I’ve been there, mama. You know you need to feed your children a balanced diet, but they just aren’t having it.

Do you struggle with getting your children to eat healthy foods?

Do they refuse to eat their veggies and just LOVE things like fruit gummies, goldfish, and cookies? I know you’ve bought the healthiest cookies and snacks you can find too – but you know that’s not cutting it! It is all they want to eat!

Do you fall back on their old favorites all the time? You know, the meals that aren’t you know aren’t the healthiest?

Do you sit at the dinner table and feel like you are constantly trying to convince your child to eat? It’s like you’d rather just throw the food at them then play the game every night. 

You’re Not Alone!

If you answered yes you any of those questions, that does not make you a bad mom. It just means you have a picky toddler! I was there for many many months!

My own children, one who is now four and the other two-and-a-half were stressing me the heck out when it came to making sure they were getting all of their nutrients. I was determined to get help. So I did what most moms do. I searched on Pinterest. 

I found lots of recipes (which I share later in this post) that are simple, healthy and will hopefully be devoured by any toddler in their right mind. (Is that even a thing?!) I tried them. Some of them got eaten, others did not. 

And then I found something that actually worked!

Crunch! Put a Stop to Picky Eating and Make Your Kids Love Veggies. Not only is this little book created by a pediatrician and mother of four, it is a super simple system that got me out of the crap food hole my kids put me in.

Now, my two and four year old eat good food, and it is no longer a battle. My daughters think it is crazy that dessert is actually part of their meal. it’s healthy sweets, of course, and you will learn all about that trick in this book. You’re about to learn all of the tricks you need to know to teach your kids how to eat – and actually enjoy – healthy food!

Head over to this link and see what it’s all about. If you’re here, you are desperate for toddler meal ideas, and getting your toddler to actually eat healthy food; this book will help you with that. I promise.

In fact, I’m convinced any mom will save more than this book costs by throwing out less and less food (and cleaning it up off of the floor!)

Okay, now on to the toddler meal ideas….

Toddler Meal Ideas to Get Started

Here’s a short little round-up I put together to give you some new toddler meal ideas that you can incorporate into Crunch! Put a Stop to Picky Eating and Make Your Kids Love Veggies. They are quick, low on the mess level, portable, simple to make and most importantly yummy! Even mama loves them!

Pizza Pinwheels – What Lisa Cooks

Crescent roll dough, pizza sauce, cheese and a combination of any toppings your little like, these pizza rolls are sure to be a hit! Use the sheet of crescent rolls when making these and be sure to roll them tightly, so all of that yumminess stays inside!

Cheesy Crescent Roll Ups – Six Sisters Stuff

These simple three ingredient cuties are something that I’ve prepped on the weekend and sent to daycare with my girls. I made some with turkey and cheddar cheese, and some with mozzarella cheese and pepperoni.

Bacon Cheddar Muffins – How to Nest for Less

Can it get any better than bacon and cheese? Put it in a muffin, and you’ll have an awesome portable meal or snack that can be enjoyed on the go. These would be perfect for the ride to daycare or preschool!

Baked Egg Muffin Cups – Thriving Home

Ideal for breakfast or anytime, eggs offer a filling option for even the pickiest of toddlers. Add whatever your little one prefers, we like ham and swiss, bacon and cheddar and sometimes even thrown in some green peppers or spinach! Fun and healthy gets two thumbs up from me.

Try making the above recipes in these silicone muffin cups! (Much easier to clean up than a muffin tin!)

Black bean and Sweet Potato Quesadilla – Well Plated

These aren’t your ordinary quesadillas! Your toddler will be ready for a fun packed day with this filling (and healthy!) spin on an old favorite. To simplify this recipe, I’d throw some leftover sweet potatoes, black beans, and a little cheddar cheese into a flour tortilla and fry it up in a pan and serve it with a side of salsa and sour cream for dipping. Easy Peasy!

Chicken Veggie Patties – Easy Toddler Meals

These look like a great way to hide the dreaded veggies some toddlers won’t eat. Notice the vegetables are finely chopped – that’s the trick for hiding the veggies in these chicken patties that come together with pre-cooked rotisserie chicken. Talk about easy!

Cheesy Zucchini Bites – Mel’s Kitchen Cafe

Three ingredients never tasted so good! Shredded zucchini, egg, and cheese come together for a yummy toddler meal that adults will love too! I have to admit, once I start eating these, I have a hard time stopping!

Mini Chicken Pot Pies – Princess Pinky Girl

These look like a great dinner to have pre-made and frozen. Mini chicken pot pies would be super easy to pull out and heat up on a night you’re stumped for toddler meal ideas. And, so much better than a less than desirable frozen chicken pot pie!

The silicone muffin cups work great for these, too!

Toddler Tasting Trays – The Many Little Joys

This concept is pure “sneaky mom” If your toddler turns her nose up and the word “lunch” and is all about eating snacks! Turn into an enticing presentation that resembles a snack! This is one of the best tricks I have up my sleeve when it comes to feeding my toddler. Works every time!

These fun colored ice cube trays even come with a lid and would be super fun to use as a toddler tasting tray!

Grilled Cheese Roll Up – Damn Delicious

Can mama have some of these too? I’m a sucker for the childhood staple, grilled cheese with tomato soup. It never gets old, and one bite transcends me back to when I was a kid with no care in the world. Oh, to be a kid again!

Peanut Butter and Jelly Bites 

How fun are these? I bet any toddler would have a hard time resisting these cute little peanut butter and jelly sandwiches! You could even make these into little kabobs with a few pieces of fruit and cheese – how fun would that be!?

Check out these Funbites Food Cutters to see how these cute little sandwiches were made!

2 Ingredient Pancakes – Our Best Bites

Seriously? Only banana and egg? These two ingredient pancakes are a dream come true when it comes quick and easy toddler meal ideas! Make a batch, feed your kids and keep the rest in the fridge for later

Tuna and Cheese Pockets 

I’m fairly sure that if you put anything in a pocket, your toddler will be more likely to eat it. The Pampered Chef Cut N’ Seal has been around for a long time for a reason! I remember my mom having this when I was a child, and I loved making my own little pockets. We do grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, too!

Taco Pop Tarts – Babble

These look like something the whole family would enjoy! That’s a win-win in my book because this mama is sick of making meals that my littles don’t end up eating.

Easy Baked Ravioli – Laura Fuentes

Yumm-o! I can see myself making these baked ravioli and keeping them in the fridge to heat up during the week! Let your toddler dip away in marinara or ranch (our personal favorite!) This toddler meal idea is winner, winner, ravioli dinner!

Those handy little compartment containers can be found here. They are perfect for keeping lunches organized and add a bit of whimsy to an otherwise dull presentation. Anything to entice the toddler, right?

If you haven’t yet, I really do encourage you to go check out the book I recommended in the beginning of this post. I wouldn’t be sharing it if it didn’t work.

She also has another book that I absolutely loved! this recipe book is specifically for kids and has over 50 tried and true HEALTHY recipes your kids will love. Check that out here.

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