Meal & Snack Ideas for
Toddlers (1-3 Years)

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Meal & Snack Ideas for Toddlers

Lunch Ideas

Snack Ideas

Dinner Ideas

Healthy eating habits are important at every age. Try offering a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein foods and dairy (or fortified dairy alternatives). Focus on nutrient-rich foods and beverages while limiting added sugars, sodium and saturated fat. Sharing family meals and involving children in food preparation makes mealtime fun! Visit MyPlate for more healthy eating tips for toddlers.

Breakfast Ideas

Turkey sausage, clementines and cereal

1 small clementine, peeled

¼ cup toasted oat cereal

2 turkey sausage links, cooked and cut up

½ cup milk

Mini pancakes with peanut butter, blueberries and chopped strawberries

¼ cup strawberries, quartered ¼ cup blueberries

2 small pancakes

1 Tbsp peanut butter, drizzled or spread thinly on pancakes

½ cup milk

Whole wheat English muffin with cheese, scrambled egg and tomatoes

3 grape tomatoes, quartered

½ whole wheat English muffin, toasted and sandwiched with
1 Tbsp shredded cheddar cheese

1 egg, scrambled

½ cup milk

Whole wheat toast with peanut butter and bananas

½ banana, sliced

1 slice whole wheat bread, toasted

1 Tbsp peanut butter, spread thinly on toast

½ cup milk

Lunch Ideas

Zucchini Fritters and diced fruit

½ cup diced fruit

Zucchini Fritters

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Zucchini Fritters

Ingredients

1 large zucchini, grated

¼ cup shredded cheese (American, Cheddar, Mozzarella or a blend)

1 egg

¼ cup bread crumbs

2 Tbsp Parmesan cheese

Black pepper and garlic powder

Cooking spray or olive oil

Instructions

Grate zucchini and squeeze the zucchini in paper towels to remove the excess water. Combine all ingredients, except olive oil, in a bowl and mix thoroughly. Form a heaping tablespoon from the mixture into 8 patties. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Once heated, add patties and cook until golden brown, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Serve.

Tomato and Spinach Pizza and pineapple

½ cup chopped pineapple

1 slice Tomato and Spinach Pizza

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Tomato and Spinach Pizza

Ingredients

1 whole wheat tortilla

¼ cup tomato sauce

5 to 6 cherry red tomatoes, halved

¼ cup spinach, shredded

½ cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

½ tsp parmesan cheese

Oregano and garlic powder to season

Instructions

Spray pan with cooking spray and heat on low. When warm, place a whole wheat tortilla in the pan and spread 2 Tbsp of tomato or marinara sauce on the tortilla. Add shredded cheese, shredded spinach and chopped tomatoes on top of the tortilla. Sprinkle with basil, onion powder and garlic powder and cover. Allow to cook for about 1 minute, or until cheese melts. The tortilla should be crisp, but not burnt. Scoop out of pan to cool. Slice and serve.

Snack Ideas

Blueberry and Carrot Oatmeal Bar

1 Easy Blueberry and Carrot Oatmeal Bar

½ cup milk

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Easy Blueberry and Carrot Oatmeal Bars

Ingredients

¾ cup quick or instant oats

½ cup flour

½ tsp baking powder

½ tsp cinnamon

¼ tsp salt

¼ cup melted coconut oil or butter (melt then let cool for a minute so it’s not piping hot when you add it to the batter)

¼ cup unsweetened peanut butter (or nut butter alternative)

¼ cup maple syrup or honey (avoid honey for kids under age 1)

½ cup grated carrot

½ cup blueberries (cut large berries in half)

1 egg (optional): add to make bars more cake-like than crunchy

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line an 8×8-inch pan with parchment paper so it overhangs on two sides (this will make it easier to lift the bars out once baked and cooled). Mix together all of the ingredients in a medium bowl except the blueberries. (Add the egg if using.) Stir in the blueberries gently. Press into the prepared pan so the batter is even and pressed to the edges. Bake for 24-26 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden brown and set. Cool fully. Slice into bars and serve or store.

Banana, Orange, Pineapple Smoothie

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Banana, Orange, Pineapple Smoothie

Ingredients

2 cups chopped ripe banana (about 3 bananas)

½ cup peeled chopped fresh pineapple

4 peeled orange segments

1 cup plain yogurt

1 cup ice

Instructions

Combine ingredients in baby food maker, food processor or blender. Puree until smooth; best served chilled.

Strawberry Smoothie

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Strawberry Smoothie

Ingredients

2 cups of frozen fruit (strawberries and bananas work great)

1/3 cup milk, plain yogurt or orange juice

5 ice cubes

Instructions

Place frozen fruit in a blender. Add the orange juice, milk or plain yogurt. Add ice cubes. Blend until smooth. Try with other fruits or 100% fruit juice.

