Need lunch ideas for 2 toddler boys, and the 1 year old has a peanut allergy. Help!!!!

Anna - posted on 07/11/2009

We are holding off on peanut butter w/ my ds since we have so many nut allergies that run in our family. Instead of peanut butter and jelly, we do cream cheese and strawberry jam, finger sandwiches in fun shapes- use cookie cutters, these are always a big hit w/ my toddler as well as mini pizza's, fruit on skewers, macaroni wheels w/ peas and ham, mini meatloafs, I put them in cupcake tins and frost them w/ mashed potatoes, couscous, sweet potato french fries. I found with my toddler it is all about the presentation of the food, and putting small amounts on his plate so he is not overwhelmed with having to finish it all, and then just giving him seconds. I have also found, if I let him help me cook he is more apt to actually eat his food. Good Luck!

Lynlee - posted on 07/10/2009

Our favourites are mini pizzas made with pita bread, tinned spaghetti, pineapple, ham, cheese etc. Also our son loves boiled eggs with avocado on toast or pita bread. Also ham or cold meat/tinned fish stuffed into a pita bread with cheese, grated carrot, beetroot, salad. Toasted sandwiches with cheese, relish, avocado or tinned fish/chicken.

Ashley - posted on 07/10/2009

Quoting Karen:

Wow, for picky eaters your kids sure do eat a lot of different things. My two year old won't touch pasta of any kind (she only digs the meat out of the spaghetti and lasagna). She is only willing to eat chicken nuggets, fries, cheese from the top of a pizza, yogurt, cereal, pancakes, and meat soft tacos with a bit of cheddar on it. She will eat apples, peaches, and pears for fruit, but refuses to eat any veggies. I used to mix carrots into meatloaf, but now she won't even touch that! She refuses to drink anything but water and milk. When I offer her other things to eat, she just throws it to the floor. HELP!!!

All I can say is they'll eat when they're hungry . My son was like that at first but now if he doesn't eat what I give him on the plate...he doesn't eat...believe me if he's hungry he'll eat it. My daughters the pickiest eater out of the 2 and she feeds the dog whatever she doesn't want...very annoying but I dont offer an alternative..so like I said eat it or dont eat~ LOL

Karen - posted on 07/10/2009

Wow, for picky eaters your kids sure do eat a lot of different things. My two year old won't touch pasta of any kind (she only digs the meat out of the spaghetti and lasagna). She is only willing to eat chicken nuggets, fries, cheese from the top of a pizza, yogurt, cereal, pancakes, and meat soft tacos with a bit of cheddar on it. She will eat apples, peaches, and pears for fruit, but refuses to eat any veggies. I used to mix carrots into meatloaf, but now she won't even touch that! She refuses to drink anything but water and milk. When I offer her other things to eat, she just throws it to the floor. HELP!!!

Rebecca - posted on 07/10/2009

It's easy to make your own walnut or almond butter (they are super expensive to buy premade). Just buy the nuts, then put in the food processor. You have to let it run for a long time but you'll know when it's done. Or we make small batches in a coffee grinder, but you have to pulse it at first.

Chicken nuggets are super easy to make. Dip into eggs or egg whites, roll in crushed cornflakes or bread crumbs, then bake! You can make huge batches, freeze them, and bake them directly from frozen.

Chicken noodle soup or potato soup are also favorites around here, and inexpensive (and much lower in sodium) if you make them at home.

We like grilled cheese or grilled ham/turkey and cheese.

Like Ashley, I also put pureed veggies in lots of food. I prefer the "Sneaky Chef" cookbooks over Deceptively Delicious, but both are good and have lots of ideas. I checked them out from the library first before buying; doing that could help you get ideas too.

Smoothies are a great way to get avocados in. They are totally undetectable if you mix them with berries and a banana and milk or yogurt, and they improve the smoothie texture. Once the avocados were getting overripe so my hubby put 3 whole avocados in the smoothie, and it was still completely undetectable! Spinach is another thing you can put in there (not cooked, it'll turn slimy) as long as you have dark enough berries.

Good luck!

Ashley - posted on 07/10/2009

My kids are also very picky eaters. I make their favorite foods and add pureed veggies to them. Mac n ch is one of their faves if Im low on time I use Annies organic microwaveable mac n ch and put a little squash or carrot puree in them.For mashed potatos I add pureed cauliflower and since my daughter who is one HATES meat I puree chicken and add that to hers as well. Another fun idea for a 3 yr old is mini pizzas I use either whole wheat large tortillas or wheat bagels and let him choose his toppings. For my one yr old ... Im not a vegetarian but I find that veggie burgers and veggie hotdogs are a quick and nutritious alternative....I usually serve them with sweet potato fries or Mccains Smily Fries (BIG HIT) . I also make a large batch of homemade chicken soup and freeze some of the leftovers for quick meals. Any kind of pasta is big in my family so when I make spagetti and meatballs I add carrot puree and finely cut spinach to the sauce. My kids love chicken nuggets as well I buy Earths Best all natural nuggets...its all natural organic chicken with whole wheat breading and they are so good I love to eat them...for my one year old I have to cut them up in small pieces but even though she hates meat she devours these. I bought a cook book that has been a big help called Deceptively Delicious...its great for picky eaters...especially when they refuse tto eat their veggies or meat. Hope some of these ideas helped!

Amy - posted on 07/10/2009

You could try lunchables (or make your own to save money), chicken nuggets are always a hit with kids, mini burgers, depending on what they have for lunch- cereal, fruit and yogurt with cheese. I would think with all the kids with peanut allergies there would be a website or even a cookbook that would help. Do a little research and I bet there are lots of moms that struggle with the same problem/idea. Good luck-