These easy, healthy meal ideas are perfect for feeding a baby, toddler, and the rest of the family!
As a full-time, stay-at-home mom of two, I am constantly searching for ways to simplify my life. I just do not have time for all the extra things, whatever those things may be.
Over the last three years I have found various ways to save time on basic, everyday tasks:
- Toy Rotation: I have a clear plastic bin from Target that I use to store toys, books, and stuffed animals. I keep this bin tucked away and it helps us cut down on the time spent cleaning up every day. Magically, when I break out these toys, it’s as if they’re brand new.
- Decluttering: Last year I shared an ultimate list of things to throw out or donate in the new year. This is a practice I do often – and mentally, I just need there to not be so much stuff.
- Meal Planning: Consistent meal planning is a lifesaver. With a meal plan in place, I can save time, money, and sanity. When I create a meal plan for the week, I do so with our entire family in mind: husband, toddler, baby, and me. And today I’m sharing those healthy meal ideas with you!
So although this post is titled, “What I Fed My Kids This Week” – it really should be called “What I Fed My Whole Family This Week”. On weekdays, breakfast and lunch is just me and the kids, and I always make the same meal for all 3 of us.
Dinnertime is our family meal, where we all sit and eat together, and since we did the baby-led weaning method with both kids, we have all always eaten the same foods.
Both kids (3 & 1), have 3 meals a day and typically 2-3 snacktimes. You can read more about toddler feeding schedules, here.
What does a healthy meal for toddlers include?
- 1-2 Fruits
- 1-2 Vegetables
- Healthy Fat (avocado, coconut milk, nut butter, extra virgin olive oil, or whole milk yogurt)
- Protein (chicken, eggs, tofu, beans, or nut butter)
- Starch (whole grain bread, whole wheat pita, rice, pasta, potatoes)
Healthy Baby & Toddler Meal Ideas —> Pin it for Later
More on Toddler Nutrition
♥ Essential Healthy Fats for Babies & Toddlers (And How to Cook with Them)
♥ Coconut Creamsicle Green Smoothie for Toddlers
♥ 8 Nutritious Toddler Breakfast Ideas
Healthy Meal Ideas for a Baby & Toddler (What I Fed My Kids This Week)
Monday
Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs with Kale & Applegate Farms Turkey Sausage in a Whole Wheat Pita, Chopped Avocado, Strawberries mashed into Stonyfield Whole Milk Greek Yogurt
Lunch: Black Bean & Cheese Quesadilla (on Rudi’s Spelt Tortilla), Sour Cream, Baby Carrots
Dinner: Veggie Fried Rice (made with Bragg’s Liquid Aminos), Chopped Sesame Tofu, Chopped Shrimp
Tuesday
Breakfast: Spinach & Banana Pancakes with Real Maple Syrup, Applegate Farms Turkey Bacon, Segmented Mandarins (the maple syrup and turkey bacon were just for my toddler)
Lunch: Mini Bowties & Broccoli in Olive Oil, Avocado, Baby Carrots
Dinner: Turkey-Broccoli Meatballs* with Chopped Broccoli, Marinara Sauce, Roasted Sweet Potato Bites
* This recipe is from Daphne Oz’s cookbook and we are obsessed. I make it at least once a week.
