snacks

Jenna - posted on 07/23/2011

ready made schnitzels and tomato and cucumber is my kids favorites

Holly - posted on 07/22/2011

my daughter loves pita and humus, yellow rice with black beans and cheese, turkey with quinoa and broccoli, bagels, fruit, pasta salad, yogurt, applesauce, spagetti, any kind of soup, anything that she can dip! Hope this helps!

Lauren - posted on 07/22/2011

1) Pasta with homemade tomato sauce (green pepper, onion, canned tomato) is the favourite at the moment.
2) Yoghurt with mashed banana also a hit.
3) Chopped fresh tomato, chopped cheese, some beans and tuna - with a dash of olive oil is also quite a hit!

Lauren - posted on 07/22/2011

1) Pasta with homemade tomato sauce (green pepper, onion, canned tomato) is the favourite at the moment.
2) Yoghurt with mashed banana also a hit.
3) Chopped fresh tomato, chopped cheese, some beans and tuna - with a dash of olive oil is also quite a hit!

Celissa - posted on 07/21/2011

Thanks guys, you're all really helpful. I wish I were a more creative cook.=P

Robyn - posted on 07/20/2011

My son isn't picky so we do anything from chicken, grilled cheese, veggies, fruits, homemade pizza, even spoonfuls of hummus. It helps me to think of meals as a combination of nutrients rather than the traditional sense. Rice, beans or other cooked grains are about as good for you as it gets and super cheap. You can cook large portions and freeze.

Beth - posted on 07/17/2011

My son is 16 months old, and is eating orzo pasta with lemon and white beans (for protein), orzo with lemon, garlic, and broccoli, Morning Star Nuggets, black beans and rice, oatmeal with raisins, baked sweet potatoes (if you bake them for about 2 hrs they caramelize). I can send you recipes if you want. He also eats yogurts, rice pudding, tapioca pudding, and vanilla ice cream (very seldom).

Shannon - posted on 07/17/2011

My daughter was a fussy eater, my son, not so much but one thing they both agree on is anything italian like lasagne or spag bol, you can add green beans or something for some vitamins, but with the meat, cheese and pasta they contain most of your food groups in one yummy easy to chew meal! Great to freeze n easy to reheat too :)

Melissa - posted on 07/13/2011

haha my son does the same thing with his cheese and bread! So I have a very picky eater as well. his fav is whole wheat tortillas with cream cheese..I sometimes add mashed avacodo for calories or even blended spinach..he eats it with raisens and yogurt! Unfortunatly thats about all my son will eat..haha he HATES ANY Kind of meat or fruit so I puree alot of things and add them to pancakes and stuff.

Amy - posted on 07/09/2011

You could do an antipasta dish, so pasta, peppers, olives, cheese, throw some sandwhich meat in like turkey some dressing and you're good to go. Pretty cheap to make and you can extend it for a couple of days.
We typically do turkey, ham, grilled cheese, some veggies and fruit. Not a whole lot of excitement when it comes to lunch, lol! Another good one is Mac and cheese (homemade) and you could throw broccoli in too if you want to get really creative, another dish that will last a couple of days. Another thing you could do is make extra at dinner and just eat leftovers for lunch the next day, quick easy cheap and no thought involved!