Toddler lunch recs please and a veggie?

Army_Wife_04

I am running out of ideas for food to feed my DS for lunches, I feel like I just throw random food together a lot of the time, and I want to try some new things.  Some foods we give him for lunch are hummus on pita bread or rice cakes, peanut butter or almond butter on rice cakes or whole wheat bread, black beans (sometimes as a quesadilla with cheese), kidney beans, and grilled cheese.  I also give him fruit and sometimes edamame. 

Also, I need some new veggie ideas! He loves peas, corn, sometimes broccoli, which used to be a favorite, sweet potatoes, and asparagus.  I feel like he's getting pickier, which I was hoping we would avoid with BLW, but I guess not.  I need some new ways to cook and serve veggies so they are appealing to DS. 

Thanks for your ideas, we need to shake up our boring lunches.  

rosiemomma

i take a tortilla and spread a thin layer of peanut butter, or hummus, I add shredded carrot, cucumber or apple (pb goes with apple and cucumber) I add other veggies like tomato if I have it. I then roll it up and slice it, my dd loves it! I also feed her salad, I don't dress it just give her shredded spinach, carrots, red or green bell pepper, she likes this a lot! 

I use this site often for help:

https://wholesometoddlerfood.com/ 

Harper'smom

Our lunches are really boring so I'm not much help there. However, we do a lot of veggies. DD really loves roasted veggies especially baby carrots and squash. I toss them with olive oil and a no salt herb seasoning. The downside is that they take awhile. We do a lot of steamed zuchinni and broccoli in the microwave and I have found frozen butternut squash cubes that she loves as well. She also goes crazy for any vegetables that are cooked in the crockpot when we have roasts and those reheat well the next day.

bergs720

usually a lurker but I make these for DD and she LOVES them. 

I just use 3 cups of veggies (I usually use broccoli, but anything will do) chopped, 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese, 1 cup oat bran, bread crumbs, oatmeal, etc.  5 egg yolks (or equiv. whole eggs, DD is still under a year)  Mix together and form sticks or patties and bake at 350 for 15 minutes each side.  veggie, dairy, grain, protein all in one serving!   I make a big batch and freeze. 

Emcat1980@yahoo.com

We didn't do BLW but by the time my son was your son's age, he was pretty much finger-feeding himself a lot of what I describe below: 

We do some leftovers for lunch but a lot of just "thrown together" lunches like you mentioned.  DS is great about pretty much all veggies but if possible I like to make a meal with at least a carb and veggie together. Just easier on us that way!

Do you do soy? Veggie burgers/sausage/chicken - DS loves these. Greek yogurt too - great source of protein. Scrambled eggs made with milk/cheese is a big hit around here too. If I haven't fixed pancakes or waffles in a while I'll do those for lunch too (try for whole wheat).

Have you started pasta? When DS was that age I'd cook it extra so it was very soft and basically chop it. With a nice tomato/onion/bell pepper/mushroom sauce you can get several veggies at a time. DS likes orzo a lot too.

He also loves cous-cous (I get whole wheat - cooks in 5 minutes!). I usually throw in veggies -- green peas, carrots, broccoli, red bell peppers, etc. I do the same if I make him homemade mac-and-cheese. I like black beans, brown rice and tomatoes with a little chili powder and cumin. Makes a good pretty balanced meal, and you can top with additional shredded cheese for a little more protein/fat. Same with risotto - you can mix in a lot of chopped veggies. Google recipes for butternut squash risotto and also butternut squash mac-and-cheese.

- roasted butternut squash cubes -- toss with olive oil and rosemary and salt/pepper or with butter/a bit of cinammon and a bit of brown sugar (if desired) - roast at 400 until tender. Great finger food.

- Sauteed squash and zucchini. Usually start with very finely diced onion, saute in butter with a little seasoned salt, add garlic, then the squash/zucchini. I cut it in circles (coins) but you could chop it up if he needs smaller bites. Just cook until nice and tender. These steam well too but DS likes the flavor of it being sauteed with onion.

- He loves red bell peppers and onions sauteed together as well, similar to above.

- He loved this chili recipe and it's super healthy .... if you make it you could freeze small child-size versions and defrost easily for lunch: https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Black-Bean-Chili-with-Butternut-Squash-and-Swiss-Chard-234146

- My son also likes just regular homemade vegetable soup - you can add pasta too if you wish -- just serve with minimal broth for easy finger food.

- Have you tried steamed, buttered cauliflower? It's so mild and almost creamy - DS loves it.

- Steamed haricot verts....leave them whole/long and he could pick them up individually and chew on them. Usually more sweet/tender than regular green beans.

- I made stuffed bell peppers with sauteed onion/red bell pepper/mushroom/eggplant plus cheese and breadcrumbs and he devoured both the stuffing and pepper. super healthy and tons of veggies at once!

good luck!

Army_Wife_04

Thanks ladies! These are all really great ideas and sound so yummy.  I actually roasted butternut squash cubes in the oven tonight with a little cinnamon, and DS loved it! I am definitely going to try some of these other ideas as well, and if he doesn't like them the first time, I will keep offering because sometimes it takes him a few times. 

I guess I need to just be a little more creative with my cooking.   Maybe I can even get picky DH to eat some veggies!

WyoGal

Lots of great suggestions already!  Another great veggie is fresh spinach.  I throw it into quesadillas, grilled cheese/paninis or into soups.  Experimenting with squash is also fun, especially spaghetti squash. 

Army_Wife_04

Thanks wyogal, I have been trying to find ways to give DS spinach, because giving it to him plain hasn't been successful.  I will definitely try sneaking it into sandwiches and quesadillas.  I am trying to get the courage to try making spaghetti squash, it's so yummy, but I've never made one myself.  Maybe I'll give it a go next week.