Wednesday
Breakfast: Chopped Hardboiled Eggs, Almond Butter Toast, Segmented Mandarins
Lunch: Pizza with Chicken Sausage & Kale, Roasted Pepper Strips, Baby Carrots
Dinner: Black Beans, Rice, Avocado, Chopped Tomatoes & Bell Peppers
More Baby & Toddler Resources
♥ How to Manage a Baby & Toddler as a Stay-at-Home Mom
♥ Quick 2 Year Old Breakfast Ideas
♥ How to Prepare Your Toddler for Baby # 2
Thursday
Breakfast: Oatmeal with Blueberries & Real Maple Syrup (for toddler), Dave’s Killer Bread Plain Awesome Bagel & Cream Cheese
Lunch: Scrambled Eggs with Black Beans & Spinach, Chopped Avocado, Strawberries, Segmented Mandarins
Dinner: Chicken & Rice, Crispy Kale, Black Beans, Roasted Pepper Strips, Chopped Avocado
Friday
Breakfast: Fried Egg, Applegate Farms Chicken Breakfast Sausage, Dave’s Killer Bread Toast Sticks with Chia Seed Berry Jam, Strawberries & Blackberries
Lunch: Homemade Pizza Bagel (Dave’s Killer Bread Plain Awesome Bagels) with Tomato Sauce, Shredded Mozzarella, Applegate Farms Turkey Pepperoni and Roasted Broccoli, Avocado, Bell Peppers, Cucumbers & Carrots
Dinner: Ground Turkey (cooked in sesame oil and Bragg’s Liquid Aminos), Rice, Roasted Broccoli & Carrots
Saturday
Breakfast: Spinach & Cauliflower Egg Cups, Avocado Toast (on Dave’s Killer Bread), Strawberries & Grapes
Lunch: Cheesy Broccoli Bites, Blueberries, Segmented Mandarins
Dinner: Make-Your-Own Salsa Chicken Tacos with Toppings (Avocado, Sour Cream, Beans, Cheese, etc.)
Sunday
Breakfast: Fried Eggs, Applegate Farms Turkey Breakfast Sausage, Avocado Bagel, Grapes
Lunch: Whole Wheat Pita, Sundried Tomato Hummus, Feta Cheese, Shredded Carrots, Cucumber Sticks
Dinner: Pinto Bean, Cheese & Spinach Quesadilla (on Rudi’s Spelt Tortilla), Grapes, Chopped Avocado
In reality…
Cooking 3 meals a day, everyday, for my baby and toddler is actually exhausting.
From the beginning of creating Because I Said So, Baby, I have always promised that I would tell the absolute truth about momlife. So here’s the truth: Sometimes, when I think about the amount of dishes and cleaning I do on a daily basis I have to stop myself because I may or may not have a momentary breakdown.
Sometimes, I just can’t cook anymore. Sometimes I just “assemble” food on a plate, add some avocado and call it a meal. Some nights we go out to eat. Some nights I heat up food from the freezer or from a box or we just feast on leftovers. But mostly, I try to cook from scratch to save money and to control what goes into our meals.
Whenever I have time I try to prep foods ahead so I don’t have to start from step 1 at every meal. On the weekend I’ll double a batch of waffles or pancakes to freeze. Or sometimes at the beginning of the week I’ll make a big batch of rice and beans since I know that’s my toddler’s favorite meal. I try to find ways to simplify wherever I can.
Notes
As mentioned in the title, these meals were fed to my baby, toddler, myself, and husband!
- While my toddler likes her fried egg slightly runny in the center, I always fully cook the egg for my baby.
- Yes, my toddler is obsessed with eggs and could probably eat them for every meal. I do try to mix it up with waffles, pancakes, and oatmeal. But mostly, girl likes her eggs.
- If you’re wondering how many avocados we go through in a week, the answer is all of them.
- Most of the pictures above are of my toddler’s plate. For my baby, I usually cut her food in a “stick shape” and I always cut up foods like grapes and carrots. I also use the ezpz mat (see below) for my baby, and the Replay plates for my toddler.
- This is not a sponsored post, however, I tried to incorporate some of my favorite brands into the meal descriptions. Dave’s Killer Bread and Bagels are a house favorite. I also purchase Organic dairy products, Vital Farms eggs, and Organic fruits and veggies when possible.
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Have any healthy meal ideas to share for feeding a baby or a toddler? Or both?
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Time-Saving Toddler Meals$10.00 - Feeding Toddlers Guide$10.00
- Practical Solutions for Picky Eaters$10.00
