Toddler Meal Plans And 5 Must-Try Recipes

Coming up with a toddler meal plan is not as difficult as you think. As toddlers, they are able to eat pretty much almost everything that the other family members eat. Plus, they don’t consume in large quantities and that’s why can be fed once every two to three hours. However, there’s no need to worry even if your toddler doesn’t feel hungry once every two hours.

Read ahead for five easy toddler recipes and how you can make a toddler meal plan. 

Toddler List Of Foods: Must Try At Home

Irrespective of the recipes you choose for your toddler meal plan, try making every attempt to include a variety of the below.

Protein

• Milk and dairy products
• Legumes
• Meat and poultry
• Fish
• Eggs
• Nuts and seeds

Produce

• Fruits
• Vegetable

Fat

• Butter
• Milk and dairy products
• Nuts and seeds
• Plant-based oils
• Avocado

Carbohydrates

• Wholegrain rice
• Wholegrain wheat products (toast, pasta, bread)
• Grains (barley, buckwheat, millet, rye, oat, quinoa)

Toddler Meal Plan
Once your baby turns 12 months old, it’s advisable to have three main meals and two snack servings. However, there can be differences in the schedule of main meals and snacks.

Some toddlers will love a “normal” breakfast-snack-lunch-snack-dinner schedule while others will do better with a breakfast-lunch-snack-dinner-snack.

In case, your toddler is a picky eater, offer healthy foods at mealtimes and let your toddler choose what and how much to eat.

Your toddler meal plan must include carbohydrates, fats and dairy products / Image credit – Canva

5 Must-Try Toddler Recipes

1. Avocado Egg Toast

This is super easy to make and is perfect for your toddler’s breakfast and for yourself as well.
Ingredients
Whole wheat bread
Hard-boiled eggs
Ripe avocado

Preparation
1. Toast some whole wheat bread and smear some freshly smashed avocado and then sprinkle it with hard-boiled eggs.
2. You can also serve some ketchup with the toast.

2. Banana Pancakes

This is an easy and quick recipe that can be served in breakfast, lunch or snack to your toddler. 

Ingredients

• Banana
• Egg
• Flour
• Cinnamon

Preparation
1. In a bowl, mash the banana until it turns smooth with only a few lumps.
2. Then add in the flour, egg and cinnamon. Mix until everything comes together.
3. Heat a medium skillet over medium heat, and add a little butter. Drop a tablespoon of batter on the skillet and let it cook for four minutes until the sides become firm and the bottoms are golden brown. Then flip and cook for another three minutes or until it turns golden brown.

3. Cottage Cheese and Fruit Bowl

This is another simple and easy toddler recipe that can be served during breakfast or snacks.

Ingredients

• Cottage Cheese
• Chopped fruits 
• Cinnamon

Preparation
1. Chop a few fruits like strawberries, blueberries or peaches into small pieces.
2. Add some cottage cheese into a bowl using a spoon and then sprinkle with cinnamon.
3. Top off the cottage cheese and cinnamon with fruit chunks and serve.

4. Tomato Soup with Cheesy Bread Dippers

This comforting tomato soup can be enjoyed by both you and your toddler. make the cheesy bread dippers so that your toddler loves them.

Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need for the soup-

• 2 diced tomatoes
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp dried basil
• 1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
• 1/2 cup onion chopped
• 1/2 cup plain greek yoghurt
• Salt and pepper to taste 

Here’s what you’ll need for the bread-

• 2 tsp Italian spices mix
• 1 tbsp butter 
• 4 slices whole wheat bread 
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Preparation:
1. Heat butter over medium heat in a pot. Add the onion and garlic and cook until soft.
2. Add in the tomatoes, basil, broth, salt and pepper. Bring it to a boil and then reduce the heat. Let it simmer for about 15 minutes.
3. To make the cheesy bread dippers, heat the oven to a and line a baking sheet using tin foil. Apply some butter on one side of the bread and place it on the baking sheet. Cook until it turns golden brown which takes roughly four minutes.
4. Flip the bread and sprinkle the spice mix along with the cheese. Place it back under the broiler and heat until it turns golden brown.
5. Add in the yoghurt after the soup is done, and use a hand blender until the soup becomes smooth and creamy.
6. Serve the soup with the cheesy bread dippers.

5. Orange Popsicles with Veggie Carrot

They are the perfect toddler snack to treat them on a hot summer day.

Ingredients
4 roughly chopped baby carrots
2 tbsp plain Greek yoghurt
1 peeled orange
1/2 cup pineapple

Preparation
1. Add the carrots, orange and pineapple in a blender and blend until completely smooth.
2. Add one teaspoon of yoghurt to the bottom of each mould. Then pour the blended liquid into popsicle moulds and gently swirl with a spoon.
3. Freeze for a minimum of four hours.

Try out these delicious and easy toddler recipes now. Remember not to force feed your toddler and serve small portions.

Cover image credit – Canva