Let's talk food for toddlers. ..

mamatohne

I am sitting at my glucose test for 2 hours attempting to make a grocery list. I'm trying to get more creative with things for ds to eat while he is with my mom or dh during the day. When we cook for ourselves he will eat anything we cook, but I'm worried during the day he is "snacking" too much and would love to make a meal plan. I am pretty lucky, he will eat nearly anything. What do you feed to your toddlers and older kids????

soulcupcake

They pretty much eat what we eat, but I try to eat a diet that is mostly Primal/clean.

I made my son a sandwich with almond butter this morning, and he had half a banana. He also had some of my protein smoothie. Sometimes I do eggs, bacon and sausage. I also make almond butter/banana pancakes on occasion. A staple for me is sauteed hot dogs, and the kids like it, too. I love cottage cheese with fruit, usually sliced bananas, berries and kiwi.

I keep nuts, apples, avocados, and veggies around for snacks. Small corn tortillas are great for cheese quesadillas. My girls use hot dog buns to make a banana dog with almond butter or a similar spread.

I don't really do meal plans. DH grills here and there, and I make some stuff in the crock pot or other simple dishes.

wildflower75

DD pretty much eats whatever we're eating unless we are eating fast food then we'll find home cooked food for her.

Breakfast foods:
yogurt
eggs
cereal (MIL makes oatmeal and cream of wheat type of homemade cereals)
pancakes
waffles
(sometimes sausage)
fruit: berries, banana, orange

Lunch foods:
chicken or turkey or salmon
yams
plantains
mashed potatoes
mac & cheese
collard greens
spinach
string beans
deconstructed ham & cheese sandwich
chicken noodle soup or chicken and rice soup
fruit (listed above)

Diner foods:
pretty much anything from the lunch list
any kind of pasta with meat sauce (ground turkey or ground beef)

Snacks:
fruit
crackers
cheese


I'm drawing a blank but will add more if / when I remember.

mrsodonnell12

Our kids eat what we eat - no special meals .....

kimberly_ann81

I use Emeals.com for our dinners.  It gives you a meal plan for the week with a shopping list.  They have a bunch of different "plans" you can get; low carb, Paleo, ext; and even meal plans based on where you grocery shop; ALDI's, Wal-mart, ext.  It's $55 a year but then I don't have to worry about what I"m going to make.  I will still pick up extra stuff for lunches and breakfast, but usually we have leftovers for lunch.

Both boys will usually eat what ever I put in front of them.  I aim for 1 meat/protien, 1 grain/carb, 1 veggie, and 1 fruit at each meal.

mamatohne

mrsodonnell12 said:

Our kids eat what we eat - no special meals .....

When I'm a home he does too. My mom on the other hand eats Popsicles, candy, chips and red bull all day long sooooo that doesn't really work when she is watching him. But the things she makes him I'm not to Keen on either like pizza rolls (which she brings over). I feel if I make her a schedule he will be better off the two days a week he is with her.

PennyLane26

I love reading all of these ideas! 

I will make and freeze a lot of homemade mini meals for DD. A few of our favorites:

For breakfast: always a side of fruit with oatmeal, waffles (I like Van's organic), pancakes (I throw in a ton of flax seed meal), toast with nut butter, or mini pumpkin muffins (I make them with greek yogurt, applesauce, canned pumpkin, whole wheat flour and flax).

For lunch: egg frittata with veggies mixed in (usually lots of spinach), turkey and cheese roll ups, mac&cheese&peas, english muffin pizzas, pesto pasta and mini meatballs, grilled cheese & tomato

For dinner: whatever we are eating!

She doesn't love meat and poultry, but I try and offer it all the same. She could eat fruit all day, every day. Her favorite veggies are corn on the cob, steamed zucchini and summer squash, peas, and cherry tomato.

hdall0807

Breakfast- waffle, eggs, toast, tons of fruit, oatmeal, ham, French toast Lunch- noodles with butter, spaghetti, avocado, burrito, chicken Supper- a lot or the same- noodle, chicken....fruit....hot dogs She hates all beef. Also has many food allegies so we have limited options

lil_shocker

My son is a big fan of grapes, clementines, berries, peas, broccoli, cheese, bananas, pretzels, etc for snacks. He loves spaghetti and Tilapia best. He doesn't really do grilled cheese, but he eats almost everything else. Lunch he eats whatever they have at daycare and dinner is what I eat.

wallygirl

I'm struggling with this since DD starts MDO soon. It is easy to feed her at home but packing a lunch in which nothing has to be heated is difficult. She doesn't like sandwiches actually she won't each much bread at all. She also doesn't eat much meat even though we continue to offer it. Like pp mentioned she would eat fruit all day if I would allow it. I am going to attempt to pack shredded baked chicken, a steamed veg, cheese cubes, a fruit and crackers the first couple of days to see how she does.