Toddler Eats

One of the biggest transition times for our little ones comes when they start to experience adult food! I’ve had several moms inquire over the past few days about what they could possibly feed their young toddlers (approximately nine months through eighteen months).  Based on my experience and the advice of other moms, I’ve compiled this list. These ideas can extend into preschool age also. 

French Toast (variations – pumpkin pie french toast)

Pancakes (variations – banana pancakes, apple pie pancakes) 

Waffles (these frozen also act as great teething relief!)

Bread (before you gasp at the CARBs, breads can be a great way to get extra veggies & fruits into your little ones. I make a few healthified versions using applesauce, bananas, zucchini, carrots, pumpkin, and the like. The boys haven’t met a healthy bread they didn’t really love! I love making mini-muffins and then they enjoy holding it on their own)

Honey Mustard Chicken Tenders*

Pasta (Jack LOVES his with regular marinara and gobbles it up! Be warned THIS is a messy one though! Pasta sauce is also a great source of hidden veggies – I’ve add spinach & zucchini to mine)

Sweet Potatoes Fries – baked with some olive oil (Thanks, Sarah!)

Peas (also great frozen for little teethers) – Jack LOVES peas!

Healthified pizza! (I take a whole wheat tortilla, marinara, and a splotch of mozzarella cheese and then bake in the oven until crisp. For Charlie, I cut into mini-pizza slices and for Jack, I dice it up.. You can also do this on Pita bread or Naan for a bit more oomph!)

Quesadillas (again, it’s what’s inside that counts! A whole wheat tortilla, yummy cheese, maybe some pureed squash & other veggies – the possibilities are endless!)
Diced Turkey or Tofurkey dogs (VERY small pieces)
Turkey Meatloaf Sticks ( Ground Turkey, Pureed Apples & Carrots, bread crumbs, egg yolk, garlic Powder & Basil. Bake like u would a meatloaf then cut into sticks – thanks, Beatriz!)
Green Beans, cooked
Rice
Grilled Cheese (cut into age size pieces)
Chipotle Burrito Bol (Without fail, this dinner is a HUGE hit in our house. Chipotle  now has brown rice also! The boys will literally eat this by the bowl-full and we now need to get an entire Bol just for them to share. They eat EVERYTHING in it – brown rice, chicken, black beans, salsa (!!), cheese, romaine lettuce (!!) and always ask for seconds and thirds. If you are feeling especially nice, you can grab some guac & chips also!)

Snacks


Cheerios
Kale Chips
Cut-up String Cheese
Veggie Straws
Avocado, diced
Blueberries
Graham Crackers
Grapes (very small diced! some moms choose to wait, but others listed this as one, so I included it. It’s what you are comfy with!)
Bananas, diced
Shredded cheese
Kiwi
Apple Fries (“Peel & core the apple, then cut into little shoestring-like strips. My daughter will eat an entire apple like that!” ~Morgan)
Laughing Cow Cheese

~As your child gets older, let them experiment with utensils! Jack is 15 months old and loves to try his hand with a child’s fork & spoon. This gives them a greater part in the process and sometimes can help them become more interested in what they are eating.

~If they seem interested in what you are eating, let them test it out! Chances are they may actually take more from your plate than their own!

~Try, try again! If they don’t like it one time, don’t stop serving it! Some studies suggest that it can take up to ten different serving times to have success!

~Dips!! My boys, especially Charlie, love to DIP their food! This is a great way to get some healthy food in them! I make a quick homemade healthy hummus that Charlie loves with pita bread and veggies.

~For slippery fruits & veggies, coat them in smashed up Cheerios to make them easier for pick-up! (Thanks, Caitlin & Morgan!)