Snack and lunch Ideas for Toddlers

When planning my meal plan and shopping list this is my go to list for planning healthy snacks and lunches for my little one.

Healthy & Simple Snack Ideas for Toddlers

Fruits/Veggies:

Blueberries

Grapes

Raisins

Raspberries

Blackberries

Cranberries

Strawberries

Cherry Tomatoes

Carrots (I only give her cooked carrots)

Pears

Watermelon

Peaches

Peas (still frozen Khloe's Favorite)

Snap Peas

Steamed Veggies (Broccoli, asparagus, etc.)

Corn (I try to limit the corn so we only eat fresh)

Bananas (we eat lots of bananas)

Avocado

Beans

Olives

Apple

Pineapple

Honey Dew

Cantaloupe

plums
Mango

Oranges

Papaya

Cucumber

Tangerines

Peaches

Kiwi

Freeze dried fruit and Veg

Bell Pepper Strips

Proteins:

Beans

Cheese (shredded, cubed, strings)

Seeds (pumpkin, sunflower)

Nuts

Eggs (hard boiled, scrambled)

Chick Peas

Tofu

Edamame

Dips/Spreads:

Hummus

Almond Butter

Peanut Butter

Guacamole

Applesauce, pear-sauce, peach-sauce, banana sauce

Yogurt (I use Greek yogurt)

Baked Goods:

Pita Bread Wedges

Mini Muffins (blueberry, banana, bran, carrot, zucchini, etc.)

Whole Wheat Pancakes

Whole Wheat Waffles

Whole Wheat Toast

Packaged:

i don't really buy any packaged food for my little one but when I do this is what I get

Annie’s Graham Bunnies

Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies

Cheese (cubed, shredded, strings)

Rice Cakes

Soy Crisps

Puffed Rice

Popcorn (Khloe is still to little for popcorn)

Carob Chips (unsweetened)

Banana Chips

I  Make:

Fruit Bars

Fruit LeathersGraham Crackers

Apple ChipsWhole Wheat Crackers (I make my own)

Cooked Whole Wheat Pasta

Pinwheels (sandwiches or roll ups)

Tortellini or ravioli 

Granola

Pretzels (unsalted)

 

Healthy Lunch Ideas

Sandwiches :
- Lunch Meat (Nitrate free) & Cheese
- Egg Salad
- Tuna Salad
- Chicken Salad
- Peanut Butter (or another nut butter) with Jelly, Honey, or Banana
- Cucumbers & Cream Cheese
- BLT (Bacon [Nitrate Free], Lettuce, Tomato)
Idea– try placing the sandwich on different breads, use a bagel or english muffin instead, try different spreads like cream cheese or hummus instead of mayonnaise. You can also make “sandwich puzzles” by cutting the sandwich into different angles & shapes and having the child figure out how it goes together.

Wraps/Pitas :
- Veggie wraps (shredded carrots, lettuce, cucumbers, hummus, olives, bell peppers, cheese, cream cheese, avocado)
- Rice & Beans
- Turkey & Cheese
- Chicken Salad
- Tuna Salad

Warm lunch ideas  :
When we are on the go or taking lunch to the park I put this stuff in a Thermos
- Soup
- Leftovers from dinner the night before
- Spaghetti
- Whole wheat past in varied shapes with pesto or just plain butter
- Ravioli
- Tortellini
- Macaroni & Cheese
- Fried Rice
- Stir Fry
- Rice & Beans (add sausage or natural hot dogs)
- Homemade chicken nuggets

Other Ideas :
- Salad with dressing packaged separately
- Make your own “lunchables” with crackers, lunch meat, etc.
- Fruit, Meat & Cheese with pretzel sticks (like toothpicks) for picking up
- Small pizzas (you an put them on English Muffins)
- Quesadillas
- Pasta Salad (with Veggies, Chicken, or even Tuna)

Neat Sides :
- Ants on a log (celery with peanut butter and raisins placed to look like ants)
- Fruits (strawberries, grapes, pears, apples, oranges, watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, pineapple, mango, peaches, nectarines, plums, bananas, tangerines, kiwi, papaya, cranberries or any other favorite fruit))
- Fruits & Dip like yogurt
- Yogurt or organic yogurt tubes
- String cheese
- Raw Veggies (carrots, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, bell pepper, snap peas) & Dips (hummus, ranch)
- Chips or Pita Wedges with Hummus, Guacamole, Salsa, or Spinach Dip
- Cooked veggies in a thermos (broccoli, peas, carrots, spinach, potatoes, sweet potatoes, black beans, pinto beans, green beans, lima beans, corn, or any other favorite vegetable)
- Rice
- Cheese & Crackers
- Pickle spears
- Apples with peanut butter
- Nuts
- Chickpeas
- Hard boiled eggs
- Applesauce
- Graham crackers (with or without a dip like peanut butter)
- Dried Fruits
- Pretzels
- Homemade muffins or breads with fruits or veggies added (carrot, banana, zucchini, etc.) or cookies
- Fruit Leathers
- Rice Cakes
- Carob chips
- Granola
- Apple Chips
- Banana Chips

I try to use organic as much a possible