Miriam Rachel

Toddler Meal Ideas You either have a baby that is getting closer to becoming a toddler, or you already have a toddler and you are thinking about what kind of meals you can feed your little one without him or her throwing a huge mess. It is a known fact that little kids can be very picky eaters. Another concern is whether your toddler will be getting the right amount of nutrition to help with growth and brain development. It sure is a valid concern because you don't want to inadvertently feed your little one something that is lacking significant nutritional value, which will be detrimental to your child's growth, as well as overall health. You will also want to make sure that your child has the right amount of carbohydrates in order to give the energy that he or she needs, and enough fats and protein to develop. It is a known fact that the kind of carbohydrates you feed your child, and you feed yourself is important. You don't want to feed your kids regardless of their ages cookies, cakes, pastries, candies, white bread, white rice, and white pasta and other junk food because they are full of refined carbs and sugars. The problem with this is that your kids will end up with a quick energetic surge which will be difficult for parents to handle, and then crash right after and not be in shape to learn which is what they must do in order to grow. Not to mention, your kids will be quite cranky when this happens. The kinds of carbs to give your toddlers is complex carbs which cause the energy to be slowly be released in your child's system, so your toddler can use it effectively without ending up crashing later on. Your kids also need essential fats such as unsaturated fat to develop properly, and it is essential for their brain growth. Put a strong limit on feeding your kids foods that are high in trans-fats such as fast food, baked goods, pastries, and chocolate bars. Giving them these foods once in a while is not going to cause any harm, but don't make it a habit. You also want to feed your toddler nutritious foods, so he or she will pick up good habits as the child matures and becomes older. It is now time to list some toddler meal ideas that are easy for you to make, and are very likely going to be accepted by your little one! Fruity Chicken and Rice The first meal idea to give your toddler is the fruity chicken and rice meal which is good for either lunch or dinner. What you need to do is boil up a cup of brown rice. And at the same time, take 1/4 of cooked chicken breast and dice it up. Once the rice is done, mix the chicken pieces it in and add apricot fruit juice and mix it all together. Put it in a bowl for your toddler to eat from, and if he or she eats it willingly, then that is a meal idea for you to use for the future as well. If the child doesn't take it well or is more interested in playing with it rather than eating it, then that means it wasn't a hit. Fortunately, there are other ideas to use so don't fret. Ham and Cheese Pizza Muffins Most kids love pizza so you can make your toddlers ham pizza muffins for lunch or dinner. You need to have 3 English muffins, and then 6 tbsp of pizza sauce, and 4 slices of ham which you need to dice. And finally, you need 3 cups of pizza cheese. First, you need to toast the muffins in the toaster, and then spread 1 tbsp of pizza sauce on each one. Then scatter the diced ham on top, and then put the cheese over it. Put the pizzas under the grill until it is melted. Let it stand for 2 minutes and then you can serve it to your toddler. Chances are it will be a hit since pizza is the one food that is loved by anyone! Chicken Burger and Roasted Potatoes Your little one will also take well to burgers, but many parents are understandably worried about feeding their toddlers beef since there have been frightening cases of E. Coli poisoning that have happened among children under the age of 5 who have eaten burgers that were cooked. However, chicken burgers are a better option. There is the risk of salmonella poisoning, but if the chicken is cooked very well it is unlikely to happen. Be sure to cook a chicken burger for your child very well, and place it in a whole grain bun. Roast up some potatoes, and give your toddler and chicken burger with roasted potatoes for dinner. Then you can offer your child watermelon after he or she finishes. Chicken and Rice Soup Another dinner or lunch idea you can use for your toddler is chicken and rice soup. It is tasty, full of good carbs and protein and filling. All you do is take 2-3 boneless chicken breasts and cook it well. Then take 1 medium carrot, and chop it up, and same with 1 medium onion and chop it, and cry if you must! Then be sure to have 1 box of herb seasoned rice mix, and 1 can cream of chicken or mushroom soup. After the chicken breasts are cooked well, chop it up well and then place the chopped carrots and onions in the oven, and watch for it to become tender. Once it is, be sure to mix the chopped chicken and vegetables, and mix it together. Keep the mixture aside while you are heating up the rice and the soup. Once the soup is hot and the rice is cooked, then add the rice, chicken and vegetable pieces into the soup and stir well. The soup will be hearty and filling for your toddler. You can give your child some goldfish crackers on the side if you