15 Meal Ideas for Toddlers (And the Whole Family, Too)

There is nothing cuter, or pickier, than a toddler. We love them but we don’t always love to feed them. To ease your mealtime pain, we have a wide array of terrific meal ideas for toddlers to choose from. We’re sure you’ll find a few that the whole family will want to devour!

Mini Turkey Meatball Bites

This toddler-friendly version packs a lot of protein into a tiny package that’s also laced with sweetness from shredded carrots and grated apples. The homemade glaze adds an extra layer of flavour. Deelish! | Full recipe here

4-Ingredient Cheesy Zucchini Bites

These simple and delicious bites have cheese, eggs, zucchini, and breadcrumbs, so they’re a complete meal all in one little and very tasty package. They can be made ahead of time and stored in your freezer so you can have lunch or dinner ready in a flash. | Full recipe here

Yogurt-Marinated Fish Sticks with Avocado Mango Salsa

Using yogurt as a marinade keeps the protein moist and tender without adding a lot of extra fat. Avocado, lime and honey round out the flavours, making this a toddler meal that’s perfect for the whole family. | Full recipe here

Tuna and Apple Stuffed Pitas

Whether they say they like tuna or not, adding some diced apples to this pita pouch will give it a bit of a kick that should please their palettes. | Full recipe here

Banana Chocolate Chip Breakfast Cookies

One of our favourite items to make-ahead and freeze are these Banana Chocolate Chip Breakfast Cookies. Don’t let the cookie name fool you! They aren’t super sweet, and they’re loaded with oats, bananas, and flax, all qualities of a delicious breakfast. Serve them on their own with a glass of milk, or top with a bit of peanut butter and jam. Either way, having a batch of these breakfast cookies in your freezer means you can go to sleep at night knowing that a delicious breakfast is a mere 1 minute and 30 seconds away from your table. | Full recipe here

Chickpea Patties

For those who like to eat with their hands, these chickpea patties are an excellent option. They can be tucked into a pita and topped with tzatziki for the adults or older children in the house, they are a protein-dense alternative for the meat-haters in the family and they come together in less time than it would take to order a pizza. | Full recipe here

Sweet Potato Biscuits

Unlike traditional biscuits, these don’t have a crunchy exterior, but rather they are soft and tender throughout, making them ideal for little mouths. Serve them with some chopped ham or scrambled eggs and fresh fruit for a meal, or paired with a glass of icy cold milk for an afternoon snack. | Full recipe here

Zucchini Bread Waffles

This recipe boasts a combination of whole grain and all-purpose flours, a minimal amount of sugar and two full cups of vegetables. Like a lot of traditional zucchini breads, you can add mini chocolate chips for a crowd-pleasing result! They’re great for tucking into snack containers for road trips or late-afternoon trips to the park, and the recipe yield is large enough to leave you with lots of leftovers for the freezer. | Full recipe here

Butternut Squash Quesadillas

These quesadillas are incredibly easy to put together, have only four ingredients, and can be served for both dinner and school lunches. Plus, add bits of chicken and/or thinly sliced steak and they’re a crowd-pleaser for adults too! | Full instructions here

Crispy Black Bean Tacos

A cross between a hard-shell taco and quesadilla, you’ll have a hard time eating tacos any other way once you give this pan-fried crispy version a try. | Full recipe here

Chia Chicken Strips

Making homemade versions of your little one’s favourite ‘kid food’ is pretty easy. Like these chicken strips. We add a healthy dose of chia seeds for a subtle crunch to the coating—not to mention a little extra protein, fibre, omega-3s and antioxidants. | Full recipe here

Baby Bolognese

Fussy eaters won’t have anything to fuss about with this spin on pasta bolognese. With turkey, veggies and a hint of cinnamon, toddlers will eat up this unique, flavourful dish. | Full recipe here

Homemade Tzatziki

Warm up some soft pitas and serve with a large dollop of tangy tzatziki and a side of fresh cut veggies. Who says you need to cook to make a healthy meal for the kids? | Full recipe here

Oven-Roasted Beet Chips

Loaded with vitamin C and fibre, beets are the perfect complement to any toddler’s diet. Serve these multi-coloured chips with a favourite dip alongside a sandwich or burger. | Full recipe here

Baked Mac & Cheese with Little White Beans

Here’s a great way to add some fibre to your toddler’s favourite mac and cheese meal. You can tell them about the beans or not—it’s your choice. The main thing is that even picky eaters will gobble it up. | Full recipe here