Toddler Meal Ideas

This post will be what my son ate yesterday, with some additional ideas and tips. My son is a picky eater, which is no surprise since his dad and I were both picky eaters as children. I remember my mom used to make hamburger casserole and sneak in mixed veggies, so that I (and my other siblings) would eat veggies.

I was one of those moms. You know, the one that wouldn't let my kid eat sweets until his first birthday, licked the salt off the french fry before giving it to him so that he wouldn't be taking in too much sodium, made sure he got only breast milk before 6 months (a.k.a. first time mom), and even then watched what he ate. So you can imagine that the fact that my little one only wants to eat cookies and french fries is a bit sad. Thankfully he still nurses twice during the day and once at night, which ensures he is taking in some nutrients. I am not going to sit and lie and say that I only feed my kid healthy meals, but I hope to show you some 'real' meals that you can feed  a picky toddler.

Breakfast

Cream of Wheat sweetened with GoGo Squeeze fruit and veggies. 

Sneak attempt #1. My little man loves the little squeeze packs, so I use it to sweeten foods, and also as a side for when we are eating something that is questionably healthy. 

Other breakfast meal ideas: waffle/pancakes (I know, I know, not very healthy! My little man loves to 'dip' this in syrup, so I do feed this to him sometimes. I think it's all about balance.), oatmeal, yogurt and fruit. Remember to check yogurt to see how much sugar is in the cup. If you are trying to watch their sugar intake, get a yogurt with low sugar. Even better: buy plain yogurt, sweeten it yourself, and add fruit!

Leftover homemade Empanada with apple slices.

Lunch

Little man loves apple slices, so that's what I feed him. I have tried other fruits, and although he will eat some, this is very economical and good for him. Plus, I know he will eat it! Besides leftovers, here are some other lunch options: pb and j, cheese toast, cheese cubes and crackers, etc. with some fruit or veggie on the side.

Lima beans and whole wheat toast

Supper

In an attempt to 'keep it real', I will admit that about two or three beans were eaten, while the toast was gobbled up. Most nights, Little Man just eats whatever we are eating that evening. Not only does this put pressure on me to cook something healthy, but it also puts a variety of foods in front of my son. I do this in hopes that one day green beans will seem more appetizing!

What are some meals you feed your toddler? How do you sneak fruits/veggies in their meals? Would you like to see more posts like this, or do you have suggestions for other parenting topics? Let me know!