like, and jello for dessert. Salmon Patties Here is one more dinner idea, that can be used for a lunch as well for your toddler. Try giving your little one salmon patties. Salmon has a lot of healthy fats that are excellent for brain development, and this is an easy way to get these good fats into your child. You will want to take 1 can of salmon, 2 eggs, 1/2 of a cup of chopped onions, and 1/2 cup of bread-crumbs, as well as a dash of salt and pepper. Be sure to drain the salmon, and remove the bones. Mix the ingredients together in a bowl, and then form salmon-mix into patties, and then fry it in a pan with some vegetable oil. Make sure it is browned well on both sides, and serve with brown rice and canned fruit for dessert. Even though these dinner ideas can also be used for lunch if you prefer, let's look at some ideas for lunches for your toddler. Almond Butter, Honey and Banana Slices on Bread You will want to have whole grain bread because that is a healthier option for your child than white bread. Take two slices of bread, and spread some almond butter on there. Then drizzle some honey, and place a chopped up banana on top. There is a lunch that your toddler will love! It is tasty, healthy and filling. Pear and Avocado on Bread What you will want to do is take two slices of whole grain bread. Take 1/2 of a ripe avocado and mash it up in a bowl. Add a dash of salt and pepper, and spread the avocado onto the bread. Take a pear and slice it up and place two thin slices on top of the avocado-covered bread. If your toddler does not like pears, you can substitute it with pomegranate seeds. That is a tasty lunch, and has the nutrients that your toddler needs to thrive! Apple, Cheddar and Peanut Butter on Focaccia Take a whole grain focaccia square and split it in half, crosswise. Then go and cut side of 1 half with peanut butter, and top with a layer of cheddar-cheese slices. Add a layer of thin apple slices on top, and then cover with the other half and cut side down. Then be sure to press gently, and then give it to your toddler. These are a few lunch ideas for your toddler that they will likely accept, and you will have the reassurance knowing that these are healthy lunch options so your little one is getting the nutrients needed to grow! You will want to also give your child a glass of milk in addition to the breakfast meal they are enjoying. It can be either cow's milk or almond milk. Soy milk is not recommended for boys and girls because it can have a negative impact on hormone development for when they are reaching puberty at a much later stage. Let's look at some breakfast ideas for your toddler. Maple Oatmeal Oatmeal is a great breakfast for toddlers because it is jam-packed with nutrients and complex carbs which your child will need for leaning and energy use. However, some kids do not like the texture of oatmeal but give it a go. Sprinkle maple syrup on plain oatmeal after it has been cooked. Be sure to add some berries and 2 slices of cheddar cheese on the side so the breakfast is filling and is even more nutrient-rich. Sausage and Hard Boiled Eggs If your toddlers are not into cereal or oatmeal, you can give your child 2 hard-boiled eggs and 2 apple breakfast sausages. Be sure to cup the eggs and sausages up so your child can eat it easily. Add some blueberries on the side so your child gets some fruits and extra nutrients. Egg on Toast With Peppers Take 2 eggs and scramble it up, and take 2 slices of whole grain toast and toast it. Take 1 sweet red or green pepper and chop it up. Once the toast is ready and the eggs are done, then take the eggs and place it onto the 2 pieces of toast, and scatter the diced peppers on top. Give your child some blueberries or chopped strawberries on the side as well. That is a nutrient-rich, filling and tasty breakfast for your toddler to enjoy. Cereal If you really are pressed for time in the morning which many parents are, or your child is incredibly picky when it comes to breakfast items, you can always serve your child cereal. Cereals that have high amounts of fructose corn syrup, evaporated cane juice and corn syrup have too much sugar and therefore are not ideal for your toddler. Stick with whole grain cereals and cereals that are rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Add the cereal with milk whether it is cow's milk or almond milk, and you can also serve with some blueberries for additional nutrients and energy for your child. There are many other toddler meal ideas you can find by doing a Google search, however, the ideas listed above should be enough for you to get started, and you can start experimenting with these meals. Chances are you will hit on at least one that your toddler will take to well. You can also consult with a pediatric nutritionist to help give you nutritious meal ideas for your toddler, especially if he or she is either very picky or has some food allergies. Obviously, the peanut butter and almond butter based lunches would not be applicable if your child has a nut allergy. The same goes for meals that involve eggs if your toddler is allergic to eggs. The nutritionist can give you some good ideas for safe substitutes for your child. It should be reassuring for you to know that there is help for you when it comes to properly planning meals for your toddler. Word count: 2019