Dinner Ideas

Tuna (or Salmon) Burgers and green beans

½ cup cooked peas, broccoli or green beans

Tuna (or Salmon) Burgers

1 cup milk

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Tuna (or Salmon) Burgers

Ingredients

2 (6.5 oz) cans tuna OR 1 can salmon, drained and flaked

1 potato boiled, peeled and mashed

2 green onions, finely chopped

1 tsp dried parsley

½ tsp dried thyme

Dash salt and pepper (to taste)

1 cup breadcrumbs (or cracker crumbs or instant oatmeal)

Lemon juice (for drizzle)

Optional: ½ tsp dried cayenne pepper, 1–2 stalks dill (finely chopped) OR sweet relish, sliced fresh lemon or tomato (for topping)

Instructions

In a large bowl, add the fish, mashed potato, onions, parsley, dill, thyme, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper. Mash everything together, tasting the mixture and adding seasoning as desired. Form the mixture into patties. Pour the breadcrumbs onto a plate; dip each patty into the breadcrumbs. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat, and fry the patty on each side until crisp. Drain on paper towels or paper bags. Squeeze lemon juice over each fish burger and serve on bun if desired.

Mac ‘N’ Cheese and mixed vegetables

½ cup cooked mixed vegetables

whole grain Macaroni ’N’ Cheese

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Quick & Easy Mac ‘N’ Cheese

Ingredients

1 cup whole wheat elbow macaroni

2 Tbsp margarine or butter

2 Tbsp flour

1 cup fat-free milk

1 cup low-fat cheddar cheese, grated

Salt & pepper (to taste)

Instructions

Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain and set aside. In a medium saucepan, melt margarine. Stir in flour. Add milk slowly, stirring constantly. Cook and stir until mixture boils and thickens. Over low heat, add cheese and stir until cheese is melted and sauce is smooth. Add macaroni and mix gently. Stir over low heat until mixture is hot. Add salt and pepper to taste. If desired, top with a sprinkle of grated cheese before serving.

Author: SDWIC.org

Bean Tostada, rice and diced zucchini

½ cup diced zucchini, cooked

½ cup whole grain rice, cooked

Easy Cheesy Bean Tostada

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Easy Cheesy Bean Tostada

Ingredients

1 can refried beans, fat-free, low-sodium

Corn tortilla

Cheddar cheese, reduced-fat, shredded

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 °F. Spread beans on each corn tortilla. Sprinkle cheese evenly over the beans on each tortilla. Place on ungreased sheet pan and bake for 7 minutes or until cheese is melted. Optional: serve with diced tomatoes and sour cream.

Meal & Snack Ideas for Toddlers (1-3 Years)

Breakfast Ideas

Turkey sausage, clementines and cereal

1 small clementine, peeled

¼ cup toasted oat cereal

2 turkey sausage links, cooked and cut up

½ cup milk

Mini pancakes with peanut butter, blueberries and chopped strawberries

¼ cup strawberries, quartered ¼ cup blueberries

2 small pancakes

1 Tbsp peanut butter, drizzled or spread thinly on pancakes

½ cup milk

Whole wheat English muffin with cheese, scrambled egg and tomatoes

3 grape tomatoes, quartered

½ whole wheat English muffin, toasted and sandwiched with 1 Tbsp shredded cheddar cheese

1 egg, scrambled

½ cup milk

Whole wheat toast with peanut butter and bananas

½ banana, sliced

1 slice whole wheat bread, toasted

1 Tbsp peanut butter, spread thinly on toast

½ cup milk

Lunch Ideas

Zucchini Fritters and diced fruit

½ cup diced fruit

Zucchini Fritters

water

Zucchini Fritters

1 large zucchini, grated

¼ cup shredded cheese (American, Cheddar, Mozzarella or a blend)

1 egg

¼ cup bread crumbs

2 Tbsp Parmesan cheese

Black pepper and garlic powder

Cooking spray or olive oil

Tomato and Spinach Pizza and pineapple

½ cup chopped pineapple

1 slice Tomato and Spinach Pizza

water

Tomato and Spinach Pizza

1 whole wheat tortilla

¼ cup tomato sauce

5 to 6 cherry red tomatoes, halved

¼ cup spinach, shredded

½ cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

½ tsp parmesan cheese

Oregano and garlic powder to season

Snack Ideas

Blueberry and Carrot Oatmeal Bar

1 Easy Blueberry and Carrot Oatmeal Bar

½ cup milk

Easy Blueberry and Carrot Oatmeal Bars

¾ cup quick or instant oats

½ cup flour

½ tsp baking powder

½ tsp cinnamon

¼ tsp salt

¼ cup melted coconut oil or butter (melt then let cool for a minute so it’s not piping hot when you add it to the batter)

¼ cup unsweetened peanut butter (or nut butter alternative)

¼ cup maple syrup or honey (avoid honey for kids under age 1)

½ cup grated carrot

½ cup blueberries (cut large berries in half)

1 egg (optional): add to make bars more cake-like than crunchy

Banana, Orange, Pineapple Smoothie

Banana, Orange, Pineapple Smoothie

Banana, Orange, Pineapple Smoothie

2 cups chopped ripe banana (about 3 bananas)

½ cup peeled chopped fresh pineapple

4 peeled orange segments

1 cup plain yogurt

1 cup ice

Strawberry Smoothie

Strawberry Smoothie

Strawberry Smoothie

2 cups of frozen fruit (strawberries and bananas work great)

1/3 cup milk, plain yogurt or orange juice

5 ice cubes

Dinner Ideas

Tuna (or Salmon) Burgers and green beans

½ cup cooked peas, broccoli or green beans

Meal & Snack Ideas for
Toddlers (1-3 Years)

½ whole wheat English muffin, toasted and sandwiched with
1 Tbsp shredded cheddar cheese